mercy of the icons – part 3

wake of the icons

 TA R A Z U G
DZIBAN

UN S TA B L E
P OR TA L

GHODAR ZIB
THE M
CH

THE SADA AL
ROUTE
ERR A I
D AY B U L MIR A

ZALO
SADA AL

A I WA Z
MENK AR NAGAR

HAMUR A

DANGEROUS ARE A

TA O A N

FIRST
HOR IZON
CLOSED SYSTEMS

UHARU

ZUHAL

DABAR
 ODACON

DANGEROUS ARE A

ZHAU

MIR A N
A IN

S I VA S

ORDANA
THE QUADR ANT OF
THE PILL A R
OS

A LTA I

KUA AWADHI

UN S TA BL E
P OR TA L
NHARMADA
Z AMUSA

ALGOL UN S TA B L E
P OR TA L
CAPH

THE ALGOL ROUTE

MARFIK UN S TA B L E
P OR TA L
EREQU

ANASPOR A
YA S TA P O L

AMEDO
EANU
HE DA BA R A N CIRCLE

UN S TA B L E
P OR TA L

ALGEBAR

R IGEL
MEL IK
AN
 LEAD DESIGNER
Rickard Antroia

PROJECT MANAGER AND EDITOR

Kosta Kostulas

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Rickard Antroia, Mattias Johnsson Haake, Nils Karlén, Kosta Kostulas

COVER ART
Martin Grip

ILLUSTRATIONS
Gustaf Ekelund

GRAPHIC DESIGN & Layout

Christian Granath

Prepress
Dan Algstrand

TRANSLATION
Tim Persson

MAPS
Rickard Antroia, Christian Granath

PROOFREADING
Brandon Bowling

PR MANAGER EVENT MANAGER

Boel Berman Anna Westerling

CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Daniel Lehto, Jenny Lehto

Print isbn
Standart Impressa UAB 978-91-89143-89-0
Vilnius, Lithuania 2023

Copyright© 2023 Fria Ligan AB.

CORIOLIS is a registered trademark of Fria Ligan AB. All rights reserved.
WAKE OF THE ICONS

1
INTRODUCTION4
BACKGROUND4
OVERVIEW12
TIPS FOR THE GM 14

2
A SONG FOR KUA 17
INTRODUCTION18
PROPHECIES22
STARTING SCENE: THE CALL OF KUA 22
THE HEART OF THE JUNGLE 25
THE RUINS 33
URNI EN-ARGONNAS 40
ENDING43
MEETING AN ICON 44

3
THE TENTH ICON 49
INTRODUCTION50
THE ETERNAL 54
STARTING SCENE: BIRBASIL’S DREAM 62
COMING TOGETHER 68
THE BETRAYAL 73
SCENARIO LOCATION: SADAAL AND ALBURZ 78
THE SECTOR OF THE WHISPERER: BAHRAM  82
FRIENDS AND ENEMIES 87
THE CRYING ZIGGURAT 91
THE VESTAL ATTACKS 99
ENDING  102

2
 Contents

4
THE HORIZON WARS 105
INTRODUCTION106
THE TIDES OF WAR 109
METAGAME PHASE EXAMPLES 118
MINI MISSIONS 119
SCENARIOS124
SCENARIO: THE FIFTH SYSTEM 124
SCENARIO: THE GHOSTS OF XENE 140
SCENARIO: THE LEGACY OF THE FOUNDERS 154
SCENARIO: THE BATTLE FOR THE HORIZON 168
ENDING183

5
EPILOGUE185
INTRODUCTION186
AFTERMATH186
APPENDIX: SPACECRAFT 191

3
WAKE OF THE ICONS

INTRODUCTION Welcome to Wake of the Icons, the third and final installment
of the Mercy of the Icons campaign. The fleets of the Eternal
Emperor are about to cross the dark between the stars, and
the Emissaries are preparing to resist their ancient nemesis
once more. Will the peoples of the Third Horizon unite or be
destroyed as old prophecies unravel and the cluster is set
aflame?
wake of the icons consists of three main parts out into the light and shoulder their burden as
made up of scenario locations and events that the Chosen Ones, destined to unite the Third
will change the Horizon for good. The opening Horizon – or will they fail? The suite closes with
scenario brings the PCs back to the ruins of an epilogue outlining the aftermath of the inva-
Coriolis on a quest to find the lost Emissary, sion. Although the wounds go deep, there is
part two contains the beginning of the Old still hope – the survivors try to come together
Horizons’ invasions, while the third and final to rebuild the Coriolis station.
part unleashes the Horizon Wars through a Below is a summary of the events bridging
series of shorter adventures. the gap between The Last Cyclade and this book.
The struggle for the Third Horizon brings The PCs will learn hidden truths, see behind
the PCs to both familiar places and previously the masks of the Icons, and finally confront the
unknown star systems; will they dare to step threat from Ardha.

BACKGROUND
Wake of the Icons begins in the segment of the 296) have so far managed to keep the peace.
Messenger in Cycle 164 (CC65) when a familiar Laws barring any factionary military vessels
voice calls the PCs back to Kua and the remains of from the system without clearance from the
Coriolis. Suddenly, the portal between Rigel and Horizon Council are strictly enforced, but lately
Dabaran is shut. Two ships carrying agents from an increasing number of merchant freighters,
the Warriors of the Holy Light manage to make Nomad clan ships and smaller colonization
it through with butterfly ships in lethal pursuit, vessels have started seeking entry to the
carrying a message of enormous importance forbidden sector around Xene – the space now
addressed to the cult’s former enemies: the known as the Quiet Zone. Rumors say that
PCs. To give you some context for these and several of the Emissaries have gathered on the
future events, the road to war and the scenarios old Foundation Station FS-7, protected by the
in this book are described below. blinding quiet and by unknown weapon systems.
A few foolish skippers have dared to enter the
THE THIRD HORIZON Quiet Zone never to be seen or heard from again.
Kuan core space is still a neutral zone despite the
events in the finale of The Last Cyclade. Aqbar y THE ZENITHIAN FACTIONS
Rakiv Fatiman’s corsairs and the remaining The division of power in the Third Horizon
Legion fleets now contracted by the independent has shifted dramatically since the destruction
space station Djachroum (see the Rulebook p of Coriolis. The Consortium, the Zenithian

4
 Introduction

FOR GM EYES ONLY

Hegemony and the Syndicate have pooled their remaining The entirety of this book is meant to be read by the GM
resources and fleets in Amedo and taken over the dome only.
city of Xhi from the expatriates (the Rulebook, p 225). Some
families sought refuge in Sadaal but quickly became isolated
from the siblings due to new and more strict immigration SUMMARY
policies. Only the Syndicate appears to have maintained a
good relationship with the ruling elite of Sadaal, Aremerat and ◆ THE THIRD HORIZON is governed mainly by
the eight high priests of the Amesha Spenta. The faction has an uneasy alliance between the Order of
moved much of its operations to the system and especially the Pariah, the Church of the Icons and the
the founding Birbasil and Nyala families seem to be thriving. Horizon Council on Djachroum. The different
Through the Syndicate and their trading fleet, the Astûrban fleets are still struggling to come together and
are trying to negotiate with the Sadaalian leadership for are all plagued by mutinies and defections by
access to the recently constructed Nadir Flotilla, currently mystics drawn to the Emissaries. The factions
in unstaffed orbit above the Daharab dockyards in Bahram, argue over who now has a rightful claim to the
Sadaal’s second star system. abandoned Nadir Flotilla and are all trying to
Some of the Zenithian families have approached the Horizon negotiate with the Sadaalian clergy.
Council diplomatically and managed to secure two seats at ◆ THE SECOND HORIZON gathers a ragtag fleet
the table: one for the Consortium’s Sonya Dayal in exchange of devotees around Xene as a defense force
for new weapon systems for Djachroum and an expansion of for the coming war with the First Horizon,
the reactor core to meet the energy demands of a growing but their efforts jeopardize the stability of
population, and one for Dinad Abarren-Quassar, the nephew the Third Horizon as a whole. The Quiet Zone
of the late Abarren Quassar whose name he and the rest of around the gas giant slowly grows and a mys-
his remaining family members have chosen to adopt. The terious weapon mercilessly protects the faith-
appointment of Dayal has caused some friction within the ful from any and all attacks.
Zenithian ranks, primarily with the Yriedes and Sidonna ◆ THE FIRST HORIZON’S fleets wait patiently for
families, because the former regard themselves as a founding an opening into Taoan but the portal remains
family with a better claim to the seat and because the latter – a unstable. The Vestals begin kidnapping the
family with powerful Foundation interests – greatly desires Kahin – the Nomads’ star seers – from portal
research access to the mythical Mouth of Kandah. stations around the cluster, forcing them to
predict when the fields are stable enough
y LOST FACTIONS to start allowing passage. New humanites
The events of The Last Cyclade changed most of the earlier are being produced in factories in Uharu,
factions for good. bionically perfected for warfare, and then
◆ The Zenithian Hegemony: Although both the Hegemony sent to Sadaal to staff the Nadir Flotilla on-
and the Consortium suffered enormous losses in the board a seized bulk hauler, the Waha-Najima.
destruction of the Monolith and Coriolis, the Consortium Meanwhile, a weapons test is being prepared
came out on top thanks to the wider spread of their power by the Vestals for a strike against Dabaran that
base. What’s left of the Zenithian project has therefore will isolate the system completely.
largely been incorporated into the Consortium’s hierar- ◆ THE PCS are initially blissfully ignorant of the
chies – many neo-Zenithians have married into established underlying conspiracies but will soon learn
Consortium families and in exchange, the well-respected more of their own role in an ancient prophecy,
captain clan from the Zenith has been offered a seat on as the song of the Machine Icon calls out once
the board of the newly-formed Zenithian Coalition. The more, with dream messages luring them to the
Astûrban has become a division within the Special Branch, remains of the Spire deep in the Kuan jungles…

5
WAKE OF THE ICONS

but the two agencies still haven’t learned to cooperate fully

and infighting hampers the efficiency of the work.
◆ Ahlam’s Temple: The Temple chose to leave the Council of
THE TRAITORS
Factions and close their courtesan academy on Coriolis before
The Syndicate operates on the fringes of the the station’s destruction but has since then fully merged with
new Zenithian Coalition and primarily works to the Draconites. Whispered rumors claim Black Lotuses prepare
establish local alliances throughout the clus- for war together with the Draconite warrior monks, the Sôhai,
ter. The faction’s smugglers and traders are in a hidden system beyond the known Horizon.
highly sought-after for their ability to evade the ◆ The Free League: The hands and stevedores’ faction broke
Horizon’s often cluttered trading bureaucracy. down and dissolved after the Zenithian smear campaign
Secretly, however, they keep a close eye on and its former members now form local alliances with the
the Ardhan threat and are prepared to join the powers that be on whatever planet, colony or station they
Vestals and the Imperial fleets in the event of a happen to work. The League captains formerly contracted
takeover. The Syndicate’s flexible views on the by the Colonial Agency or the Foundation have either taken
rule of law are well aligned with the nihilist prin- up piracy or become free traders.
ciples of the First Horizon. ◆ The Circle of Seekers: The Circle chose sides during The
Last Cyclade and left the Church of the Icons and Mira. They
have joined the followers of the Emissaries and retreated
to remote, forgotten temples to seek contact with their
Symmetry masters.
◆ The Legion: The Consortium’s former watchdogs have torn
CURRENT FACTIONS
up their old contracts and retreated to their own secret
bases or taken up arms for Djachroum, Consortium mining
The Legion and the Free League have split into local colonies in the Quadrant of the Pillar or new employers
groups and are no longer considered factions. The among the many local rulers throughout the Horizon (see
remaining factions of the Third Horizon are: The Last Cyclade).
◆ THE ZENITHIAN COALITION – a union between the
Consortium and the Zenithian Hegemony y THE FIRSTCOME ALLIANCE
◆ THE SYNDICATE – secretly looking for an alliance with The erupting tension at the end of The Last Cyclade led to
the First Horizon major changes for most of the Firstcome factions. The people
◆ THE DRACONITES – have absorbed Ahlam’s Temple are in mourning after the fall of Coriolis and pilgrims and
◆ THE CHURCH OF THE ICONS – allied with the Order of former Kuan colonists flock to Mira’s bustling Temple City
the Pariah but have lost the Circle of Seekers and growing jungle towns, desperately longing for safety
◆ THE ORDER OF THE PARIAH – allied with Mira and the and community. The ruling matriarch and patriarch of the
Church of the Icons Church of the Icons preach to their growing congregation
◆ THE NOMAD FEDERATION – looking for allies among through sermons distributed along all the major trade routes
the other factions via countless probes and drones.
◆ THE FIRST HORIZON – Vestals and surviving Nazareem The Emissaries are painted as false prophets and their
cells control over the new mystics is framed as a serious threat.
◆ THE SECOND HORIZON – the Emissaries, the new mys- Increasing numbers of mystics leave their old lives behind
tics, and the Circle of Seekers to go to Xene and wait for the Emissaries to reveal their next
truth. According to the Church, all who follow the Song are
being led astray by dark forces. The one true faith is said to
protect against the Song’s corruptions, if only the afflicted

6
 Introduction

come to Mira and repent. The ugly truth, however, is that many y MILITARY MIGHT
mystics are jailed on arrival and transported to internment The First Horizon’s attempts to sunder the factions, manipulate
camps out of the public eye, or shuttled to Zalos for indefinite the Zenithians and provoke a war with the Order were only
holding in research facilities deep underground. a partial failure. Although the Nazareem have been all but
The Order of the Pariah have opened their system again wiped out, the Symmetry’s attack on Coriolis destroyed Sky
after forming a pact with Mira, but the issue is still a matter City, the Council of Factions and much of the fleets of the
of much debate in the Martyr Council. The Miran Chain is Legion and the Hegemony. It also led to the disappearance of
once again full of free traders and bulk haulers as well as a the Janhagir fleet. The factions who still control functioning
seemingly endless flow of pilgrims looking for new lives on fleets now protect their own and bide their time. The fleets
Mira. The increased traffic has captured the attention of both are described more thoroughly on page 191.
the heretics of Zalos-B and the more aggressive corsairs.
The new main route through the Horizon stretches from THE SECOND HORIZON
Dabaran to Mira, via Kua and Djachroum, and Zalos and the After the Symmetry’s attack on the heart of the Zenithian
trading post of Karrmerruk. The Alabaster Council on the power complex and the destruction of Sky City and Coriolis,
dwarf planet Marakanda in Altai fears a weakened position the Santulans know the First Horizon can’t be far away. The
and has threatened to make portal use more difficult unless Santulans who chose to astral project into new host bodies
the Nomad Federation is invited to take a more active part in in the Third Horizon and become the Emissaries now gather
trade negotiations. The Mogul star seers, the Kahin, have an to plan their defense.
innate ability to understand and calculate safe portal vectors
and have therefore taken over much of the Foundation’s former y THE JUDGE’S LEGIONNAIRES
portal station responsibilities along the trade routes. Threats After the collapse of the Legion, the Judge Emissary takes control
of higher jump taxation forced both Zalos and Mira to add over its jailers. They return from a secret Legion base far out in
Altai to their new cross-cluster trade route, at least for the the darkness of Border Space and seize Foundation Station FS-7
time being. Although the Nomad Federation is spoken for on in orbit around Xene. Rumors have it that the Emissary returned
Djachroum in the new Horizon Council, the disappearance from the dark with a mighty weapon – the Legion flagship
of the Janhagir fleet has weakened the Nomads and they are Shahrazad – but no one has yet been able to get close enough
still being left out of the more delicate diplomatic issues. to Xene to confirm this. What has become evident, however, is

THE HORIZON COUNCIL

Several of the Council members and central characters 3. NIGELIA OR ARLAIN KURAHAN – Exiled Zenithian
either died or lost their power after The Last Cyclade,
Cyclade, but 4. SISTER ROBWAH – Samaritan (or Samesh Alim) – The Order
some have claimed new seats at the Horizon Council. It’s of the Pariah
up to you as the GM to populate the nine seats of the new 5. ABYEIA GOHARSHÛD – Spokesperson for the Nomad
Council as you please, or make adjustments as you see Federation
fit to the list below depending on previous events in your 6. DARI-MEFTI RAHMALAN – Dabaran dar
campaign. The factionary representation is more important 7. AREM VES-ARIN – Vestï humanite from Odacon
than which individual holds which seat. 8. SONYA DAYAL – Neo-Zenithian
1. RAKIV FATIMAN – Djachroum Aqbar (council president) 9. DINAD ABARREN-QUASSAR – Hegemonist
2. MANDRAGOR HO – Draconite (or Terminos Lete) – Ahlam’s
Temple

7
WAKE OF THE ICONS

that all the surviving Emissaries that rose from within the gas y THE QUIET ZONE
giant are now back at the site of their birth. With their combined The space around Xene is now a forbidden sector from which
strength representing four of the Icons, they open the bridge to no ship returns. The Emissaries have made FS-7 their base
the Second Horizon to seek aid from the siblings there. and use a resonance weapon (page 141) from within the
gas giant’s atmosphere to disintegrate any ship that gets too
y THE RESONANCE BRIDGE close. The Quiet Zone originally extended 1 AU from the
The resonance patterns created at Xene – and which can station, but as the resonance patterns stabilize and grow,
also partly be found in Erequ – form a bridge between the so too does the Quiet Zone. When the first scenario in this
Second and Third Horizons, a bridge used by the Symmetry book begins, the Quiet Zone envelops everything within 3
to create and enslave more and more mystics. The ruling AU in all directions.
Santulans’ most trusted generals are the Dakin – blindly
devoted resonance warriors and gurus trained to split their y THE MYSTIC THREAT
minds and travel from mystic to mystic in the Third Horizon. After the Symmetry’s attack on Coriolis, the mystics have
The Dakin operate as spies, assassins and insurgents and become feared throughout the Horizon. Suspicion turns into
may strike at a moment’s notice almost anywhere in the persecution as both the Order and Mira ramp up their search
Horizon – the strength of the resonance bridge allows them for the new mystics, albeit under the pretense of helping and
to invade the mind of practically any mystic in the cluster, protecting the “infected”. The new mystics as a group are,
turning them into unknowing but lethal weapons. however, a potent threat as the Song calls on them to turn

8
 Introduction

TABLE 01: THE SANTULANS

ICON TITLE SANTULAN
THE JUDGE Hukim-mu-Qad Ladei en-Menkib
THE DANCER Kama-mu-Qad Aisha en-Barka
THE MERCHANT Karob-mu-Qad Hiam en-Lamra
THE FACELESS Hane-mu-Qad Chera en-Magrina

THE ETERNAL HORIZONS

The leaders of the First and Second Horizons are

not as different from one another as they would
hope. The Eternal Emperor of the First Horizon
has evolved into a kind of world intelligence who
is constantly present in the minds of its subjects
as they live out their most depraved, nihilistic
fantasies. The leaders of the Second Horizon are
still individuals but as the centuries rolled by,
they learned to speak with one voice and very
rarely let anyone new rise through the ranks. The
resonance powers allow them to slow their aging
or to commandeer a weaker mind and simply swap
bodies when they near the end of their lives.
Ladei en-Menkib, the Santulan living as the
Judge Emissary, is a prime example. They were
born in a remote colony in the Menkib system, the
sister star of Menkar, in a time more than three
hundred years ago when colonists and nomads
in exile could still use the long since dead Menkib
portal field to travel between the Second and
Third Horizon. The mystic warlord Ladei Menin-
Ghôrshad was among the few to choose to return
to the Second Horizon and fight for power within
the relentless hierarchies of the Symmetry.

9
WAKE OF THE ICONS

on their captains or steal a ship and make for Kua. A growing The Order of Rima: Forty years before the arrival of the
fleet of loyal worshipers gathers in Xene’s Quiet Zone under Zenith in Dabaran, one of the Symmetry’s oldest mystics
the Emissaries’ protection and is becoming a worry for both found a way to anchor their mind in another body over
the independent corsairs of Djachroum and the agents of the enormous distances. The mystic, Rima en-Aldaan, split
factions. The Symmetry are gathering a fleet strong enough her mind several times and embedded the shards in medi-
to resist the First Horizon – no matter the cost for the Third. tating monks in a Firstcome colony in the Third Horizon.
Throughout this book, the mystic threat will continue to Eventually, the last pieces of Rima’s mind traveled over and
grow and chip away at the stability of the factionary fleets. her original body died. The four old ascetics now sharing
Rima’s consciousness formed the secretive Order of Rima
y THE EXILED EMISSARIES deep in the forgotten Shinda system, hidden behind the
The Symmetry’s uniform leadership is far from as united willful Sivas portal fields in the Quadrant of the Pillar. The
as they would have the rest of the Horizons believe. Two colony now consists of nomad exiles and former Seekers
Santulans in exile have chosen to go against their former and is still led by “the Four who are One,” the very first of
siblings: the Machine Icon and the Order of Rima. the Emissaries. Rima’s embalmed body is revered by the
leaders of the Second Horizon as they are unaware that the
The Machine Icon: Urni en-Argonnas is one of the exiles and first Emissary didn’t leave them to spread their teachings
arrived in the Third Horizon as the Messenger Emissary. The or to gather wisdom, but because she had come to despise
agents of the First Horizon managed to destroy Urni’s body the power structures of the Second Horizon altogether. The
during the end of the first part of the campaign, Emissary Rima monastery on Shiva usually only allows visits from a
Lost, which led to them attaching their mind to the Coriolis select few Nomad elders and only when they need insight
station instead, becoming the ethereal Machine Icon, Khari or guidance before a big decision. But this is now where the
Qa’naan. Together with the rest of the Emissaries, Urni took Janhagir fleet has headed to gather strength and blessings
control of the gathered mystics and used them to activate the before the coming war.
Monolith. The destruction of Coriolis should have meant the
death of the Machine Icon, but the remains of the downed THE FIRST HORIZON
Spire still rest under the green canopies of the Verkâna Ridge The Vestals have forced enslaved colonists from the Tsurabi
and within it linger fragments of Urni’s mind. The Machine mines in Taoan and refinery workers from Uharu to construct
Icon feels guilt for the attack and has come to a painful naval bases and factories in the isolated systems, and in
realization: the war between the Old Horizons threatens to doing so established a strong foothold for the First Horizon.
crush the peoples of the Third Horizon – peoples Urni has The Emperor’s fleets are ready and waiting in orbit around
come to love. The former Santulan has decided to turn on Ainios, the star on the other side of the portal from Taoan.
their Emissary siblings in order to save the Third Horizon. Butterfly ships hide in the space between the portals. A swarm

TABLE 02: THE EXILED SANTULANS

ICON TITLE SANTULAN
THE MESSENGER/MACHINE ICON Nabi-mu-Qad/Khari Qa’naan Urni en-Argonnas
THE FOUR/ORDER OF RIMA Chaar-mu-Qad Rima en-Aldaan
THE MERCHANT Karob-mu-Qad Hiam en-Lamra
THE FACELESS Hane-mu-Qad Chera en-Magrina

10
 Introduction

of termite destroyers armed with fractal torpedoes and

batteries of solar drones prepares to guard the passage of
the dreaded behemoths of the First Horizon’s fleet – the
THE FOUR ICONS Emperor’s carabid cruisers (page 195).

“The Four who are One” and the mind of Rima repre- y THE DISAPPEARED STAR SEERS
sent the following Icons to their followers: Over the last cycle, several portal stations throughout the cluster
◆ THE GAMBLER – seeing the world for what it truly is have suffered attacks from unknown agents. Marfik, Melik, Yastapol
◆ THE DECKHAND – a welcoming home and Ghodar have all lost their star seers – Mogul astronics who
◆ THE TRAVELER – wandering the stars have taken over the jump calculations from the Foundation. The
◆ THE LADY OF TEARS – the freedom of the soul and the kidnappings have been orchestrated by a small group of surviving
mind Nazareem cultists, and they have brought their captives first to
Dabaran and then via butterfly ships to Taoan. Enthralled by the
Vestals’ charismatic powers, the star seers have attempted to
analyze the wild fluctuations of the Taoan portals to predict when
they would allow the Imperial fleets to jump through safely. A small
squadron of termite destroyers and butterfly ships has already
made it through and further strengthened the First Horizon’s
hold of the system.

The Machine Icon y THE EMPEROR’S HUMANITES

Humanites were always the backbone of the Imperial fleet, its
crews and shock troops made up entirely of bionically sculpted
soldiers. The Vestals are primarily captains and strategists.
During the Portal Wars, the First Horizon relied heavily on the
telepathic Vestï humanites until a large group deserted before
the final battles around Odacon. This event and almost two
centuries of further research has led to the invention of a new
generation of sculpted soldiers, the Hadid (page 97), with
a natural metallic skin armor, sonar-like sensory organs and
minds designed for blind loyalty. Their biocode is brought on
a butterfly ship through the portal between Ainios and Taoan,
and Uharu factories converted into breeding farms immediately
begin mass production. The Hadid are then put in stasis and
shipped to various destinations around the Horizon to lie
in wait for a surprise attack. The Waha-Najima bulk hauler
(meaning “Celestial Oasis”) – missing in Dabaran since about
five segments before the beginning of the first scenario in
this book – reappears, now carrying a deadly load of frozen
warriors secretly destined for the Nadir Flotilla in Bahram.

y THE SUGAR GLOBES

Another secret weapon in the Emperor’s arsenal is the sugar
globes, spread wide across the Third Horizon since the Portal

11
WAKE OF THE ICONS

Wars. These objects of mystery and status can be found on a system and thanks to advanced stealth technology, they
myriad of planets and are often harvested with a prestigious initially evade detection. Troops of Hadid humanites led by
upper-class market in mind. The sugar-induced glow of the Vestals storm and conquer Dar Bahri, Lotus and several of
globes is the result of the chemical reaction needed to keep the larger darlands and they shut down the portal station.
the biocode of the core alive but dormant beneath the thick Armed and white clad Hadid soldiers prevent people from
shell. On the Vestals’ command, the globes may be activated leaving the station and a Vestal boards to activate their next
(page 155), the sticky liquid inside transforming into swarms hidden weapon – the sugar globes – to begin corrupting
of bio sculpted insects feeding off the dark between the and enslaving the residents.
stars. The swarms, “hashara” (page 156), target mystics to
weaken the Symmetry’s power and can corrupt non-mystics y THE SPIES
both mentally and physically. The hashara’s victims become An agent from The Warriors of the Holy Light (Emissary Lost,
slaves to the will of the Vestals, dark memes twisting their page 10) manages to sneak onboard one of the freighters
bodies and giving them strange, terrible powers. unloading cargo from the Waha-Najima and witnesses the
thawing of the Hadid. She relays the information to her
THE FALL OF DABARAN comrades but is then discovered and killed. As the sugar globes
Just before the PCs are called to Kua by the Machine Icon, hatch and swarms of hashara descend on the portal station’s
the lost bulk hauler Waha-Najima reappears near Dabaran. population, another agent uses the ensuing panic to hack
Some of its cargo is unloaded on shuttles and smaller vessels and copy the surveillance feeds, recording the horrific attack
and brought to the nearby portal station before the giant and transmitting the data to three waiting courier vessels.
continues toward Sadaal. As it arrives in Rigel, the portal The transmission is intercepted by an Imperial destroyer
suddenly collapses behind it. A few courier ships are reportedly which immediately launches fractal torpedoes against all
destroyed by the portal’s energy discharges, but these are nearby vessels. Two of the couriers escape destruction by
actually agents of the Warriors of the Holy Light hunted jumping blindly through the portal just as it is forced shut.
down while trying to escape Dabaran with evidence of the The fleeing pair is then pursued through multiple systems
First Horizon’s plans. There is no official knowledge of what by a group of butterfly ships and although one of the courier
actually happened. captains sacrifices herself to buy some time, the second ship is
eventually also destroyed just after it enters Kua. Unbeknownst
y THE WEAPONS TESTS to the Vestals, however, the last courier managed to launch
The Vestals saw Dabaran as the perfect location for a a probe containing the data toward a waiting freighter that
series of weapons tests in preparation for the coming then left the system undetected. The dearly bought evidence
war. Three termite destroyers and a handful of butterfly from Dabaran will end up in the hands of the PCs during The
ships accompany the bulk hauler as it reappears in the Tenth Icon, beginning on page 49.

OVERVIEW
The scenarios and conflicts that make up Wake of the Icons A SONG FOR KUA – PAGE 17
are summarized below. The starting point is the unexplained The first scenario brings the PCs back to Kua and out into the
closing of the portal between Dabaran and Rigel and the jungles of the Verkâna Ridge. Rumors of treasure in the ruins
increasing number of mystics hijacking factionary ships to of the fallen station spur them on, but they mainly arrive to
join the Emissaries at Xene. Unrest and mounting tensions investigate the song of the Machine Icon they hear in their
threaten the Third Horizon’s fragile peace. dreams, whispering of mysterious knowledge and riches. The
scenario leads them through jungles and deep underground ruins

12
 Introduction

TIMELINE

This concluding suite of scenarios orbits a couple of major

events but leaves ample time for your own adventuring
ideas in between. After The Last Cyclade and the fall of
Coriolis, the Coriolis Cycle calendar was replaced by the
older Kuan way of measuring time from the burning of
Odacon at the end of the Portal Wars. The timeline below
chronicles the entirety of the Mercy of the Icons campaign
including the old Coriolis Cycle calendar:
◆ A SONG FOR JAROUMA , the standalone scenario de-
scribing the arrival of the Emissaries, takes place in
the segment of the Traveler in C159 (CC60).
◆ THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE GHAZALI details the Taoan
Incident and works well as an introduction to the
campaign. It takes place during the segment of the
Gambler in C160 (CC61).
◆ THE MERCY OF THE ICONS PART 1: EMISSARY LOST takes
place in the segment of the Faceless just before the
Cyclade in C160 (CC61).
◆ THE MERCY OF THE ICONS PART 2: THE LAST CYCLADE
begins in the segment of the Lady of Tears in C161
(CC62) with the discovery of the wreck of the Legion
destroyer Zafirah and ends during the Pilgrimaria of
C162 (CC63) at the end of the segment of the Judge.
◆ THE MERCY OF THE ICONS PART 3: WAKE OF THE ICONS
begins in the segment of the Messenger in C164 (CC65),
almost a year and a half after the fall of Coriolis and the
founding of the Horizon Council at Djachroum.

13
WAKE OF THE ICONS

all the way to the vast cave that once was the Abhrra floor of the Dabaran circle and the Nadir Flotilla attacks along the
Spire, the home of the Emissary. The PCs are warned about the Sadaal route. A series of mini adventures and battles
coming war and offered an alliance with the former Emissary. allows the PCs’ resolve and wit to influence the course
of the war. They must work to unite old enemies to bring
THE TENTH ICON – PAGE 49 the fleets and factions of the Third Horizon together,
The factions are at each other's throats over control of the break the Symmetry’s control over the mystics, f ind
abandoned Nadir Flotilla. The mythical Aremerat and the high new allies in the darkness between the stars and repel
priests of the Amesha Spenta have absolute power in Sadaal. Only the Imperial fleets.
through Syndicate connections is a small delegation, escorted In the suite’s dramatic finale, the PCs decide the fate of
by the PCs, allowed entry to negotiate for the future of the fleet. the Third Horizon’s future by cutting off the enemy’s access
In this scenario, the PCs once again encounter the Warriors to the cluster.
of the Holy Light and receive their secret information about
what really happened in Dabaran. They also find out that AFTERMATH – PAGE 186
Aremerat has already assumed control of the Nadir Flotilla War has swept across the Third Horizon and the survivors
and staffed it with First Horizon humanites. The masks of now look for a new guiding star to give them hope for the
the Sadaal hide many secrets. future. Debris from Coriolis is salvaged and combined with
the remains of the ships that were destroyed fighting for a
THE HORIZON WARS – PAGE 105 free Horizon. With the stars as witnesses, construction of
The Horizon Wars break out on two fronts as the First New Coriolis begins – a station for a new time of cooperation
Horizon’s f leets start conquering systems along the and peace in a new Third Horizon.

TIPS FOR THE GM

The scenarios making up Wake of the Icons progressively turn y THE CHOSEN ONES
more and more intense. The starting adventure may begin The previous parts of the campaign have situated the PCs at the
in medias res as the PCs are making planetfall on Kua, or heart of the action on several occasions. People now consider
begin by interweaving strange dreams and visions in earlier them to have been chosen by the Icons and many believe that
sessions and scenarios. The second scenario has a classic simply being near them works as a kind of blessing against
three act structure where the last act ends with a closing evil. In the first two scenarios in this book, the PCs are also
event and a dramatic escape. The third and final scenario is identified as the heroes spoken of in ancient prophecies. They
different in that it is made up of a series of mini adventures are bound to a higher power through the Machine Icon and
whose outcome weighs heavily on the strategic developments are regarded as the champions chosen to lead the peoples of
of the Horizon Wars. the Third Horizon in the coming war against the darkness. The
prophecy reduces the narrative shoehorning otherwise needed
y PERSONAL PREFERENCES to fit their group concept within the different stages of the war.
This book is designed to take the PCs to many different places
in the Horizon and their access to a ship of their own – or SCENARIOS
lack thereof – should be considered as you prepare. Your Each scenario starts with a bit of introductory flavor text and
players’ group concept and play style might also require some a short summary of the plot. These are primarily written for
alterations to the story. Feel free to substitute important the GM but can be shared with the players if your group can
NPCs for characters of your own creation. handle a lot of meta information while playing.

14
 Introduction

y BACKGROUND The texts are meant to be flavorful points of departure for

The scenarios begin with a walkthrough of the acts and scenes your own imagination and can be read aloud to the players.
they contain, how these are meant to be played and what back- Next is a summary of the scene’s major plot hooks and a short
ground events have led to what the PCs are about the experience. description of the location and the situation. All-important
plot information will be found in direct connection to the
ACTS relevant scene.
The scenarios are made up of one or more acts divided into
separate scenes. y NON-PLAYER CHARACTERS (NPCS)
Each scene contains a number of important NPCs or ships
y OVERVIEW whose stats and descriptions can be found in the event
Each act begins with a short introduction that can be read where they are introduced. Several NPCs have talents or
aloud to the players and contains a short summary of the abilities that cost DP to activate. Only spend DP when
immediate plot. using such abilities against the PCs, however – if they are
instead used for the benefit of, or in cooperation with,
y IMPORTANT CHARACTERS the PCs, you can limit the use of the abilities to one free
The acts contain lists of all the important characters. The use per scene.
characters are described in more detail in the scene in which
they first appear. y EVENTS
The heart of each scene is the list of events it contains, some
y DARKNESS POINTS of which are unavoidable (labeled mandatory) and some which
Coriolis scenarios generally begin with giving the GM as you may use as you see fit. Events are triggered by spending
many DP as there are players, down to a minimum of 4 DP. DP, usually between 0 DP (for a small or mandatory event)
In this suite of scenarios, additional DP will come in the form and 3+ DP if the event is considered to be a major obstacle
of special scenes or events to give you as the GM better in the PCs’ way. As the GM, your job is to enable the PCs
narrative control over the progression of the war. to find the right clues or plot triggers. This may sometimes
require you to design your own events or improvise changes
SCENES to the ones found in the text. Be kind to your players and
Coriolis is played in scenes. This allows you to skip tedious remind them of things their PCs should know but that they
periods of time where “nothing happens,” to easily tailor the themselves have forgotten between sessions.
scene order to your plot preferences and to add your own
ideas more seamlessly. The starting scenes are, however, y ENDING
recommended as just that – the first scenes of an act or scenario. Each scenario ends with a summary of what the PCs have
experienced and learned, and of what societal consequences
y SITUATION AND LOCATION this might have led to. There is room for free adventuring,
The introductory text at the beginning of each scene will be exploration or just some well-earned R&R in between each
told from the perspective of a character within the game world. of the book’s three parts.

MYSTIC PCS

In previous scenarios, only mystic PCs could experience premonitions and

portentous dreams. As this book begins, however, all PCs are now susceptible
to this, albeit to various degrees. Those who choose to merge with the Machine
Icon (page 41) will receive special powers throughout the rest of the war.

15
A Song for Kua
Beyond the smoke and the ruins,
veiled in blood and grief.
You breathe faith and future.
Underwater, beneath the trees,
in the heavens and in the ground.
A glittering gem, by the people, for the people.
AN HOMAGE TO KUA, THE CONGLOMERATE, C163
WAKE OF THE ICONS

INTRODUCTION In the first scenario of the third and final part of the Mercy
of the Icons campaign, the PCs return to ground zero –
the Kuan jungles and the remains of the Coriolis station.
In dreams and visions, she calls out to them – the young
woman with the burning heart and the star-covered dress.
The Machine Icon is calling and their meeting with her holds
answers for the future – about the prophecy, the Chosen and
the Horizon Wars.
in a song for kua, the PCs return to Kua and and the fleets of the First Horizon lie in wait
the dense forests of Verkâna Ridge after being just beyond the Taoan portal fields. War is
summoned by the former Emissary – abducted, brewing – all it takes is a stray spark to set
destroyed and then resurrected. They aren’t the the whole cluster on fire.
only ones hearing the Song of the Machine Icon,
however: the Children of the Song have been y TO BE CALLED BY DREAMS
sent by the Santulans to find and return their As the portal between Rigel and Dabaran
missing sibling to Xene. The PCs dive into the collapses and the news of this spreads through
dangerous woods and then go underground to the Horizon, the PCs experience something
seek out the remains of the Coriolis Spire. In the odd. Over a few of the first events, the Song of
darkness of the Abhrra floor, they experience the Machine Icon breaks through to them in
something that will change the Third Horizon dreams and visions, calling them to Kua and
– forever. the jungles of Verkâna Ridge. The visions also
warn them about others on the same quest,
BACKGROUND mystics looking for the former Emissary. As
The Emissaries’ devastating attack on Kua the GM, use the dreams as you see fit – either
shocked and paralyzed the cluster, leaving the as something that only recently began or as
peoples full of doubt, grief and rage. Hidden something to interweave into your own scenarios
power struggles culminated in much upheaval in the buildup to this adventure.
behind the scenes; only a select few know
how close the First Horizon came to seizing y A WORLD IN RUINS
power in the Council of Factions and having The destruction of Coriolis and Sky City has
their puppets roll out their masters’ invasion. changed Kua dramatically. Much of Covenant
The Third Horizon sunk into hopelessness for City has been buried under debris from the
a long while after the attack, but now, life is collapsed city above and from the cracked outer
returning to the Conglomerate – the fields shell of the Monolith. The event also destroyed
are once again cultivated by colonists and several of the ancient dams, the cataracts, that
farmhands and the jungle ruins are attracting usually keep the Conglomerate districts from
the attention of artifact hunters and explorers. flooding. The Sultra marshes have now laid
On the bustling station of Djachroum far the districts of Anandra, Tugul, Dan-Tugul,
from the Kuan core, the factions once again Ara-Ara, Mibea and Little Algol underwater.
make their voices heard through the Horizon The Marzu-Khala spaceport survived on its
Council. But on a darker note, in the closed elevated platforms and has become a new hub
systems on the farthest end of the Dabaran of life and commerce thanks to its growing river
Circle, enslaved colonists restaff the factories barge souks. Covenant City is believed cursed

18
 A Song for Kua

by the Icons and those who dare scavenge among the ruins THE LANDING
risk both dark memes and deadly radiation sickness. This
doesn’t appear to keep the more daring artifact hunters at VERK ÂNA RIDGE: The jungles aren’t easy to land
bay, however. in, but a PILOT check allows the crew to find a
The Conglomerate’s plantations and mining towns burned safe spot. A less than critically successful land-
in the worker uprisings that immediately followed the fall ing means taking up to 3 points of hull damage
of the Monolith. The jungles are now quickly covering the (with one point of damage subtracted for each
remains of the old Zenithian and Algolan power structures, six rolled). The sensor operator may test DATA
except where the ruins have been taken over by Sogoi tribes DJINN before the landing to award the pilot one
and worker communities. Kuan society is slowly on the bonus die for each six rolled.
mend and both the Vasma Valley and Verkâna Ridge become Below are some examples of alternate landing
free settler frontiers now that the weight of the old yoke spots if the PCs instead wish to approach the
has been shed. Ridge on foot:
On the northern shores of the Gyrides Sea, a new scavenger ◆ THE MONOLITH: The PCs can land in the Marzu-
society of salvage divers and artifact hunters is forming. Khala spaceport near the ruins of Covenant
They call their town Sal-Mulukhad after the section of the City, and then make it up the overflowing
station that crashed here and formed a protective atoll Ramishah on a river barge, to Baybasin or the
of debris. Fortune-seekers en masse gather here to test rocky sides of the Ridge.
their courage or their madness against the dark dangers ◆ BAYBASIN: The spaceport at the mining town
lurking in the twisting durasteel caves of the collapsed is still in operation despite the uprisings, but
Core. Administrators from the Colonial Agency protected the sinkhole has widened even further as a
by a small squadron of ex-Legionnaires pay handsomely for result of earthquakes following the Monolith’s
salvaged materials, Zenithian art or family heirlooms. New discharge. From Baybasin, the PCs can head
contracts appear daily on the holo screens of Al-Qadr, the upward and inward, trekking up the slopes and
new city’s cantina. entering the jungles above.
◆ THE GYRIDES SEA: If your group wishes to see
y THE TREASURES OF THE SPIRE something new, you can lead them to the
Rumors run wild throughout the Conglomerate about the floating city of Sal-Mulukhad on the north
downed Spire in the jungles and about the riches it allegedly shores of the Gyrides Sea. They can hire
contains. The hoard is said to be guarded by the Machine someone there to ferry them across the water
Icon and a secret cult of former stevedores that keep nosy to the steep southeastern coast of the Ridge.
scavengers away.

y A RETURN TO KUA
Kua has been reshaped and reborn after the Monolith’s
discharge. The most obvious change is the one in power
dynamics, having led to increased freedom and a strong
settler mindset at work in the building of new societies
among the ruins of the old. Feel free to have your players
spend as much or as little time as you like exploring this
new Kua before they reach Verkâna Ridge. Another option
is to start the scenario in medias res as the PCs have landed
their ship near to or on top of the Ridge to look for a way
into the ruins.

19
WAKE OF THE ICONS

y THE CULT OF THE REBORN

A small group of stevedores, ship workers and hands close to
the Machine Icon were guided by the Song to a chamber in
the Spire just before the Fall and thus miraculously spared as
the station plunged burning to the ground. The survivors and
THE WILDERNESS GUIDE some new Sogoi additions now live in the village of Alamuhr
in the center of Verkâna Ridge and protect the tunnels of the
Regardless of where the PCs land, you can have the enormous Ama’turab Azaëlean said to lead right to the grave
wilderness guide (page 30) spot the landing and of the Spire. They have formed a cult, “The Reborn,” and
offer his services, for example after they have asked sworn to keep the location of the Spire and the final resting
around town for directions or if they appear lost in the place of the Machine Icon from the rest of the Horizon.
jungles. Alternatively, they meet him in the burned
village of Alamuhr. y THE SANTULAN AGENTS
The mystics in the Children of the Song were spellbound by
the Emissaries in order to allow activation of the Monolith.
The surviving Children are now under the direct control of
the Judge Emissary and receive their orders from Xene. The
mystics are the perfect hosts for the Santulan assassins,
the Dakin, who can use resonance powers to temporarily
take direct control of a chosen mystic. A group of Dakin
puppets are searching the jungles of Kua to find the tomb
of the Machine Icon, hoping to trap the lingering Santulan
essence in a Second Horizon artifact. The PCs will come
across the tracks of the Dakin as they travel, and eventually
meet them face to face.

IMPORTANT CHARACTERS
OVERVIEW
◆ NAYSIN TARAK – Wilderness guide and spy for a The PCs are called to Kua to seek out the Machine Icon in
secret organization (page 30) the ruins of the Coriolis station. The scenario consists of four
◆ XIU XICHAMA – Leader of the Alamuhr village (page scenes, starting with the PCs’ strange dreams and ending
29) when they find the Machine Icon in the Spire.
◆ THE DAKIN PUPPETS – Possessed members of the
Children of the Song (page 42) y SCENE 1 – THE CALL OF KUA (PAGE 22)
The segment of the Messenger, C164: Dreams and visions
haunt the PCs. The news of the portal collapse in Dabaran
are foretold even before they break across the Horizon.

y SCENE 2 – THE HEART OF THE JUNGLE (PAGE 25)

The PCs travel to Kua and make it to the village Alamuhr deep
in the jungles – a village built by Coriolis survivors sworn to
guarding the secrets of the tomb of the Machine Icon.

y SCENE 3 – THE RUINS (PAGE 33)

After seeing death and destruction in Alamuhr, the PCs

20
 A Song for Kua

climb down into abandoned Azaëlean tunnels (page 290 of

the Coriolis core rulebook) beneath the jungles. Rock and
earth turn into durasteel and the ruins of the Coriolis station. NEW RULES: DAKIN PUPPET

y SCENE 4 – URNI EN-ARGONNAS (PAGE 40) A mystic subjected to a dominance attempt by

The PCs reach the remains of the Abhrra floor and the former a Dakin must roll a critically successful MYSTIC
home of the Messenger Emissary (Emissary Lost page 45). POWERS to resist. Succeeding means only suffer-
They are offered the choice of merging with the former ing D6 points of stress (with 1 point negated for
Emissary to become the Chosen spoken of in the prophecy each six rolled).
of the coming war. The victim and those around her can hear a
shrill, piercing sound and chorus of whispering
BEFORE YOU BEGIN voices just prior to the attack. A PC may try to
A Song for Kua allows for revisits to locations from Emissary understand what’s about to happen and warn
Lost. This will remind the PCs of past adventures and hopefully others by passing an OBSERVATION test at −2
help them regain their trust in the Machine Icon. The last or a normal MYSTIC POWERS test. An overtaken
part of the scenario contains the discovery and exploration of puppet moves jerkingly but with precision and
the Spire ruins in the form of a classic dungeon crawl. Each her eyes flicker around the room as if to take in
“room” in the treasure hunt corresponds to a numbered as much information as possible.
event. As the GM, use the map of the ruins as you like to Each turn of possession, the puppet may try
tailor the hunt to your needs and your game pace. to resist her master by testing MYSTIC POWERS
and voluntarily suffer as many points of stress as
y PC INCENTIVES she rolls sixes. A puppet broken by stress is au-
Regardless of group concept or individual specialization, tomatically free of the Dakin’s control. The hold
all of the PCs are called to Kua. The group is expected to can also be broken using the mystical power
have their own ship but if this isn’t the case, they can always Exorcist (see page 77 of the Coriolis core rule-
reach Verkâna Ridge by tagging along on a merchant vessel, book). You may introduce Dakin puppeteering
or with a party of explorers or settlers or peddlers heading attempts at any point during the scenario suite
for Baybasin. Use the events to achieve the right amount of and are free to target PCs as well as NPCs.
combat and other forms of conflict. If you’re worried that ◆ Wits and Empathy are raised to 5. Strength and
engineer or pilot PCs won’t get enough focus, have your Agility remain the same.
group travel to the Ridge in a shaky ground vehicle or make ◆ The puppet gets 5 additional MP (a minimum
their landing attempt more of a challenge. of 15 MP) but is completely under GM control.
◆ The puppet gets a skill level of 5 in MELEE
y IMPORTANT FACTS COMBAT, DEXTERITY, RANGED COMBAT,
You should be well acquainted with the Coriolis ruins and the INFILTRATION , DATA DJINN and MYSTIC POWERS .
Santulan agents when you GM the scenario. Each scene ends ◆ The puppet gets one of the following mystical
with a closing event that carries the story into the next scene. powers (see Emissary Lost page 193–194):
Use these events earlier than described below for a faster pace Sculpt, Telekinetic Blast, Prevent or Soul
but make sure you don’t miss any of the following key insights: Reader.
◆ The PCs need to make it to Kua to seek out the source of ◆ The puppet regains 2 points of damage
their strange dreams. and stress per turn (see the Mercy of the
◆ The PCs should learn that Dabaran has been shut-off from Symmetry talent on page 42).
the rest of the Horizon.
◆ The PCs must encounter the mystic Urni en-Argonnas.

21
WAKE OF THE ICONS

PROPHECIES A lone courier vessel arrives in Kua. On the bridge, the sensor
operator draws a wheezing breath of the thin, scrubbed air and
looks at the flickering screen:
“By the Martyr’s crown – she’s here. Our brothers and have encountered through dreams on several
sisters didn’t let us down.” occasions during earlier parts of the Mercy of
The captain mouths a silent prayer and gives the the Icons campaign, calls on them. The journey
order to send the encrypted data package. The receiving they must make to and through the jungles
ship confirms the hand-over and disappears into the isn’t without dangers, however. The cult of the
portal field. Reborn have agents everywhere on Kua, keeping
“We did it. In the name of the Prophets and the Holy their eyes on the PCs. As the Santulans launch
Light, let this be our atonement for all the harm we’ve an attack on the village of Alamuhr, however,
caused.” the cult reaches out to the PCs for help, leading
The crew sigh with relief but only a moment later, them to begin hunting the marauders down
a shimmer appears in the darkness of space nearby. into the underground Azaëlean tunnels beneath
Butterfly wings against the bright starlight, fractal torpe- the Ridge that eventually take them all the way
does burrowing through the hull. The bridge depressurizes to the ruins of Coriolis and the tomb of the
and for a brief moment, a quiet flash of fire illuminates Machine Icon.
the void. Then, night, all-encompassing, returns.
DARKNESS POINTS
THE SCENARIO BEGINS with an opening scene intro- Darkness Points in this scenario can be spent
ducing the foreboding dreams and progresses to make the journey more difficult by adding
to guide the players through a series of further conflicts or obstacles for the PCs to overcome
scenes and events eventually carrying over into on the way. As the scenario isn’t separated into
the next part of the campaign. acts, instead specific scenes and events will
generate new DP. You get as many DP as there
OVERVIEW are PCs to begin with, down to a minimum
Dreams and visions bring the PCs to Kua once of 4 DP.
again. Urni en-Argonnas, the Santulan they

STARTING SCENE:

THE CALL OF KUA

You wake in a cold sweat, panic tightening your and the emptiness of space. You couldn’t breathe.
chest. You’ve bitten your lip and taste iron. Dim Your heart racing as you stared into the light from
lights. A cot. The familiar scent of myrrh, the hot a distant star. Crying. Singing. Heat. The star began
sweetness from yesterday’s dinner, the dura beams to change. A planet – the emerald – Kua, waiting for
of your ship, its systems’ low, pulsating hum. A you. Glittering wings in the darkness surrounding
dream? What has happened? you. Hundreds of butterflies followed by enormous
“It began with rolling fields and an invitation. An shell-covered titans. A locust swarm come to devour
outstretched hand – whose hand? Then a starry sky the Third Horizon.”

22
 A Song for Kua

THE SITUATION
The scenario may find the PCs anywhere in the Third Horizon.
Either gradually introduce visions and pleading, dreamed
whispers from Urni en-Argonnas – the Machine Icon – or go TABLE 03: FEVER DREAMS
directly to the final and most coherent dream. This can be D6 DREAM FRAGMENT LINGERING EMOTION
used as an introduction to the scenario if you wish to begin 1 Rolling fields and step Longing
in medias res as the PCs are arriving in Kua. pyramids
2 Golden tattoos on dark skin, Community
MAJOR EVENTS flowing white silk and a long
red shawl
The key event of the scene is the dream that calls for the
PCs to travel to Kua. It is possible that the PCs initially won’t 3 A beautiful song echoing Love
under a crisp blue sky with
understand the meaning of the dream. If so, the GM can two suns
use the dreams described in Minor Events to underline how 4 Mountains under heavy Stress
important it is for them to get there, and soon. The dreams clouds, promising rain
affect all PCs, mystic and non-mystic alike. 5 A dark operating room in Sorrow
the Foundation hospital in
the Sultra marshes and a
y START: FEVER DREAMS lifeless, mummified corpse
On a night like any other aboard their ship, or as they're on a slab
staying at a space staton waiting for repairs, the PCs suddenly 6 A dark shape breaking Panic
experience a strange fever dream. Either read aloud the text through the light and grow-
ing larger
above, hand out notes to the players for them to read or make
up your own version.

23
WAKE OF THE ICONS

As they awake and meet up, they realize they’ve all had the y THE LOST SYSTEM
same dream but much of it has faded from their memory En route to Kua, the PCs are reached by troubling news
already. Roll a die on Table 03 to see which lingering emotion either as they make a short stop at a portal station or via a
and image each PC retains. The fragments below are just radio message picked up as they arrive in Kua (see “News
small pieces of the dream in its entirety. about Dabaran”). As the news breaks, the GM gets 4 new DP.
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory) Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory, generates DP)

y CHOSEN MINOR EVENTS

The first night after making the decision to return to Kua, To flavor or intensify the mandatory events, use the tables below.
the PCs again share a dream:
y GROWING PORTENTS
“You see a debris belt full of shipwrecks and twisted bodies – a As the PCs are traveling toward the Machine Icon, more
quiet testament to the wave of death that emanated from the visions appear (see Table 04). If the visions appear in their
heart of the Monolith. The guiding hand of the Third Horizon dreams as they sleep, the event is free, but at the cost of
severed. Kua singed by fire as the dream died and fell in flames. 1 or 2 DP, they manifest while awake and in the middle of
Still, beyond the belt, the emerald green below welcomes you. something important – combat, during a tricky negotiation
Scavengers, toiling families, growing river towns. The jungle with a customs officer, as they’re trying to land their ship
returning, scabbing over the wounds, healing. The naked, black in a storm etc. Pay 2 DP if the visions interrupt something
column shadowing the remains of Sky City. You feel the Messenger important that involves more than one crew member and
calling you back to the center of Verkâna Ridge and hear the 1 DP if the effects are less severe. After the vision subsides,
Song echo through the empty Abhrra floor in the ruins of the the affected PCs feel intensely drawn toward Kua and a
Spire, deep under the lush, green canopy. You don’t know where location in the middle of Verkâna Ridge. The urge gradually
your journey will take you, but have a feeling that this is only becomes an obsession (the severity of which is up to you as
the beginning…” the GM to decide).
Cost: 0 DP Cost: 0–2 DP (per activation)

NEWS ABOUT DABARAN

“We have received unconfirmed reports about Dabaran correspondents have heard rumors stating that the Dabaran
saying that no one has been able to enter or leave the authorities have indeed exiled themselves intentionally to
system in the last couple of weeks. A small group of mer- stop the spread of a dangerous pandemic. We are currently
chant vessels, including the Waha-Najima bulk hauler, investigating the veracity of such rumors.”
appear to be the last registered craft to pass Kua coming
from the Dabaran Circle. Whether the shutdown is inten- TAINA ABU-HARIM, THE RED SPIDER, KUA
tional or the result of an attack is currently unknown but our

24
 A Song for Kua

TABLE 04: PORTENTS

D6 DREAM
1 Enslaved by the white Vestal, the missing nomad star seers sit in deep meditation. Their minds wander the impossible portal
spaces to find a way through. The field suddenly shimmers and glows, letting through a handful of butterfly ships as tiny dots
against the glowing Taoan star.
2 Butterfly ships passing through the Hamura portal are met by mystic pilgrims under the influence of the Song of the Emissaries.
Explosions flash quietly in the night. Whole crews give their lives to keep the First Horizon out.
3 You approach a body made entirely of stars. The young woman embraces you and her glowing heart merges with yours – complete
serenity and purpose overwhelms you. The Machine Icons enters you, revealing a new destiny as you hear people from all across
the Horizon chant your name in reverence.
4 A cool cave of twisted metal welcomes you after your long hike through the dense Kuan jungle heat. You hear the Song of the
Machine Icon echo through the dura beams in the walls. The crashed station’s skeleton leads you down toward that which once
represented the heights of civilization, the Coriolis Spire. Toward a welcoming voice. Toward the lost Emissary.
5 The round temple is covered in vines. Sunlight falls on four monks in deep prayer surrounded by nomad elders. Mogul features mark
the faces of the clan leaders of the Janhagir fleet. “The Four who are One welcomes you, Urni en-Argonnas. You, like I, have wandered
far but we always knew that the day would come when we would meet in this very place, united against the plans of our siblings.”
6 A monastery cruiser in lone majesty against the whiteness of the star. Memories of what once was and of everything you have done
to keep her alive. Final thoughts as the holy flames of the Martyr purge the system. Skies and forests burning. Fire creeping up the
black surface of the Monolith. Cracks and then a great rumbling. The tower crumbles and the Horizons are cut off. Hope on a razor’s
edge, hope for the future of the Third Horizon.

THE HEART OF THE JUNGLE

Beyond the muddy waters of the Ramishah delta and the y THROUGH THE JUNGLES
Conglomerate’s whirlpool or laboring hands lies the almost The journey to the center of the Ridge can happen in a number
pristine Verkâna Ridge. You remember the arduous journey of ways. The PCs can either land their ship in the vicinity of
and the suffocating heat of the jungle from your last visit. the village, a couple of hours away or all the way below the
Revisiting the jungles brings back memories – dreams and rise of the plateau.
hopes you didn’t think were yours. The Song is now constantly If the group undertakes a longer trek on foot, see The Kuan
present in your minds, bringing you back to your meeting with Connection in Emissary Lost for more inspiration.
the rediscovered Emissary in a wide field far from the worlds
you call home. y THE FATE OF ALAMUHR
“Find me in the heart of the jungle, resting beneath Kua’s The Dakin puppets sent by the Emissaries at Xene have
forest floor – but hurry. They who were once my brothers and already found Alamuhr and attacked it. Charred bodies
sisters no longer see me as an ally. Enslaved vessels seek my and burnt-out ruins bear witness to the power of the
tomb and in their hands gleam knives meant for my back.” attackers’ inferno grenades. A dark pillar of smoke above
the treetops can guide the PCs to the few survivors still
THE SITUATION hiding in the village’s alleys and tunnels. Here or just before
In this scene, the PCs make it through the jungles of Verkâna they reach the village, you can have them encounter the
Ridge to the devastation in the hidden village of Alamuhr. half Sogoi Naysin or the village leader – former stevedore
Led by their dreams, they look for the entrance to the aqbar Xiu Xichama.
underground.

25
WAKE OF THE ICONS

A NEW BAYBASIN

It’s up to you as the GM to determine if your players get to re- The new Baybasin grows northward where the old Birbasil
visit the old mining town of Baybasin. More information can complex has been fused with the surrounding shacks and
be found on page 111 of Emissary Lost.
Lost. container homes. The Baybasin militia disappeared with
The reign of Raquin Birbasil ended with the worker the Birbasils but ex-Legionnaire Hashema Behari’s hunt-
uprisings that followed after the Fall of Coriolis. The er-scavenger patrol remains and has been turned into a for-
Monolith’s discharge caused an earthquake that collapsed midable police force thanks to some help from the Shaukar
the coltan mines and the formerly fenced-in poppy fields are guerillas. Former mineral prospector Mori Dakka has joined
now used to grow sugar, wheat, palm trees and tabak. The forces with the humanite sisters Ana and Mandri Meesan
clearcuts and swiddens on the outskirts are growing and the to form a town council. The Sogoi clan leaders Tasheeb and
sinkhole has swallowed up the entire southern shantytown. Sha-Muhib also have seats at the council.

26
 A Song for Kua

MAJOR EVENTS
The journey takes the PCs to Alamuhr and then finally to the
entrance to the ruins of the Spire. Feel free to make the trip as
long or as short as you like by introducing the various events
below before the PCs reach the underground.

y IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JUNGLE

The small village of Alamuhr lies in the very middle of
Verkâna Ridge. A first glance reveals nothing but a thick veil
of ferns, pineapple plants and low cocoa trees intertwined
with tangled vines and orchids on their climb toward
the sunlit jungle ceiling high above. A more thorough
examination allows the PCs to spot ventilation outlets
protruding from the ground and cleverly hidden solar
panels and wind turbines in the crowns of the trees. The
undergrowth seems to grow in the direction of the center
of the area where it disappears into three narrow, water-
filled holes. Artificial lights and steel girders can be seen
deep under the water.
Alamuhr village is actually hidden underground in a
series of caves constructed near the mouth of an Azaëlean
tunnel. The stevedore families who miraculously survived
the Fall of Coriolis were rescued from the buried ruins by
a Sogoi tribe and have since then scavenged what they can
to build a new home – dura beams, furniture, machinery
and whatever other technology was salvageable. The small
but sturdy village now contains a couple of underground
streets lined with concrete buildings illuminated by skylights
or artificial sunlights and the many fresh water tanks and
fish farms give Alamuhr a slight resemblance with the
stevedore blocks of the Neoptra or the alleys around one
of the Promenade Plazas.
◆ Devastation: Already from far away, the PCs spot a pillar of
smoke and upon arrival, they see that the village surround-
ings are burned by inferno grenades. Mangled attack drones
and cracked dura beams appear to have been destroyed
by a very powerful explosion or shockwave (the attackers’
mystical powers). As they climb down into the village proper,
they soon come upon the dead bodies of the village hunting
party, Sogoi and former stevedores caught defenseless by
the surprise attack. Most of the villagers are dead but some
may still remain in hiding, able to give delirious accounts
of how a rain of grenades suddenly fell upon them and of
a small group of attackers charging the village.

27
WAKE OF THE ICONS

◆ The Wilderness Guide: If the PCs have already met the Followers can be found throughout the surrounding jungle
wilderness guide Naysin or if they encounter him here, towns and around the Gyrides coastline but in spite of this,
he tells them of the attack and leads them to the village the sudden attack on the village took them by surprise.
entrance to find the wounded stevedore aqbar Xiu Xichama Xiu clutches a simple prayer book in her hand, nervously
(see below). thumbing its worn covers.
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory) ◆ The Prayer Book: If the PCs ask about the book, she tells
them that it’s a Miran prayer book of songs and prophecies
y THE STEVEDORE QUEEN from before the Portal Wars. PCs who have been around
With or without the help of Naysin, the PCs eventually since Emissary Lost may test CULTURE to identify the book
find Alamuhr’s assembly hall located in a deep crevice. as one of the ones found in the Messenger Emissary’s
Natural light falls in from above through an atrium. The residence (Emissary Lost, page 45). Xiu claims to have been
attack has reduced the once ordered rows of benches and given the book directly by the Machine Icon.
vats of sugar globes from the Spire’s Council chambers ◆ Heeding the Call: Over the course of the conversation,
to piles of charred rubble. Choking, black fumes from the the tides may turn in favor of the PCs, especially if they
inferno grenades still hang in the air. In the back wall, a are honest about the visions and the “call” they’ve felt
large opening partly blocked by a palisade of steel panels from the Machine Icon. The villagers are willing to let
and curtains leads further into the remains of Coriolis. the PCs through and into the Azaëlean tunnel that leads
The surviving Alamuhr villagers tend to their wounded and to the ruins of Coriolis if they think the group has a
dead in the assembly hall. The former stevedore aqbar from chance of catching up to and defeating the intruders
Coriolis stands in the middle of the chaos and attempts before they reach the tomb of the Machine Icon. Xiu
to organize triage efforts. can give them some form of directions to the ruins
◆ The Leader: Xiu Xichama (see box and Table 05) is a of the Abhrra.
muscular, former stevedore known from the Bulletin’s ◆ By Force: Ruthless PCs can try to fight their way through
coverage of the station’s final days of rioting and unrest. Xiu and her followers and explore the tunnels after having
She wears tight clothing under a flowing, sleeveless gown won, or try to charge the palisade and then flee down into
of turquoise hemp. Two nekatra follow her through the the Spire.
debris and growl viciously at anyone who gets too close. Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory)
She notices the PCs and asks them to holster their weapons,
closes her eyes and calms the suspicious animals using y THE WILDERNESS GUIDE
her mystical power. You decide when it’s appropriate for your group to encounter
◆ Intentions: Xiu questions the PCs about their motives Naysin the wilderness guide. He too is a member of the Reborn
for coming and about how they managed to find the cult and could therefore try to shadow them or, if they make
village. She and her followers are the guardians of the no secret of their being called by the Machine Icon, simply
last resting place of the Machine Icon and unless the come up and offer his services. He could also have been sent
PCs are honest about how they were called to the Ridge, from Alamuhr after the attack to get help. You can use him
Xiu and any of her followers who can still stand become to support your group if they aren’t that combat or survival
increasingly hostile and reach for their weapons. If there savvy, even down in the ruins.
is a fight, you decide how many of the villagers take part. As they travel together, Naysin tells vivid stories about all
Honesty on the PCs’ part about their mysterious calling, the different dangers of the jungles – wild nekatra and kabrin,
either by them or through Naysin, earns them a warm deadly diseases and torrential rains, Azaëlean tunnels that
welcome, however. collapse and bury the unlucky or the ignorant. If introduced
◆ The Survivors: Xiu tells the PCs that the villagers survived the early, he will carefully try to find out the PCs’ real reason
Fall of Coriolis at the Machine Icon’s mercy and that they are for being on Kua.
now sworn to protect the former Emissary from intruders. Cost: 0 DP

28
 A Song for Kua

THE LEADER

Xiu used to be a well-liked stevedore aqbar in the Neoptra of the station, the Machine Icon guided her group of run-
spaceport. She grew up on Lubau but moved to Kua in her aways to a hidden chamber in the hull of the Spire where
teens to start working for the Cellar smugglers. After even- they miraculously managed to survive the Fall.
tually migrating to more legal jobs, she began gathering The PCs might have encountered or been assisted by
contacts and resources until she could take over a couple of Xiu in previous scenarios. She will still be wary of their
the Stevedore Central crews and continued managing them current loyalties, however. If Xiu has already died during
for about fifteen cycles. As a loyal Free League member, your campaign, substitute her for stevedore aqbar Ana
she was suspended after leading a series of strikes during Chamoud from the Mulukhad who also participated in the
the Zenithian takeover (see The Last Cyclade). She broke protests shortly before the Fall of the station.
out after being arrested and hid in the Cellar together with
other dissidents on the run. Shortly before the destruction

29
WAKE OF THE ICONS

TABLE 05: ALAMUHR NPCS

STRENGTH AGILITY WITS EMPATHY HP MP REP SKILLS GEAR

Half Sogoi 4 4 3 2 8 5 2 Infiltration 5, Grape rifle, knife, herbal

Survival 5, remedy, camouflage cloth-
Dexterity 4, ing (+1)
Observation 4,
Force 3,
Melee Combat 3,
Ranged Combat 3
Alamuhr 4 3 3 3 7 6 3 Melee Combat 3, Power glove or dura axe,
villagers Technology 3, Vulcan pistol or medkit,
Culture 2, proximity sensor or envi-
Data Djinn 2, ronment scanner, tabula,
Force 2, 100 birr
Mystic Powers 2
Xiu Xichama 0 0 2 0 8 — — Dexterity 6, Stun gun, 3 stun grenades,
(leader) Observation 6, armor
Infiltration 3, Ranged Talents: Dominate animal
Combat 3 (see box)

NEW MYSTICAL TALENT: DOMINATE ANIMAL NAYSIN TARAK, WILDERNESS GUIDE

You have an empathic and telepathic connection Naysin is a short, half-Sogoi older man with a bald head and a strong,
with animals and semi-intelligences in your vi- sinewy build. With his hand-poked facial tattoos, he blends in remark-
cinity and instinctively feel what their needs and ably well with the hands in the Conglomerate. The tabak he chews
moods are and may affect how they view you or smells sweet, smokey and sour, and it appears to keep the jungle
others nearby. You may test MYSTIC POWERS at +2 predators away. Growing up both in the jungle and on the outskirts
(opposed roll vs semi-intelligences, simple roll of Baybasin, he feels at home both in the city and in the wilds. On the
against other animals) to befriend or dominate night of the Fall of Coriolis, he awoke from a deep narcotic slumber
an animal and make it obey you. A critical suc- and heard the Song calling him and a few others to a crater full of
cess bonds the animal to you permanently after burning debris amidst some collapsed Azaëlean tunnels in the jungle.
which it attempts to interpret and carry out your
commands without dice rolls. CHARACTERISTICS: Keeps stuffing more tabak under his lip and spits

absent-mindedly on the ground when threatened or feeling lost.

ATTRIBUTES:
NEW TALENT: ONE WITH THE WILDS STRENGTH 3, AGILITY 3, WITS 5, EMPATHY 2

HIT POINTS: 6
Choose an environment (Jungle, Steppe, Tundra,
MIND POINTS: 7
Mountains or Desert). Having grown up around
REPUTATION: 3
the local flora and fauna, you know your way
SKILLS: Infiltration 5, Ranged Combat 5, Survival 5, Dexterity
around, where to find food and water, how to
4, Melee Combat 4, Observation 4, Manipulation 3, Culture 2,
hunt and how to stay safe, even in the harsh- Medicurgy 2
est conditions. You get a +2 to INFILTRATION , TALENTS: Rapid Reload, Third Eye, One with the Wilds: Jungle
OBSERVATION and SURVIVAL while in your native (see box)

environment. Once per session, you may treat a GEAR: Long rifle with optical scope, compass, hyper rope, emer-
gency flare, tabak
limited success as a critical one while rolling one
of the above modified tests.

30
 A Song for Kua

y PEOPLE OF THE SHELL

A small band of Sogoi move through the woods carrying rolls
of gear strapped to large shields on their backs. They have
scales tattooed on their arms, neck and head revealed by a
CULTURE test to be the identifying marks of the worshipers of
the Shield Bearer, a local aspect of the Lady of Tears.
◆ They have an old Zalosian prayer book from the time of
the colonization of the system that they’d be willing to
trade for something useful. They found the book in the
Coriolis ruins before the big aftershock hit Verkâna Ridge
and caused the wreckage of the Spire to fall into the old
Azaëlean tunnels underground. This happened a segment
or so after the fall of the station.
◆ They can trade D6 herbal remedies to the group if any of
the PCs are wounded.
◆ The group is headed for Baybasin to sell salvaged artifacts
and rolls of dura wire. A TECHNOLOGY or MANIPULATION
test can reveal the salvage to be from the ruins of Coriolis
(paneling, djinn tech, spare parts, but perhaps also a desir-
able piece of Zenithian art).
◆ If persuaded (with a +2 if they’re given drugs or alcohol),
they can reveal that the Ridge is completely undermined
by cave and tunnel systems dug by the great Ama’turab –
“The Mother of Kua” – the very first Azaëlean who created
the jungles by bringing water and nutrients to the surface
from deep, underground reservoirs.
Cost: 0 DP

y THE KABRIN NEST

As they’re walking through a gully, the PCs suddenly realize
they’re surrounded. The loose earth starts shifting around
them and the ground starts to tremble. A flock of kabrin
MINOR EVENTS suddenly spring from their hiding places. Their wide cheeks
Below are a couple of events you can use as the PCs are and necks extend and flatten as the vicious predators prepare
traveling through the jungles or to make the situation more to attack. At the cost of 3 DP, the attack is a complete surprise
threatening as they reach Alamuhr. and catches all of the PCs off guard (see kabrin description).
Cost: 1, 3 DP
y BAD WATER
Without clean water in the wilds, you die. The PCs’ water has KABRIN, PREDATOR [−1]
become spoiled and smells bad. The contamination can be
revealed by a successful SURVIVAL test. Those who drink the The kabrin hunt in packs of five to ten individuals. They are her-
dirty water suffer a strength 4 poison attack (see the Coriolis maphrodite omnivores that like to burrow in gullies and crevices.
core rulebook page 113). The pack behaves like a bee or termite hive with an alpha as both
Cost: 1 DP primary intelligence and only fertile member. The rest of the pack

31
WAKE OF THE ICONS

acts as a kind of telepathic extension of the alpha. The pack stay successful bite attack. The bite victim suffers a -2 penalty to all
close to their nest unless they need to find a new one. Parts of the actions and loses 1 AP per turn. She may attempt to wrestle free
pack also hunt during the night and venture slightly farther from by winning an opposed FORCE /MELEE COMBAT vs FORCE roll.
the nest. Some gang leaders or slavers take kabrin alphas as pets ◆ COMBAT BURROWING (1 DP): The kabrin can disappear into their
and in doing so, gain the entire pack as an added layer of their tunnels or quickly burrow underground during combat to reap-
bodyguard. Domesticating a pack can be done by successfully pear somewhere else. This costs one initiative (3 AP) for up to
locating the alpha (OBSERVATION -2) and then winning an opposed three individuals. On the next initiative score, the burrowed kabrin
MANIPULATION test but only if the PCs first have the necessary may perform a surprise bite or claw attack with a +2 and a CRIT of
knowledge of the process (CULTURE or SURVIVAL ). 1. Keep careful track of which kabrin burrow during combat.

CHARACTERISTICS: The head flattens to form a shield covered in

small, vibrating feelers as the animal is on the hunt or when it feels

threatened.

ATTRIBUTES:
STRENGTH 2/4/8, AGILITY 6, WITS 3, EMPATHY 2

HIT POINTS: 5 (individually)

MIND POINTS: 8/14/20 (as a pack)

SKILLS: Infiltration 8/6/4, Observation 6, Melee Combat 5, Force

4, Manipulation 2/5/10
ARMOR: Thick skin 5

WEAPONS: Bite (Bonus +2, INIT -1, weapon damage 1, CRIT 2),
Claws (INIT +2, weapon damage 2, CRIT 2)

◆ PACK: The pack acts with one mind and the size of the group deter-
mines how effective they are. The stats above are divided into
three columns describing either a small pack (1–3 individuals), a y REGROWTH
medium pack (4–6) or a large one (7–10). The kabrin are fought The dense mass of trees suddenly opens and the PCs see
using their individual HP scores but may be broken by stress as enormous rifts and cracks in the ground. Charred husks of
a group (the MP stat is for the group as a whole at the beginning ancient trees bear witness to the flaming death that came
of the combat). The members of the pack try to stay within fifty raining down with the remains of the Spire just nearby. The
meters of each other. For each pack member that is broken or suf- Ridge – already unstable due to the underground maze of
fers a critical injury, the pack suffers 2 points of stress. Azaëlean tunnels – cracked at the site of impact and the ruins
◆ COORDINATED ATTACKS: The pack fights as one but may act mul- sank deep underground and were covered over by a landslide
tiple times per turn (on different initiative scores). A small pack of loose earth and crushed plant matter. Since the Fall, the
may act twice, a medium pack three times and a large pack gets jungles have started to heal and the craters are now covered
four initiatives per turn. Each initiative is rolled separately, is in low shrubs and thick fields of ferns. The surviving trees
worth 3 AP and may be used by one or more pack members. stand quiet guard around the clearing.
◆ POISONOUS BITE: Victims who suffer damage from a successful ◆ Treacherous Ground: The ground is unstable and may
bite attack also become poisoned (strength 6 poison attack vs collapse into the underground tunnels at any moment. At
Strength). Victims who fail the resistance roll suffer muscle the cost of 1 DP, it affects one PC – for 2 DP, it affects the
spasms and blurred vision for D6 turns (−1 to DEXTERITY, FORCE entire group. Those affected suffer 3 points of damage,
and MELEE COMBAT, -3 to RANGED COMBAT and OBSERVATION). lowered by the outcome of a DEXTERITY or SURVIVAL roll
◆ LOCK JAWS (1 DP): The kabrin can lock its jaws after performing a (each six negates 1 point of damage). Extra sixes may be

32
 A Song for Kua

spent to help comrades. Critically successful PCs avoid LIGHTS IN THE DARK
falling into the underground.
◆ Treasure: If you like, you can have your group test The underground ruins are almost never com-
OBSERVATION to scavenge for remains from Coriolis in the pletely dark. Different light sources help guide
tunnel – a piece of art, a broken storefront, crates of food the PCs along their way but unless the group
(pillaged by animals), park benches or perhaps a cherry tree also brings some kind of light or compensating
that somehow survived and took root again in the debris gear with them, they get a −1 to all sight-depen-
of a crushed temple garden. The tunnel may also contain dent rolls.
a small stream of fresh water. ◆ Daylight filters in through thin cracks in the
Cost: 0, 1–2 DP ceiling.
◆ Cracked vats of sugar globes in the ruins of
the finer establishments along the Esplanade

THE RUINS
or in the palaces of the Zenithian elite emit a
ghostly glow.
◆ Bioluminescent beetles feed on the Azaëlean
The cold walls and dim lights of the underground are a welcome secretions on the tunnel walls.
change from the clammy jungle heat above. The rich Kuan ◆ Here and there, backup systems still power
soil turns from thick mud to striped granite as the tunnel holo screens and emergency light strips.
digs deeper, leaving a trail of shredded roots and crushed rock
behind. Everything around you is covered in a dried film of
some strange secretion from the Mother of Kua, the Azaëlean
whose vast size and hunger becomes chillingly clear as you
take in the size of the tunnel. You send a quiet prayer to the
Icons as the ground starts to tremble, hoping it’s only a natural
tremor and not a sign of approaching doom behind rows and
rows of mauling teeth.

THE SITUATION ZENITHIAN TREASURE

This scene brings the PCs down below the surface of Kua,
through the Azaëlean tunnels and into the ruins of the Spire. As the PCs rummage through the ruins, they may
As the GM, you are free to decide how much time the group happen upon both useful gear and Zenithian family
spends searching the underground and what they encounter on heirlooms. If you want to, roll two dice on the table
their way to the Abhrra floor and the tomb of the Machine Icon. on page 34 to determine what they find. The value
in the table refers to finding the right buyer (original
DARKNESS POINTS owner or relatives, artifact collector etc); otherwise
As the PCs delve into the dark tunnels beneath Alamuhr and the value drops to half or even to a mere quarter.
hear the uneasy rumbling of the pained Ridge moving around
them, you get 1 new DP per player down to a minimum of 6
DP. Certain events in the scene will also generate additional DP.

MAJOR EVENTS
The events taking place in the ruins of Coriolis can either
happen one after the other regardless of which way the
PCs choose or according to their locations on the map of

33
WAKE OF THE ICONS

the ruins (page 35). On the map, the room numbers The PCs shiver in the sudden cold and Kuans among them
correspond to the events below and the PCs’ choice of way – or anyone with CULTURE or SURVIVAL – can remember the
determines what happens when. The length of the journey tales of the Azaëleans, the enormous worms that once lived
to the final scene of the scenario is for you to decide. and burrowed under the surface of the planet in prehistoric
times. The only remains of the mythical creatures are their
1. SKELETON SPIRE networks of tunnels. Read more about the Azaëleans on
Before long, the PCs come to a collapse in the tunnel. From pages 290 and 320 of the Coriolis core rulebook.
the rubble, long, twisted ribs protrude. The once mighty dura ◆ Darkness Points: The quake is a dark omen. Unless a PC
beams and vacuum shields of the Coriolis hull now lie melted prays to the Icons for protection, you get 2 new DP.
and deformed after the flaming descent and subsequent violent Cost: 0 DP (May generate 2 DP)
crash. Strips of cloth and symbols painted on the metal show
that this tunnel is commonly used by the Alamuhr villagers 3. HOWLS
on their scavenging trips down into the tunnels. The tunnel has collapsed but a narrow passage next to the
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory) collapse leads into the remains of the Spire. The fall of the
station destabilized the whole area, opening up deep cracks
2. THE QUAKE and crevices falling into blind darkness. The PCs must carefully
The tunnel has become a more chaotic blend of soil, tree roots make their way across one such abyss by walking on cracked
and metal debris. Water seeps down from the jungles above windows and ventilation shafts. Echoes of blood-curdling howls
and glistens on the beams or collects in small pools in bent come rippling through the dark, bouncing off the walls and
dura plates and molten glass panels. The ground suddenly reverberating in the deep cracks, making it almost impossible
starts shaking, raining down dirt and scraps of metal from to determine the direction of the sound. A successful SURVIVAL
the ceiling. A high-pitch wail echoes through the tunnel – a test reveals the source as a nekatra warning its pack of an
gust of wind, perhaps, or something else? incoming threat.

TABLE 06: TREASURE IN THE RUINS

D66 ITEM VALUE
11–13 Quassar necklace with a blue pearl and a Zenith pendant 3,000
14–16 Large sugar globe in shimmering mother-of-pearl 700
21–23 Tabula containing the last message of a dying family meant for relatives on Amedo 1,500
24–26 Ornate box containing a dried flower from Ardha 2,000
31–33 Small gem-encrusted dura knife with a serrated blade (BONUS +1, INIT 0) 800
34–36 A beautiful vase with Ardhan patterns 500
41–43 A small Zenith statuette carved from green jade 1,500
44–46 Encrypted tag (DATA DJINN -3) containing the lineage and DNA-sequences of the Birbasils 5,000
51–53 A stasis container holding a bottle of red wine from Ardha 3,000
54–56 Security aqbar D’nai Astir’s diary with notes about several of the larger clans and factions 4,000
61–63 A beautifully carved musical instrument (GM’s choice) belonging to the Dayal family 1,500
64–66 Armored stasis unit holding an infant of influential Zenithian origin rescued by its parents during the Fall 10,000*

* The PCs can either try to sell the child back to the family or return it without payment in which case they instead gain the group talent
Faction Standing with the clan in question (see The Last Cyclade).
Cyclade).

34
 A Song for Kua

THE RUINS

ALAMUHR

2
1

4
6

5 1: SKELETON SPIRE
2: THE QUAKE
3: HOWLS
4: THE CITY OF RUINS
5: AZAËLEAN?
6: KHERIA’S ARBORETUM
7: THE TOXIC SHAFT
8: THE GRAVEYARD
9: THE FALL OF THE HEGEMONY
10: LAKE ABHRRA
8

7
9

10

THE RESIDENCE
OF THE EMISSARY

35
WAKE OF THE ICONS

◆ Darkness Points: The howls are very frightening and or there might be a way around (SURVIVAL). A well-aimed
generate 2 DP unless a PC passes an OBSERVATION test, or grenade (RANGED COMBAT) might bring even more rubble
the group explicitly says that they move forward carefully. down to create a makeshift bridge across.
Cost: 0 DP (May generate 2 DP) ◆ Wall: A street decorated in mosaics blocks the way at almost
a 90 degree angle. The PC must either climb the smooth
4. THE CITY OF RUINS wall (DEXTERITY) or try to find a way around (OBSERVATION
Many of the Spire floors collapsed into each other or melted or SURVIVAL). The climb is almost twenty meters straight
together as the section hit Verkâna Ridge. The tunnels here up and a fall could lead to serious injury (see Falling rules
have collapsed and given way to a labyrinth of cracked mosaic on page 97 of the Coriolis core rulebook).
floors and burned parks, streets, courtyards and once-lux- ◆ Blockage: A huge pile of debris blocks the way and the
urious residential modules. The maze is difficult to walk PCs must either hold a passage open as the others crawl
around in and especially difficult to cross. The PCs must through (FORCE) or push through a narrow crack in the
climb almost vertical streets and avoid stepping on doors or blockage (DEXTERITY). If the PC holding the passage open or
windows as they walk across houses laid on their sides. Here leading the way through the narrow crack scores a critical
and there, whole floors have disappeared down black ravines success, the rest of the group can pass through safely. A
and finding safe footing becomes very dangerous. Thanks limited success means the rest of the PCs must roll a die
to the affluence of the Spire’s former inhabitants, however, as they pass the blockage. On a six, more debris falls down
many of the homes and boutiques had nets or vats of sugar on them (strength 6 attack, weapon damage 1, CRIT 2).
globes and the scattered artifacts still glow faintly like tiny Cost: 0, 1–4 DP
stars in the night. At the cost of 1 DP per entry below, the
road through the ruins can be made more dangerous: 5. AZAËLEAN?
◆ Collapse: The ground gives way and one or more PCs risk The walls of the tunnel turn from soil and rock to a cracked
falling into an old store or residential module. A successful surface of something that initially looks like frozen or dried
SURVIVAL test allows a character to avoid the situation and clay. Each footstep breaks the surface of the porous material.
DEXTERITY can be rolled to minimize damage (strength 8 falling The tunnel also contains large rings at even intervals, raised
roll, see Falling rules on page 97 of the Coriolis core rulebook). slightly above the floor and measuring about a meter in width.
PCs who fall down must then try to find a way back up. Under the porous surface, the rings look to made from a
◆ Ravine: The tunnel ends in a wide ravine with ruined much harder material resembling limestone.
buildings and wet dura beams hanging out over the edge. A successful MEDICURGY test can identify the limestone rings
Climbing across might work (requires a rope and DEXTERITY) as made from some kind of organic cartilage. The porous

HYMN TO AMA’TURAB
A NEW HOPE
Oh Mother supreme.
As the PCs are exiting the Azaëlean husk, you could The lungs of Kua.
allow them to find a small patch of dirt covered in hard,
The lifeblood of all.
semi-buried spheres. Most have cracked and rotted
but a couple seem intact (MEDICURGY ) and a closer Fertility and rebirth.
look reveals movement underneath the milky shell. Azaël et Ama’turab
Is the last hope for the resurrection of the Azaëleans
The Traveler and the Judge.
now resting in the hands of the PCs?
The true Icon. Guardian of Kua.

36
 A Song for Kua

floor also appears carbon-based and looks like thick, dry skin, to the area and several broken panels and screens crackle
something a CULTURE test can associate with the mummified dangerously and stretches of the ascent appear burned.
elephants commonly found in Miran burial temples or the ◆ Choking gas: A choking gas has formed in the shaft and
desiccated desdemodu travelers may come across in the stairwell, robbing the PCs of their oxygen (see Drowning,
Dabaran desserts. page 97 of the Coriolis core rulebook). For 1 DP, the gas
A critical success on either of the tests above may reveal covers a section that takes two to three turns to pass and
to the PCs that what they’re seeing are the insides of a long- for 2 DP, the gas cloud requires six or more turns to cross
since dead Azaëlean. The tunnel tissue would probably be and preferably some form of protective gear.
very valuable to the right buyer within the Foundation or to a Cost: 0, 1–2 DP
Kuan historian. If they gather a sizable amount (GM decides
how much), it will fetch them between 2,000 and 5,000 birr. 8. THE GRAVEYARD
Cost: 0 DP One of the Spire’s more busy and crowded sections used
to be the level 12 entertainment district, the Ijadra. Wide
6. KHERIA’S ARBORETUM avenues lead to the ruins of exquisite food courts, theaters
The journey takes the PCs into what used to be a fenced-in and museums. Right up to the fall of the station, the streets
grove with beautiful plants and exotic birds in bright colors. were full of friends, lovers and families having a good time
Kheria’s Arboretum was a popular floor 14 destination for but as Coriolis started to crash, the hull tore open, the ED
the wealthier families of the Spire and the park somehow fields were overloaded and shorted out and the fall through
looks to have survived the Fall – a couple of light panels still the atmosphere boiled or evaporated the crowds. Decaying
running on emergency power have allowed cherry trees and bodies, ash and crushed bones are all that remain but a
thick rose bushes to thrive along the cracked glass dome of MEDICURGY exam of the more intact bodies reveals that some
the module. Scavenging rodents and felines from the jungles of them survived the crash and died later, a grimace of terror
above have made their way down to the arboretum to feast plastered on their darkened faces. Choose if you would like the
on the remains of its winged former inhabitants. darkness bound to this horrible place to try to attack the PCs:
A few of the birds did survive, however, and they have found ◆ Bokor: Suddenly, several of the mangled, decomposing
chambers and tunnels closer to the surface to nest in to have bodies rise from the rubble. They have become manifes-
easy access to the jungles above. As the GM, you decide if, tations of physical darkness, mimicking life in the form
when and where the PCs meet the out-of-place-looking birds. of that which some legends call bokor (page 336 of the
◆ Territorial: At the cost of 1 DP, a small pack of cats or rats Coriolis core rulebook). At the cost of 1 DP, one or two
makes a lightning strike against the PCs (one strength 6 bodies rise. Spend 3 DP and a large group reanimates and
attack, weapon damage 1, CRIT 3). The attackers can be starts moving toward the PCs.
avoided using DEXTERITY or shooed away using MANIPULATION. Cost: 1, 3 DP
Gunfire automatically scares the pack away.
Cost: 0, 1 DP 9. THE FALL OF THE HEGEMONY
The splendor of the Therr floor with its jungle oases might
7. THE TOXIC SHAFT be familiar to the PCs because they’ve actually been there
The PCs reach the bottom of an elevator shaft and can either or because the Bulletin regularly used to feature it in its
attempt to climb up the worn service ladders (DEXTERITY −1) broadcasts. The floor appears to have gone down ceiling
or force their way through a locked maintenance door into first and the ruins are now a dangerous hike through a desert
the narrow stairwell beyond (FORCE). The stairs wind upward of razor-sharp shards. Some of the previously awe-striking
in the dark between two Spire levels and clearly demonstrate palaces still hang precariously in the darkness above as the
the difference in standards between the carpet-lined and PCs start to walk across the glass and metal wasteland. The
richly decorated corridors of the wealthy and the dark and sections that are still intact show a hexagonal grid of glass
cramped service tunnels. Something is still supplying power holo screens, some of which are still functional enough to

37
WAKE OF THE ICONS

38
 A Song for Kua

RESONANCE: THE ALTAR OF THE EMISSARY

display a flickering simulation of crisp Ardhan skies. Fallen
statues and ruins of what were once magnificent buildings You kneel by the four containers – couscous, water,
form small hills along the PCs’ way. Vines climb on the rubble myrrh and a lit candle. The elements of life and of the
piles toward the highest of the hills, a large mass of white Song: grown from seeds in the ground sown by count-
gravel – the Palace of the Hegemony. less foremothers; water to nourish and grow us until
◆ Shards: At the cost of 1 DP, the PCs must pass a DEXTERITY we step out of the stream of our parents; memories
test to cross the glass wastes safely or suffer a strength 5 that never really fade, a smell of something dear to
(weapon damage 2, CRIT 1) attack. One PC may scout ahead by bring them back; wax collected and sculpted with
passing an OBSERVATION test to find a safe path for the others. labor to burn with the flames of passion – till only
Cost: 0, 1 DP death remains.

10. LAKE ABHRRA

Eventually, the PCs reach the remains of floor 96 and the RESONANCE: THE KIDNAPPING
Machine Icon’s former home. Proceed to the next scene
and either read aloud the introduction text found there or They’re coming. Your lost children. The exiled
describe their arrival in your own words. who renounced your love for the shadow under the
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory) Martyr’s crown. A door opens and you command them,
your voice hard, cutting the air, shaking the walls and
MINOR EVENTS tearing at their flesh in waves of pain…
If you haven’t played all of the dreams from the first part
of the scenario yet you can do so during the group’s travels
through the ruins to emphasize their getting closer to their RESONANCE: A POISONED ICON
destination – the tomb of the Machine Icon.
Your body is bound by the poison. Cold and darkness.
y PREY Cut off from the Song, your brothers and sisters – and
A pack of nekatra have found the scent of the PCs in the ruins the universe. You remember only being clear for
of the Spire. The starved animals hope to be able to attack an a moment at a time, steadying your voice for long
unsuspecting PC at some convenient ambush location (see enough to form short sentences aimed at potential
nekatra rules on page 316 of the Coriolis core rulebook). The saviors.
attack can happen in the ruins described above or someplace
else. The pack will consist of between two and five individuals
but should be tailored to the combat proficiency of your RESONANCE: THE BIRTH OF THE MACHINE ICON
group. As the nekatra are semi-intelligences, however, they
are capable of basic communication and are susceptible to Something grabs and pulls on your mind – with pur-
dominant threats or food bribes (MANIPULATION). pose, tirelessly. Darkness seeps into your veins. The
Cost: 2 DP temple walls groan, crack and then… The masters
and destroyers of Terra, the parents you once left
y RESONANCE: THE TRAVELS OF THE EMISSARY behind, stand before you as you drown in a bottom-
A sudden sound or a failed roll during one of the events above less, starry night. The body is torn in a million pieces
can act as a trigger for a new vision from the Machine Icon and your mind desperately tries to find shelter. First
for a PC. The visions are connected to the history of a certain panic, then tranquility. Your lost children become a
location, like lingering echoes of what happened before (see beacon – a light guiding you to a new body made of
the “Resonance” boxes). metal – your salvation, the Coriolis space station.
Cost: 1 DP

39
WAKE OF THE ICONS

URNI EN-ARGONNAS
The Abhrra used to be home to some of the station’s most important
RESONANCE: ZENITH’S BETRAYAL leaders and aristocrats before it fell along with the rest of the Spire. The
holo dome has fallen and only a few scattered panels still flicker with
Your body shines brightly above the green defiant, blue Ardhan daylight, casting long shadows around the jagged
Kuan continent below. Soon, the new wasteland. Massive steel joists and maintenance tunnels forced upward
Horizon will be ready to become part of through the floor now jut from the ground like broken swords rusting
the world you and your siblings left your on a forgotten battlefield. Cracks in the ceiling lead the monsoons from
homes for. The Nazareem have fallen, their high above down as mighty waterfalls that turn the once-magnificent
snake pits purged. But then, it happens. gardens into swamps. You remember your last visit here. The Emissary
The children of Zenith reach out their had gone missing, there were riots in the streets. But instead of the words
hands for the ruling crown and behind of judge Kurahan, you instead hear the familiar voice of the wanderer you
them, something moves in the shadows. once met in a field of grain on a distant world. The wrinkled, sun-kissed
Butterflies in the darkness. face smiles at you:

“Dear friends. We shall reunite shortly. My home is your home. But I feel
RESONANCE: THE FALL OF THE MONOLITH the agents of my siblings drawing nearer. They will soon be here and they
mean to imprison me once more!”
My brother, the self-proclaimed Judge,
raises his voice: THE SITUATION
The final scene of the scenario takes the PCs through the destruction
“Brothers and sisters. You know that only a of the Abhrra to the former residence of the Messenger Emissary.
decisive blow will sever the serpent’s head
from its body. The children of Terra have MAJOR EVENTS
been deceived and our only hope to restore These two events describe the final scene of the scenario.
balance is to destroy their corrupt rule. The
Portal Builders’ leveler can buy us the time y THE BLADE FROM XENE
we need. The sky must fall to give our new The surviving Children of the Song are led by the Emissaries at Xene
order a chance to bloom.” and are being used as unwilling host bodies for the elite agents of the
Santulans, the Dakin. A group of five Dakin puppets has made it to the
I feel grief and despair. My new body, the Abhrra floor to try to capture the soul of the Machine Icon in a mind
link to the children I’ve learned to love, trap (see box). If a puppet is broken by stress, the Dakin is expelled
must perish – and I with it. from the body and the original person awakens. The returned have
only a blurry sense of what has happened and only remember the more
“I see what we have to do, but they’ll never powerful events since being overtaken. The five puppets in this scene
forgive us for it. We’re standing at a cross- were all dominated about a week ago except for Jana who has been
roads. If we do this, we’ll become the Icons under Dakin control for more than a cycle – her last memory from
they fear in their dark and lonely hours. before is traveling down the Ramishah toward the Monolith when the
We’ll become Night itself!” artifact’s discharge suddenly destroyed Sky City.
Alter the size and strength of the puppet group depending on how
much resistance you want to throw at your players. Make your choice
well in advance to allow the group to find abandoned members of the
group as the PCs are traveling through the ruins. The mystics they find

40
 A Song for Kua

could either be dead or have sustained enough damage for ◆ 2 DP: All five puppets remain and have staged an ambush
the Dakin to have been forced out (critically injured). One of (page 85 of the Coriolis core rulebook).
the remaining Dakin puppets is carrying the mind orb (see ◆ 3 DP: All five puppets remain, have staged an ambush
box). Pick one mystical power per puppet from the Coriolis and have boobytrapped the site with sensor smoke and
core rulebook or from the text below (see also page 193–194 frag grenades.
of Emissary Lost). Each puppet also has one general talent Cost: 0–3 DP
(page 69 of the Coriolis core rulebook) plus the “Mercy of
the Symmetry” talent (see bow). y THE MACHINE ICON’S EMBRACE
◆ 0 DP: If you can’t or won’t spend more DP, several of the The broken landscape isn’t easy to maneuver through but
puppets are already dead or no longer dominated, having as the GM, you’re of course free to decide how hard the PCs
fallen victim to tunnel collapses or nekatra attacks on the will have to work to reach the residence of the Emissary.
way down. Only one puppet remains (choose either Jana ◆ The Swamp (1–2 DP): The wide, snake-infested swamp is
or Mustafa). difficult to cross safely (SURVIVAL) and without being bitten.
◆ 1 DP: Three puppets remain alive. At the cost of 1 DP, small, poisonous snakes lurk in the

41
WAKE OF THE ICONS

TABLE 07: NPCS: THE EMISSARIES’ AGENTS

STRENGTH AGILITY WITS EMPATHY HP MP REP SKILLS GEAR
Dakin puppet (modi- — — 5 5 — 15 — Data Djinn 5, (See below. All puppets
fies stats below) Dexterity 5, get the “Mercy of the
Infiltration 5, Symmetry” talent)
Melee Combat 5,
Mystic Powers 5,
Ranged Combat 5
Jana Khamiri – Kuan 2 3 5 (3) 5 (8) 4 Command 3, Flightsuit, Vulcan car-
river barge merchant Manipulation 3, bine. Talents: Kinetic
Culture 2 Blast, Nine Lives
Mustafa Amshi – 4 4 (2) (2) 8 (4) 3 Observation 3, Mercurium sword, ther-
Legionnaire working Command 2, mal cricket, battle exo.
in the Rimward Medicurgy 2, Talents: Kinetic Blast,
Reach (Ranged Combat 4, The Hassassin’s Thrust
Melee Combat 3)
Wahid Faraan – 2 2 (4) (4) 4 (8) 5 Manipulation 3, Long rifle, inferno
Miran preacher Culture 2, grenade.
Survival 1 Talents: Prevent, Third
Eye
Noor Dayal – 2 3 5 (3) 5 (8) 6 Science 4, Acc pistol, frag grenade,
Scientist from the Technology 3, com link, drone. Talents:
Foundation’s base in Observation 2 Soul Reader, Wealthy
Uharu Family
Sian Ab-Hadid – 3 5 (2) (3) 8 (5) 3 Survival 3, Dura knife, thermal car-
Zalosian soldier Culture 2, bine, gravity belt.
from Zalos-B Command 1, Talents: Sculpt,
(Infiltration 4, Executioner
Ranged Combat 3,
Melee Combat 2)

MYSTICAL POWER: MERCY OF THE SYMMETRY

water (See “Miran jungle viper on page 129 of The Last
Cyclade) For 2 DP, it’s a whole nest of giant cobras on the
The mystic can harness energy from the reso- edges of the swamp instead (“Bionic large cobra”, page
nance between the stars. She recovers 2 points 129 of The Last Cyclade).
of stress and damage at the end of every turn The residence of the Emissary sits right at the edge of
and recovers completely after one minute out- the swamp, half-submerged beneath the dirty water. The
side of combat. The recovery costs no AP but walkways that used to be flanked by beautiful sandstone walls
stops if the mystic loses consciousness from a and shadowed by klefsi vines are now cracked and overgrown.
critical injury (the Coriolis core rulebook, page The terrace garden and the arcades of the residential complex
94) or is reduced to 0 MP. are completely covered under a thick carpet of twisting jungle
plants. The apartment used by the Messenger Emissary is

42
 A Song for Kua

also in poor shape, trees and bushes sprouting in through

the windows and climbing along the ceiling out into the
mosaic tiled hallway outside. The living room – although
ARTIFACT: MIND TRAP [−2]
with a new greenish tint to it and containing more dirt and
The mind trap consists of two fist-sized, ornate decomposing leaves than furniture – feels surprisingly tidy,
spheres. The pair is joined but can be turned around however. The PCs have reached their goal. Read aloud the
one another thanks to a pattern of slits in the orna- text in the box below or use your own words to describe their
mentation. The origin of the artifact is unknown – it meeting with the Machine Icon based on these bullet points:
might have been created by the First Horizon to coun- • Urni en-Argonnas has drawn them here to offer help
teract the resonance powers of the Santulans and for the coming war.
trap the minds of their leaders for interrogation. • The PCs are mentioned in ancient prophecies from the
◆ EFFECT: When the spheres are aligned properly, an times before the last wars.
energy field can be created that captures mind trav- • The Symmetry left the First Horizon and chose exile
elers and ethereal beings such as djinni. The targets to establish their own society, far from the reach of the
may try to resist by beating the user in an opposed Eternal Emperor. They are originally the children of the
MYSTIC POWERS roll. The user of the mind trap may First Horizon and the Third Horizon was in turn populated
either use the artifacts skill level of 6 or their score. by groups that had grown tired of the Symmetry’s rule
If the user is successful, the target’s mind is trapped and ventured out to look for their own freedom.
and cannot break free until the spheres are turned • The Machine Icon regrets using the Monolith to disrupt
and aligned in the correct release sequence. By using the Zenithian takeover (The Last Cyclade) and has now
different combinations of sphere positions, the trap turned against its former siblings.
can hold up to nine minds at a time. • The Machine Icon offers to merge with the minds of the
◆ DARKNESS POINTS: 3 PCs but leaves the choice entirely up to them. If none of
◆ KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS: MYSTIC POWERS the PCs is willing to let Urni in, they can instead bond
the Santulan with a talisman, a significant personal item
or the mind trap (if they recovered it after defeating the
Dakin puppets, page 40).
• If Urni merges with a physical object, the PCs will still be able
to consult the mystic through this item but are otherwise
not given any special powers or benefits.
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory)

OUT FROM THE RUINS

As the GM, you decide how the group leaves the

ruins of the Spire. You can have the Machine Icon
ENDING
guide them to the surface or to their ship along a The PCs’ hunt for answers about who was calling to them has
shortcut, simply cut to them having left already reached its end. They have found the Machine Icon and seen
or challenge them to a dangerous ascent with visions of both the past and the future. This will give them
the Abhrra collapsing behind them – the Machine further visions throughout the campaign, protection from the
Icon can no longer support the integrity of the manipulations of the other Emissaries and gradually manifest
ruins and the whole Spire risks coming down powerful mystical abilities within them (see the introduction
over their heads. to the next scenario, The Tenth Icon, page 49).
War is coming and the heroes are getting ready.

43
WAKE OF THE ICONS

MEETING AN ICON
You have returned to where it all began. many thousands of voices screaming in pain and
On the floor before you, someone has carefully terror as Sky City crumbles and Coriolis is torn
swept the dirt aside. A platter of fresh fruit and a apart high in the Kuan skies. Wild emotions cut
pitcher sits in the middle of the room, surrounded through your chest like knives.
by small cushions. “We came here to guide our children out of exile
The floor vibrates and your fingertips tingle and isolation, back into the light. Knowing what we
with static electricity. From nowhere and every- did about Terra’s plans, we thought no action too
where at once, a single note gradually grows into drastic. However, experiencing Coriolis falling out
a chorus of reverent harmonies and then, finally, a of the skies and my new body torn to shreds made
voice: me realize the depth of my betrayal.”
“You are here. Thank you for coming. I have More visions. Crews turning on their captains.
waited so long to see you again. Have a seat. Eat, Mutinies. Muzzle flashes. Ships gathering at
drink, listen.” Xene. Four chanting Emissaries. Butterfly ships
A sweet scent of hot chai steams from the clay appearing out of the portal field in Kua. Nomad
pitcher and a few of the rocks just outside the ships orbiting an unknown planet. Pagodas. Four
cleared circle float off the ground and begin weav- aging monks speaking with one voice. Glyph cruis-
ing a spiraling pattern in the air around you. You ers launching barrages of torpedoes. Explosions
can almost make out a faint shadow in the middle lighting the night sky. Nazareem cultists wander-
of the room – a young girl with a dress full of stars: ing through corridors, leaving them dark. A star
the Machine Icon. flashing and exploding in a wave of light.
“You are the Chosen. The glyphs of the Martyr “You will be tested and have to walk through fire
and the songs of Mira all speak of the coming to reach the other side, dead or alive. Terra’s fleets
storm. The return of the Portal Wars, when the stand in your way. My brothers and sisters stand
peoples of the Horizon will unite against Terra. We, in your way. I sacrificed my body for something I
brothers and sisters, are like you. We left the but- didn’t believe in and now I want to give the rest of
terflies’ lords behind and wandered the stars. Our me to help you fulfill your destiny. Through you, I
exile forced us into war but we stood our ground. can find meaning and a new Horizon.”
We knew our way was the right way.” You hear the winds play across the fields behind
Images shoot through your mind. A terrible the high temples. A short person walks up beside
storm somewhere in the yellow atmosphere of you, beautifully dressed and with a wide smile
Xene. Voices calling, a weapon firing. Echoes of warming their wrinkled, dark face covered in scroll-
Bulletin reports about the Emissary’s arrival to ing gold tattoos. They reach out to embrace you:
Coriolis. A cruiser, the Ghazali, ripped apart by “Let me merge with your minds and give you the
a wave of fire. Butterfly ships flickering past. protection and knowledge you need to defeat the
Suspicion and fear over the mystic’s disease. coming darkness, or let me become a guide to you
Lonely, scared outcasts finding each other in back by bonding to something you carry with you.”
alleys. Humanites captured and forced to work at You make your choice and wake up in darkness.
gunpoint. Riots in the streets of Coriolis against The floating stones have fallen to the floor and the
the new Council. The interior of the Monolith, air is still again.

44
 A Song for Kua

THE CHOSEN be used during an opponent’s initiative activation (with

If the PCs chose to merge with Urni en-Argonnas, they are the same AP cost).
forever changed and will gradually develop new mystical ◆ Concentration: Powers requiring concentration need only
powers (see Table 08). one merged PC to be awake and able to spend a normal
action per turn. If the character in question becomes broken
y NEW RULES: PC RESONANCE POWERS or loses consciousness, another PC may step in and retain
The PCs now use a version of the resonance rules from page the concentration as long as she has at least 2 AP left to
191 of Emissary Lost. Once they unlock their first new power spend in the same turn.
(Table 08), the following applies: ◆ Power Bonus: When using a resonance power, the PCs always
◆ Pooling Resonance: All extra sixes rolled on skill tests may get a bonus to their MYSTIC POWERS roll thanks to the help of
be turned into communal Resonance Points (RSP). The RSP the Machine Icon. If the PCs are within 100 meters of each
pool may never exceed the group’s Empathy total but can other, each merged PC generates a +1 (up to a maximum
be used by anyone in the group. The pool loses 2 RSP per of +3). As their first ability manifests itself, each merged PC
day but if all the PCs who chose to merge with the Machine gets a permanent +1 to their MYSTIC POWERS score.
Icon spend an hour in prayer and meditation close together
(once per day only), they can cancel out the waning of the y THE POWERS
pool and generate 1 new RSP per participating PC (instead PCs who merged with the Machine Icon will develop reso-
of any other bonuses from the meditation). nance powers. Roll a die or choose from the table below to
◆ Using Resonance: Resonance powers won’t automatically determine the PCs’ abilities. Each PC gains 2–3 powers (all
generate DP. Instead, the PC attempting to use a resonance powers on a row). These will gradually manifest during the
power must spend as many RSP as the talent level she campaign. The GM chooses if they manifest in the order of
wishes to activate (1–4) and test MYSTIC POWERS . If the roll the row or if the player can choose the order.
fails, 1 DP is generated and the spent RSP are lost. If the Some of the powers are modified when used by the PCs
roll is critically successful, the spent RSP are returned to the rather than by the Emissaries (see below).
pool. Unlike the Symmetry mystics, PCs may only use the The table below also contains a suggested first activation
talent level they currently have, not lower or higher tiers. with a short description of a vision or dream. If you want
◆ Activation: Resonance powers are generally considered to even out the activation of new abilities, you can limit the
slow actions (3 AP) but some powers are reactive and may manifesting to one power per PC per scene or act.

TABLE 08: PC RESONANCE POWERS

D6 POWER 1 (LEVEL) POWER 2 (LEVEL) POWER 3 (LEVEL)
1 RECREATE (1): TRANSLOCATION (2): Spirit Shift RECREATE (2): Soothing Touch
Regeneration
2 RECREATE (2): RECREATE (3): Sculpt —
Soothing Touch
3 MIND SHIFT (2): RECREATE (1): Regeneration TELEKINESIS (2): Kinetic Blast
Mind Reader
4 CONTROL (3): RECREATE (2): Soothing Touch —
Forbid
5 DESTROY (1): TELEKINESIS (3): Barrier RECREATE (1): Regeneration
Sense Possession
6 DESTROY (3): RECREATE (2): Soothing Touch —
Bind

45
WAKE OF THE ICONS

TABLE 09: RESONANCE POWERS

POWER (LEVEL) RULES FIRST ACTIVATION

RECREATE (1): Roll MYSTIC POWERS instead of (You receive a critical injury or have been broken by damage)
Regeneration MEDICURGY when treating your own
wounds (even when broken but with “The pain and anxiety awaken a distant sorrow within you. Then,
a -2). warm love and hope flows through your chest and you see the Kuan
night sky before you. Life, untethered, surges through you.”
RECREATE (2): Use MYSTIC POWERS with a +2 instead of (A friend suffers a critical injury or becomes broken)
Soothing Touch MEDICURGY when treating the wounds
of others (in addition to the Machine “The Kuan sun warms your face and your fingers tingle with life and
Icon bonus). love. The chaos and sadness around and within you subsides and you
feel safe and calm as you reach out to touch your friend.”
RECREATE (3): Immediately regain 4 HP or MP for each (You become broken)
Sculpt six rolled (player chooses after roll-
ing). May be used on another merged “Darkness envelops you but at its core, a lone star pulsates.
PC as long as you are physically Suddenly, it explodes in a symphony of voices and turns into a vast,
touching. star-lit sky filled with hope. You get back up without a scratch on
your body and feel life rushing through your veins.”
TRANSLOCATION (2): When in trance, your mind can leave (You come before an obstacle or a locked door or feel trapped)
Spirit Shift your body and travel up to five meters
per slow action and rolled six. You can “The walls are closing in around you. You feel shut in, bound and
pass through thin walls, see, hear and weak. But suddenly, there she is – the girl with the dress full of stars.
experience light touching but are not She puts her hand in yours and together, you walk out of the world
otherwise affected by the physical unhindered.”
realm. If your body is harmed, your
mind immediately returns to it.
TELEKINESIS (2): Attack using MYSTIC POWERS (damage (You’re threatened or in combat)
Kinetic Blast 2, CRIT 2, Short Range). You can divide
your rolled sixes between multiple tar- “You stare at your enemy and feel your hairs stand on end. The air
gets as long as they’re within a meter of crackles with static electricity as particles and small objects whirl
each other. around a wooden top floating between you. The raw power halts for a
brief moment before lunging forward in a massive wave of pain.”
TELEKINESIS (3): (Reaction) You form a shield from loose (You are attacked and take a hit)
Barrier objects and light materials around you
(armor 4). Concentration is required to “You brace yourself for the impact and the pain but instead feel
maintain the shield. Each extra six on a gentle caress. A young girl wraps you in a star-covered dress.
you roll adds +2 to the armor rating or The fabric becomes a cloud of particles, of objects pulled from the
allows you to maintain your concentra- ground or walls around you, forming a shield of love.”
tion for D6 turns without spending any
more AP. Forcing through the barrier to
attack you in close combat requires an
opposed FORCE vs armor test.

46
 A Song for Kua

POWER (LEVEL) RULES FIRST ACTIVATION

CONTROL (3): (Reaction, slow action) Prevent targets (You encounter a numerically superior enemy and they all act before
Forbid within sight from performing actions. you do)
Roll MYSTIC POWERS and divide your
sixes among the targets you want to “You feel overwhelmed by the threat in front of you and your heart
affect. A critical success doubles the races in your chest. The sound of blood rushing in your head is deaf-
number of successes. Each target must ening, and then… calm stalks of grain bending in the breeze, touch-
beat her allocated number of sixes in ing you lightly. You lift your arms, see a branching arc of ethereal
a MYSTIC POWERS or Strength roll to be energy spring from your hands and envelop your enemies, binding
allowed to act. them.”
MIND SHIFT (2): You can read the superficial thoughts (You speak to someone who tries to hide something from you)
Mind Reader of a target as long as you concentrate.
If you win an opposed MYSTIC POWERS “The truth you seek remains unspoken and you feel your frustration
roll, you can also read your target’s growing, centering around your heart. Visualizing the core of the
deeper memories and traumas but emotion, you suddenly see a spinning wooden top weaving the truth
only as fragments of images and sen- together and as you open your eyes, you gaze right into the soul of
sations. If you score a critical win, the your opponent.”
fragments are clearer.
DESTROY (1): You can tell if a person or object is pos- (You are confronted with someone being puppeted, GM decides
Sense Possession sessed or invaded by a foreign spirit. details)
You understand the invader’s inten-
tions but not what or who it is. “As you study the aura in front of you, you sense a shadow hiding
beneath the bright exterior. Strings tug at the puppet’s limbs.
Something foreign with the will to dominate...”
DESTROY (3): You can expel an invading force from (You stand in front of a Vestal or Emissary who threatens you)
Bind a person, object or yourself. Roll an
opposed MYSTIC POWERS roll. If you “The servant of the Old Horizons stands before you in a glow of
win, the invader is expelled and impris- darkness and chaos. You feel the hate radiating toward you and the
oned in another person or object of your body it was just dominating becomes unimportant. The strength in
choosing. The invader is under your you comes from the Machine Icon’s faith in the Third Horizon, its faith
control as long as you don’t fall asleep in you and the choice before you. As you make the choice, you feel
or lose consciousness. If you lose, you strong and determined to act, to rip your opponent from the mind of
suffer the negative difference of your its victim and subjugate them to your will.”
loss in stress. The power may be used
to bind a Vestal or Santulan controlling
a puppet.

MANIFESTING A NEW POWER

On the first activation of a new power, you could allow for an automatic critical success to really
show the full potential of this new ability.

47
The Tenth Icon
From the darkness of war, You summoned light.
Through the eight, we hear Your voice.
Behind the mask, we feel Your love.
Once and future You, always.
You are wisdom. You are life.
You are Aremerat.
THE HYMN OF THE SAVIOR, SADAALIAN PRAYER BOOK
WAKE OF THE ICONS

INTRODUCTION In part two of this book, the fleets of the Third Horizon are
in peril as more and more mystics leave their posts and
steal warships to join the devout in the Quiet Zone around
Xene. The abandoned Nadir Flotilla naturally becomes the
new center of attention. Blessed by the Icons, the factions
approach the Sadaalian high clergy, the Amesha Spenta,
and the system’s mythical leader Aremerat to negotiate –
unaware of the traitors waiting in the shadows.

IN THE TENTH ICON , the PCs are hired to bless have basically become the only way in for outsiders,
a delegation on its way to negotiate with the unless they manage to get onboard one of the few
Sadaalian leadership. The PCs’ adventurous past bulk haulers that are still allowed entry.
has drawn many curious and wealthy patrons to
them, and their reputation makes them the key y CALLED TO SADAAL
to earning Aremerat’s favor. But the Sadaalian Since the beginning of the campaign, the First
masks hide more than idolatry and strict gover- Horizon has gradually started to notice the PCs.
nance – they also hide the First Horizon Vestals The Vestal on Sadaal now demands their direct
who once again try to sunder the Third Horizon participation in the negotiations for the Nadir
and bring its peoples to war. Flotilla through its puppet Aremerat. As the Icons’
Chosen, the PCs’ presence will bless the talks,
BACKGROUND but the Vestal’s true motives are to either convert
The fate of the Nadir Flotilla has become a hot them to the Imperial cause or destroy them, just
topic in the halls of power. The fleet was built at like it plans to do with the rest of the delegates
the distant shipyards of Bahram, through secret to create further distance between Sadaal and
treaties with the leaders of Sadaal. The new flotilla the other factions of the Third Horizon.
was named after the lost sister-ship of Zenith
and built by conscripted humanites. The plan y AREMERAT THE ETERNAL
was to use the flotilla to secure the power to The The twin systems Sadaal and Bahram grew
Consortium and The Zenithian Hegemony as strong together under a philosophy of hard work,
they seized control over the Horizon Council. cooperation and equality before the Icons. By
But everything changed when the monolith the people, for the people. The Firstcome saw a
was activated. The exiled Zenithians found new golden future take shape until the final weeks of
homes on Amedo after the Fall of Coriolis and the Portal Wars when the bombs came, crushing
in the newly formed Zenithian Coalition, fusing the fertile farmlands of the Shimush Mountains
the Hegemony’s worship of history and blood- and drowning the cities of Bahram under huge
lines with the Consortium’s expansionism and tsunamis. Then, out of the chaos, stepped a savior
dreams of dominance. The Coalition was first to – the prophet Aremerat, who rallied the people
try negotiating with the Eight Wisdoms of Sadaal, again and rebuilt the systems. What very few
the Amesha Spenta, but a decree from Aremerat know, however, is that Aremerat is actually Aresh
soon shut the system off to almost all outsiders, Najendaar, an admiral from the Sadaalian fleets
putting a halt to the talks. Only the Syndicate has who was captured by the First Horizon after being
managed to maintain a working relationship with defeated during the Dziban offensive. Under
the Sadaalian rulers and the faction’s freighters gruesome torture, admiral Najendaar was given

50
 The Tenth Icon

a choice: join U’Haya and the Vestals in exchange for “eternal

life” through bionic and mental augmentation. The admiral
accepted, and just as the final battles raged in Odacon, a new
leader emerged in Sadaal – Aremerat the Eternal. After many
failed assassination attempts, Aremerat’s opponents realized PLAYING THE CHANGE
he was basically beyond the reach of death and chose instead
to join the growing cult praising their very own Tenth Icon. Although Sadaal used to be a system with many
restrictions, the new state of almost complete
y THE BEAST BEHIND THE MASK isolation is something you need to make sure
Aremerat began seeing himself through the eyes of his devotees your players are made aware of. The closing can
and therefore as something greater than the beings who had happen as a complication to an earlier scenario,
given him eternal life. He abandoned the ways of U’Haya, but if you play in the interim between the first two
after the fall of Taoan, his former masters weren’t far away – the parts of the Mercy of the Icons campaign, or you
Vestals arrived in the butterfly ships and Aremerat was punished can introduce it via newscasts or portal station
for his betrayal. In a dark crypt underneath the Ziggurat of the rumors (see quotes).
Icons, his desiccated body now feeds a Nazareem cadaver clock.
The power of the dark between the stars flows into the Vestal
Ashaan-Unt Et-U’Haya who has manipulated the leaders and
people of Sadaal into completing the Nadir Flotilla and making it
the first of the Eternal Emperor’s fleets inside the Third Horizon.

y THE HUMANITES
The Waha-Najima bulk hauler, “the Celestial Oasis,” was one
of the last ships to leave Dabaran before the portals closed.
Onboard, more than two thousand stasis units carry Hadid
humanites – the Emperor’s latest weapon – fresh from the
production tanks to bolster the strength of the Angra Mainyu
secret police, “The Phantoms,” and give the Vestals an even
RUMORS ABOUT SADAAL
stronger hold of the system. A battalion of four hundred Hadid After the exiled Zenithians’ continued demands
has already been deployed to preempt any attempts by the for further exploitation, Aremerat has issued
people to fight back. The remaining battalions of around two
a decree. Sadaal remains independent and
thousand humanites have been loaded aboard Aremerat’s
Giants, the bulk haulers on the Sadaal-Bahram line, and taken neutral. Visitors without clearance must turn
to the Daharab shipyards to begin staffing the Nadir Flotilla. around or perish by the sword of the Judge.

y THE MUTINIES COMMUNIQUE FROM THE SECURITY INSTITUTE

The factions of the Third Horizon have scrambled their fleets
since the Fall of Coriolis and tried to rebuild their former
networks of forts and bases. The union between the Order of
the Pariah and Mira appears to have cemented the Firstcome’s
new hold over the cluster, but the stability of this is already
starting to erode. The new mystics still feel the call of the
Emissaries, but something has changed. They act in unison
and start taking over warships. The mutinies soon spread to all

51
WAKE OF THE ICONS

the factionary fleets and threaten to destabilize the foundations

of the Firstcome military alliances. Corsairs, torpedo ships,
freighters, cruisers – they all gather in Kua and around Xene.
Pursuers of the mutineers are forced to give up as the fleeing
mystics are welcomed into the Quiet Zone and slip inside the
protective range of its mighty weapon systems. As the GM,
you can have this play out in parallel to the adventures of the
PCs leading up to The Tenth Icon, for example by having the
factions ask the group for help to track or hunt down rogue ships.

y THE WARRIORS OF THE HOLY LIGHT

The secret behind the isolation of Dabaran is still unknown
to the public even if many of the intelligence agencies are
investigating and analyzing what might have happened behind
the closed portal. Followers of the publicly shamed Warriors
IMPORTANT CHARACTERS of the Holy Light try to redeem their organization by finding
out the truth about Dabaran. They try to find and befriend the
During the scenario, you might also need to add some mysterious Chosen depicted on the prophetic glyph armor
of the minor NPCs from Table 10. of the monastery cruisers and sung of in pre-War hymns,
◆ HEMISHA BIRBASIL – Captain of the Syndicate freight- the heralds of the Machine Icon: the PCs.
er Birbasil’s Dream (page 64)
◆ JANDRI RAMANDA – Captain of The Phantoms, OVERVIEW
Aremerat’s secret police (page 74) The fleets of the Third Horizon are slowly bleeding out from
◆ HADID – The Vestal’s new humanite soldiers mutinies and inexplicable guerrilla attacks from out of the dark
(page 97) between the stars (by butterfly ships). Negotiations with the
◆ ASHA AN-UNT ET-U’HAYA – The Vestal ruling Sadaal leadership of Sadaal have broken down, time and again. An
(page 98) agreement to divide the Nadir Flotilla between the factions
warrants a final attempt to approach Aremerat and the PCs
are called in to escort the delegation’s VIPs. They soon find
themselves walking into a deadly trap.

y SCENE 1 – BIRBASIL’S DREAM (PAGE 62)

The segment of the Dancer, C164: The PCs have recuperated
after the events on Kua but are soon contacted by one of their
patrons. The supreme leader of Sadaal, Aremerat the Eternal,
has requested their presence at negotiations with the rest of
the factions. They are expected to meet the syndicate vessel
Birbasil’s Dream on the independent station Djachroum and
then travel to Aiwaz. The trip takes the PCs through the wounded
system of Kua and prepares them for what’s to come…

y SCENE 2 – COMING TOGETHER (PAGE 68)

The PCs reach Aiwaz and meet the delegates. Several factions
have contributed small fleets or squadrons as escorts. A

52
 The Tenth Icon

cryptic message is delivered, promising “the truth” as soon Machine Icon. The mystic mutinies and the threat they pose
as they arrive in Sadaal. As the delegation is preparing to as puppets to the Emissaries should feel urgent and deeply
depart, another mutiny takes place as a group of mystics worrying. Finally, the corruption eating its way through the
tries to commandeer the flagship of the Order’s fleets and Sadaalian clergy turns the Nadir Flotilla on the Third Horizon.
jump toward Kua. The conflict with the mystics intensifies.
y PC INCENTIVES
y SCENE 3 – THE BETRAYAL (PAGE 73) Thanks to previous heroics, their connection to the old prophecies
As the PCs arrive in Sadaal, they are awakened to an abrupt and the guiding voice of the Machine Icon, the PCs’ group
change of plans – the rest of the delegates have already concept matters less and less. By now, it determines how they
been arrested and they now have to fight their way out and belong in the corridors of power, not if they do. Some groups will
escape down to the planet to hide in Alburz with Aremerat’s want payment for their services as escorts to the delegation. As
fearsome secret police on their tail. they must travel aboard Birbasil’s Dream, the payment they’re
offered could be a new module fitted for their ship, or lengthy
y SCENE 4 – FRIENDS AND ENEMIES (PAGE 87) and expensive repairs at the docks in Djachroum or some other
Hunted through the streets of Alburz, the PCs find new allies trustworthy base. You decide if the PCs are allowed to take their
in Deeptown. They meet agents from the Warriors of the Holy own ship to Aiwaz or if they board the Dream immediately.
Light and learn what’s about to happen to the delegation. The scenario doesn’t have to begin in Djachroum as described
below, but this is a good way to introduce the gathering fleet
y SCENE 5 – THE CRYING ZIGGURAT (PAGE 91) at Xene if you haven’t already done so.
What was meant to be an audience with Aremerat instead
turns into a public execution. The delegation is accused of y IMPORTANT FACTS
treason and dealings with the enemy: the Emissaries. Only Each scene ends with an event that ties in with the next
the living Icon Aremerat can save the Third Horizon. The PCs scene. You can use these events earlier than described below
must rescue the delegates and attempt to flee the system, to quicken the pace of the scenario, as long as the PCs have
but Sadaal’s new humanite soldiers and the Vestal controlling found the key clues below:
it all from the shadows stand in their way. ◆ The PCs have been personally chosen by Aremerat to lead
the delegation to Sadaal.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN ◆ They should meet up with the rest of the delegation on
In The Tenth Icon, the Horizon Wars begin and should remind the way.
the PCs that without strong alliances, the Third Horizon will ◆ They need to understand how serious of a threat the mystic
perish before the might of the Old Horizons. The road the mutinies are becoming.
PCs have to choose should be obvious to them, unless they ◆ They need to make it to Sadaal and meet up with the
actively want to become agents of darkness (which will be Warriors of the Holy Light.
more demanding for you as the GM). ◆ They should figure out that Sadaal chooses to take control of
The beginning of the scenario will see them reconnect the Nadir Flotilla and turn on the rest of the Third Horizon.
with several of their former opponents and allies – potentially
both rejected patrons and mortal enemies. This is meant to y ANTIHEROES
show them that the delegates are willing to put everything The PCs are ultimately free to choose not to rescue the dele-
else aside to maximize their chances of resisting the coming gates and don’t have to encounter the Vestal. Them doing it
darkness. The scenario ends with them learning the truth in is preferable, but what’s most important is that the Warriors
Sadaal and seeing the treason there being revealed. of the Holy Light manage to tell them the truth – it’s up to
If the PCs chose to merge with Urni at the end of the the PCs if they want to act on the information or if they just
previous scenario, it’s important that you give them time want to save their own skins. You could use the Machine Icon
and space to explore their newfound powers and link to the to reveal the secret Vestal to them later, if you like.

53
WAKE OF THE ICONS

THE ETERNAL “The Eternal Leader has spoken.”

Some of the members of the ancient council of Sadaal are
about to protest but quickly sit back in their seats again.
Amesha Habathu, the Judge incarnate, stands beside
Aremerat’s empty throne. He looks around and speaks:
“The delegation has been granted entry on two discover how to use their new powers and speak
conditions. Firstly, they may only enter our system to the Machine Icon in their dreams.
aboard a ship chosen by us – Amesha Vanzur,
it’s your responsibility to contact our Syndicate DARKNESS POINTS
allies and find a loyal captain. And secondly, the As usual, you begin with at least as many DP as
delegation must be accompanied by the Chosen. there are players, down to a minimum of 4 DP.
Thus He spoke and thus it shall be. For our Eternal More DP are generated during three specific
Leader! For Aremerat!” events and the details can be found in the event
The other seven council members stand up and descriptions:
bow in silence. ◆ Scene 2 – during the mutiny in Aiwaz
Outside the Ziggurat of the Icons, the Cherry ◆ Scene 3 – upon arrival to Alburz
Plaza bustles with life like any other day. The hard- ◆ Scene 5 – at the public execution
working residents of the Sadaalian capital continue
to walk in the light of their Eternal Leader, not SCENARIO LOCATION:
knowing what other shadows stalk the corridors DJACHROUM
of power. Even if the scenario begins with the PCs leaving
Djachroum, a thorough description of the station
THE SCENARIO BEGINS with an invitation and a has been included to give a better feel for the
meeting with some new Syndicate contacts. introduction of the scenario and to provide you
After that, the PCs accompany Birbasil’s Dream with the option to let them spend some time
and her crew to Aiwaz to begin their mission. exploring it and the Rimward Reach. Also, The
PCs will return to Djachroum during the final
OVERVIEW part of this adventure.
The invitation from a former patron reaches
the PCs a couple of days before the Dream y THE KANDAH CLOUD
arrives at Djachroum. Negotiations on Sadaal The Kandah Cloud is an enormous gas cloud in
have broken down yet again. The factions have Kua’s outer asteroid field reaching 30 AU from
desperately tried to write a cooperation treaty Djachroum which places it at a great distance
for a joint defense against outside attacks but from the core of the system – Djachroum station
the leadership of Sadaal refuses to listen – until is already 47 AU from the star. The Cloud is full of
now. Aremerat has allowed for a meeting on the mysteries to unravel. Travelers stick to the outer rim
premise that a delegation of Council members or stay inside the Mouth of Kandah, a maze-like
and high-ranking dignitaries arrive in person pattern of clear corridors that appears to divide the
to Sadaal, escorted by the Icon’s Chosen – the Cloud in two. The reason for the recolonization
PCs. After a pleasant and hospitable meeting of this remote part of the system is the discovery
with captain Hemisha Birbasil and her crew, the of the precious mineral maghdan, a far stronger
journey takes them through Kua and onward sibling of selidium which is the primary material
to Aiwaz. During the journey, the PCs slowly used in the construction of graviton projectors.

54
The Tenth Icon

55
WAKE OF THE ICONS

THE RIMWARD REACH

THE RING THE HOUSE OF LOST SOULS

Ruined Founders’ Station Maximum Security Prison

DJERID
MONASTERY Mimra’s Arm
SOFIA GORA
THE FIRSTCOME ARMADA
KANDER-MALL’S
TH Ship Graveyard
OBSERVATORY E
RA
ND
FAR
OS KANDAH CLOUD Dashra
THE GRAVITATIONAL TARNS A
RO
UT Oxygen
E Oasis
FS-18
TE THALUS Abandoned
ROU Legion Research Station
ILK
ES
TH Fleet Base
NEXIS
The Kandah Gap
THE MINING BARON’S PALACE The Ashala Belt DJACHROUM
Marrab Cluster THE NEAR
ASTEROID CLUSTER

The Bah-Yiin Stones T HE SHIR IM PAT H Cresta

T H E M AG
H DA N T R A DE R O
UTE
THE FAR
TE
ASTEROID CLUSTER ROU NEAR
EA
KH AHALIMM
HE
Asmurid T
Bionic Free Station KANDAH CLOUD
THE
KUA

KARHAL-7
Bulletin
ROU

KHEA
Colonial Agency Station Relay Station
TE

SONG PATHS
DISTANCE IN THE RIMWARD REACH
SHIPPING ROUTES
FROM DJACHROUM TO (AU):
THE STAR KUA
CORIOLIS/KUA
SURHA
TRANSURHA/THE OORT CLOUD
K ANDER-MALL’S OBSERVATORY
THE MINING BARON’S PALACE
K ARHAL-7
FS-18
COLONIAL AGENCY STATION
THE RING
NEXIS
DJERID
THE FIRSTCOME ARMADA
AHALIMM
THE HOUSE OF LOST SOULS
MONASTERY SOFIA GORA
FLEET BASE THALUS

SANCTUARY

Djachroum is a safe zone, just like the song routes and the oxygen
oases. No one would even think to draw their weapons here, but just
to be sure, all unlicensed visitors must surrender their firearms to the
Purple Guard customs station upon arrival, located at the intersection
of the central shaft and the Cave of Bridges. Frequent visitors with a
respectable reputation may pay 500 birr and keep their weapons, but
mustn’t wear them publicly. Violating the peace of the station can lead
to vacuumhauling along the Column – a sentence very few survive.
50 45 15 3 12 2 11 13 18 15 5 11 10 7 16 10 4

56
 The Tenth Icon

NEW RULES: HADRA CLOUDS AND ION STORMS

y THE FOUNDERS
The Founders were a deeply religious group of Firstcome Throughout the Reach, travelers will encounter
colonists who settled the Reach about 400 cycles ago and worked the mysterious gas clouds know as Hadra, or Hadra
in the wide emptiness beyond Kandah. They worshiped mainly clouds. They are almost impossible to spot but can
the Judge and are said to be the creators of the so-called song disrupt both sensor operations and other electron-
routes, a vast network of routes that keep the darkness from ic communications equipment (DATA DJINN −3).
overwhelming travelers in the Mouth of Kandah. The Founders The Kandah Cloud is intermittently plagued by
disappeared suddenly and inexplicably some 300 cycles ago violent ion storms. Ships caught in such a storm
leaving many strange things behind; the most important of suffer damage per the list below, but the pilot may
what’s been found so far are the Forbidden Sector of Djachroum, try to reduce the severity by testing PILOT. Each 6
the Armada of the Firstcome and Mining Station 13. rolled negates 1 point of HP or EP loss. A critically
successful roll cancels out all damage. An assist-
y THE SONG ROUTES ing TECHNOLOGY roll performed by another crew
The song routes cover the entire Rimward Reach, running member gives the pilot 1 extra die per 6 rolled.
between asteroid stations, oxygen oases, khayaal gardens and Depending on the intensity of the storm, the fre-
colonies. Folklore attributes them to the shirim, the Founders’ quency of attack rolls varies:
high priests, storytellers and gurus. The shirim “sang the songs ◆ 1 DP – SINGLE DISCHARGE: One attack (1 HP,
of life” to repel the dark and shared much of their religious 2 EP)
devotions with the Santulans. The songs are kept alive to this ◆ 2 DP – PROLONGED DISCHARGES: One attack per
day by the nomad swarms through the use of song towers, watch (2 HP, 2 EP)
small temples built on asteroids from which the voices of old ◆ 3 DP – INTENSE STORM: One attack per hour (3
still echo in their ancient Miran dialect. Traveling along a song HP, 4 EP)
route is considered safe and the song code dictates that no one
may fight on the routes, a code respected even by smugglers The ionic discharges can be almost avoided if the
and corsairs. Those who break the code are believed to fall reactor is completely shut down together with
under the Curse of the Faceless: to be hunted through the night the ship’s life support. The ship will then drift
eternal by the star serpent of the Kandah cloud, bah-jin, “the through the cloud taking as little damage as pos-
Darkness Eater” (Coriolis core rulebook, page 331). sible (one strength 4 attack per watch, only HP
damage). Many desperate skippers have tried
y THE NOMAD SWARMS this trick to survive the harshness of the Reach.
The sector around the Mouth of Kandah hasn’t been completely
deserted since the disappearance of the Founders. Four
wandering nomad clans, or swarms, inhabit the Reach: the
relatively aggressive and territorial Mehtar; the reclusive and
OXYGEN OASES
deeply religious Badjao; the trader clan Yahin-Kabu (who take
main responsibility for the oxygen oases); and up until recently, The nomad swarms who originally had the Reach to
the now disappeared Ahilar. The swarms stay mainly near themselves established oxygen oases along the song
the Marrab cluster, about 5 AU from Djachroum, consisting routes. The oases are small bunkers or emergency
of the asteroids Marrab, Nija, Hraub, Dakka and Rayyan. pods with automatic com systems for mayday calls
In more recent years, the Reach has seen a steady influx of and contain oxygen reservoirs. Sometimes, the oases
new residents. The explorer Antoli Djachroum arrived with are organically replenished by vacuum-living organ-
the two ships Volos and Holy Amesia after the Foundation isms who break down the minerals of the asteroid
had reported findings of shipwrecks from earlier colonization crust and produce oxygen as waste, or by a photosyn-
waves. Djachroum’s arrival led to the bloody Marrab conflict thetic reaction to the light of the distant Kua star.

57
WAKE OF THE ICONS

and some of the Reach’s worst fighting to date. The conflict

ASTEROID WALLAHS
began when the Yimon prospector clan operating out of their
Nexis mining base on Rayyan found high levels of precious
The wallahs are the lonely asteroid herders who minerals on Marrab, an asteroid considered holy by the
look for mineral deposits in asteroids and bring nomads. The prospectors’ attempts at mining were met with
them to the smelteries, using only small sin- force and their ships and drones destroyed. This led to the
gle-person shuttles or custom mining exos. The prospector clans forming an alliance with the Consortium
repopulation of the Reach can be attributed to and the Legion to raid several nomad settlements on nearby
one main event: the discovery of maghdan. The asteroids, provoking a retaliatory strike on the Nexis station
Rimward Reach mineral rush created the aster- by the nomads. Unfortunately, this attack hit a residential
oid wallahs, both as a profession and as a term. dome and cost many innocent lives.
They travel between the oases alone and almost During the prospectors’ counter-offensive, the Ahilar’s home
never step onboard stations or other ships. on Dakka-3 was destroyed and the swarm hasn’t been seen in
The wallahs are often cybernetically enhanced known space since. A curse seems to have fallen over Nexis after the
humans or humanites adapted to extreme lone- attack on Dakka-3, dropping the birth rate to zero and reportedly
liness and a zero-G life, such as the Anoa (The making all the station’s inhabitants sterile. It’s believed that the
Last Cyclade, page 103). curse won’t be lifted until the Ahilar return and reclaim a home
among the Kandah asteroids. Aqbar Rakiv Fatiman has banned
new settlements in the cluster to try to wind down the conflict.

58
 The Tenth Icon

y THE ARMADA OF THE FIRSTCOME & MINING STATION 13 are used both for building and servicing ships and for
In the part of the Mouth of Kandah called Hazin Ai-hayil, refining locally mined minerals.
“The Great Sorrow”, lie hundreds of warships in perfect rows. The Rimward Reach has become one of the top destinations for
The automated defense systems still work and appear to be former Free League members. Stevedores and deckhands, traders
powered by the cloud’s ion storms. Right next to the ship and salvagers – all are welcomed by the Aqbar to strengthen
cemetery, one finds the Djerid asteroid cluster consisting of and supply the Reach’s network of oases and colonies in the vast
the Djerid-1, Djerid-2, Haisan and Ibram asteroids. Djerid-1 asteroid belt. The League has even been permitted to run an
contains a song route monastery marking the far end of official trading post on Djachroum, near the stevedore central.
one of the routes and an oxygen oasis whose microbes have
slowly eaten their way through the asteroid. Djerid-2 houses y THE INDEPENDENT SPACE STATION DJACHROUM
Foundation station FS-11, an archaeological outpost staffed The station has been constructed on top of old Founder
by twelve researchers studying nearby phenomena. Before ruins. A split runs down the middle of the asteroid, known
the Fall of Coriolis, the Legion kept the sector closed but the as Eskalom’s Rift, dividing the ruins in two. The Twin Station
Foundation and Aqbar Fatiman have now drawn up a treaty opposite Djachroum is forbidden to visit and is said to be
permitting other factions to visit the area as well. haunted by the lost souls of the Founders. A small section of
The Haisan asteroid houses one of the more significant the Forbidden Sector is occupied by Djachroum’s life support
Founder artifacts, Mining Station 13, which hides a valuable systems, however, to which a reclusive group of engineers
secret beneath an inconspicuous exterior: the only remaining known as “the operators” are allowed.
Founder databases, albeit no complete ones. The data cores The inhabited parts of the station are known to the locals
are currently being deciphered to gain more knowledge about as “the Tear” and comprise one half of the asteroid plus
the mysterious history of the Founders. a quadratic network of exterior modules holding docking
corridors, loading bays, elevators and various transportation
y THE HORIZON COUNCIL AND THE POST-FALL ERA rails. Here, the gravity drops to only 0.2 standard gravity.
Even if Djachroum always remained independent, the The spaceport is known as “the Greeting Hand.”
Foundation and the Legion had gradually expanded their Across the surface of the asteroid, a railway connects
presence into the Rimward Reach up until the Fall. The the hydroponics domes, commercial districts and the Tear
destruction of Coriolis brought an end to this. The Legion residential areas, conveniently numbered 1 through 8. Two
fleets were divided and most of the squadrons formerly sensor towers named Amesia and Volos after the ships of
tasked with keeping other factions out have now joined Antoli Djachroum rise high above the rest of the station but
the Aqbar’s Purple Guard. The Purple Guard’s mandate has look tiny next to “the Column,” a towering giant holding the
widened beyond the station itself to include peacekeeping in weapon systems and a docking station large enough even
both the entire Mouth of Kandah and the starward sectors. for bulk haulers (even if they rarely venture this far from the
Several stations formerly owned by the Consortium – core). At the top of the Column lies the Souk Ramallan and
such as the Khea mining station and Foundation station the luxury restaurant Shom-Ramallan where many valuable
FS-11 – are today cooperating with other factions. By trade agreements have been struck in the shadow of ever-
decree of the new Horizon Council, all prospecting and blooming cherry trees. The center of the Tear is home to the
scientific endeavors must be Council-approved and open spectacular Cave of Bridges (Coriolis core rulebook, page
to all factions, processes, gains and all. The Aqbar has 296), an enormous hall measuring hundreds of meters in
also assumed control of Legion base Thalus and the both width and height. This, the true heart of the station,
Bulletin’s Karhal-7 sensor array, located 4 and 11 AU is filled with Firstcome art, culture and life and a tangle
from Djachroum, respectively. The latter is now used for of bridges, ramps and stairs connects the various palaces,
all communications with the corsairs and Purple Guards plazas, souks, shacks and cantinas with each other. Aqbar
responsible for keeping the peace, and Thalus has been Rakiv Fatiman and the Horizon Council hold court in the
turned into a shipyard called the Kandah Yards. The Yards magnificent Governor’s Palace in the middle of the Cave.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

THE INDEPENDENT SPACE STATION DJACHROUM

◆ POPULATION: 12,000 residents and 2,000 visitors 150 meters

◆ FACTION: Independent, seat of the Horizon Council
◆ DAY LENGTH: 30 hours divided into three watches
(artificial day cycle)
◆ GRAVITY: 1 standard gravity
◆ LAW AND ORDER: The Purple Guard (loyal ex-Legionnaires
and corsairs)
◆ IMPORTS: Medical equipment, cattle, luxuries 1: SPACE PORT
◆ EXPORTS: Maghdan ore, fruits and vegetables to the
2: WAREHOUSE SECTORS
colonies, graviton projectors, ship modules
3: CAVE OF BRIDGES
4: CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS
5: FARM DOMES
6: TEMPLE DISTRICT
THE TWIN STATION
7: FOREST OF
LOST DREAMS
8: WEAPON SYSTEMS

ESKALOM’S RIFT

AMESIA

DJACHROUM

2
1
VOLOS

7 SOUK RAMALLAN
2
3

6
“THE COLUMN”

5
4
5

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 The Tenth Icon

TABLE 10: ENCOUNTERS IN THE RIMWARD REACH

NAME BACKGROUND AGENDA

Asoud Yimon Greedy prospector Looking for maghdan. Commands a group of prospectors and colonists preparing an
(Yimon clan) attack against the nomad swarms.
Yawin Neved Searching prospector Son of clan leader Gavro. Searching for Ahilar survivors to make peace with the nomads.
(Neved clan)
Amon Determined preacher Preaches about the Curse of Ahilar and about returning the swarm’s homes to them to try
on Nexis to revert the infertility of the Nexis colony.
Ein Sargád Bodyguard to a visit- Bodyguard and member of the Purple Guard. Secretly a Sohâi (Draconite warrior monk).
ing Horizon Council Leaves Djachroum in between missions to visit one of the Draconites’ flagships, the
member Soh’albuuka, beyond the far reaches of the Kandah Cloud where rumors say a gateway to
other worlds might be hiding…
Adina Nayal Curious FS-11 Believes to have found a way to approach the Armada of the Firstcome after having deci-
scientist phered an ancient Founder text. Looking for someone daring enough to try…
Toran Nôrghu Ex-Legionnaire now Formerly posted to FS-11 and the blockade around the Armada of the Firstcome. Took
with the Purple Guard part in several expedition parties attempting to explore the ships but was forced to
retreat every time. Bitter and lost after the breaking of the Legion.
Mirjam Sasani Determined Free Of Dabaran descent and with a long League career to look back upon. Regarded as a local
League administrator leader. Chose Djachroum after the allegations against the League risked leading to legal
at the Djachroum repercussions. Secretly smuggled much of the League’s contacts databases, contracts
office and trading manifests from Coriolis before the Fall, hoping to be able to rebuild the
faction.
Sur’ga Ghôrhun Tired corsair captain Corsair captain nearing retirement. Has spent the last twenty years patrolling the outer
space of Kua. Currently in command of a squadron of corsair ships and ex-Legion vessels
traveling between the portals and Djachroum. Has personal experience of the resonance
weapon near Xene.
Khemiri Assoud Unlucky explorer Captain of the salvage vessel The Lady’s Eye that has a long history of running into the
dangers of Kandah while traveling. Has lost three crews so far and is now known as
Captain Curse.
Mahmoud Irb Saboteur at the Poses as a worker at the Yards but is in reality a surviving Nazareem cultist trying to sab-
Kandah Shipyards otage the new fleet by building faults and weaknesses into the ships.
Tandra Abid Doomsday prophet Preaching that the gravity wells of the Hadra clouds are actually the eyes of the Icons.
and asteroid wallah Wanders the song routes and has been accused of vandalizing the song temples, some-
thing many fear will let darkness back into the Mouth of Kandah.
Hana Ab-Shamon Free trader secretly Investigative journalist keeping an eye on the conflicts and secret factionary dealings
belonging to the Red throughout the Reach.
Spider
Sayeed Alim Driven corsair, for- Originally posted to a secret Legion base at the Yrind asteroid hidden in a pocket inside
merly in the Legion Kandah. This is where the Judge Emissary was evacuated during Emissary Lost. Lost. After the
Fall of Coriolis, the civilian staff of the secret base sacrificed themselves to break out the
Emissary who was then rescued by three unknown ships. Sayeed is now hunting those
three ships.
Tain Kawah trader on Anoa humanite who, uncommonly enough, can’t take the loneliness of the wallah life-
Djachroum style. Tain traded the exo for a kawah stand, the “Tain-ashan,” near the entrance to the
Cave of Bridges. If you know the right questions to ask, Tain can supply you with rare
drugs and poisons.
Josséf Hamsaad Retired mercenary Responsible for the order to fire on Dakka-3 and the destruction of the last known base
tending a hanging of the Ahilar. Lives a quiet, nightmare-ridden life tending to hydroponic gardens and
garden on Djachroum algae farms in one of Djachroum’s agridomes.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

STARTING SCENE:

BIRBASIL’S DREAM
The message on the screen from your old patron casts a gloomy tables, oxygen tanks and more or less credible “ancient”
light around the bridge. It’s a call for help. salvage. The central shaft’s rail brings visitors into the wide
“The Emissaries at Xene are able to turn even our most loyal crews tunnel leading straight to the heart of the station: the Cave
against us. The Council has asked Aremerat himself for an audience of Bridges. Thousands of various light sources illuminate the
to discuss dividing the Nadir Flotilla between us to strengthen the dark cave and its stone houses, ramshackle huts, kawah stands,
Third Horizon’s fleets…” rope bridges, ramps and stairs. In the middle of the hall lies
You remember the secretly constructed fleet, meant to consolidate the Governor’s Palace, stretching its countless towers and
Zenithian power, now abandoned after the Fall of Coriolis. spires toward the ceiling and into the overhanging network
“When Sadaal closed to outsiders, all negotiations ceased, but of walkways. On the cave floor lies one of the larger bazaars,
now, Aremerat has granted permission for a delegation to visit – as the souk known as Fatiman Square. A large population of wild
long as they’re escorted by the Icons’ Chosen. By you! The leader of Kuan bantam monkeys have made the cave their home and
Sadaal has asked for you, personally, and it appears a non-negotiable the pranks they play on new arrivals while constantly spitting
condition. You are the last hope for stability in the Third Horizon…” a fast-paced chatter at each other add a certain type of flair to
the scene. The cosmopolis of Djachroum with its mixture of
THE SITUATION clashing ideologies, classes and cultures could just as easily
No matter where the PCs are, the scenario begins with them have been a part of the Kuan Conglomerate, the commercial
receiving a call for help. If you’re using the text above, insert district in the City of Foreigners or the Pilgrim Plazas of Mira.
their patron’s name. Aremerat the Eternal has requested their ◆ The Meeting Place: The meeting is to take place at Shima’s
presence to escort a delegation representing the factions of Chai House in the souk. Even without the photo you’ve been
the Third Horizon. The delegation is invited to Sadaal for given of captain Hemisha Birbasil, you would have spotted
negotiations with Aremerat and the Amesha Spenta, but there her instantly. The Birbasils’ striking features with round
are of course some complications: only the Syndicate is trusted cheeks, olive skin and chestnut hair don’t appear to skip
enough by the Sadaalian regime to be allowed entry into the generations. A trained eye can spot a few of Hemisha’s crew
system. A crew meeting the requirements has been chosen – members strategically posted throughout the crowd, most
captain Hemisha Birbasil of Birbasil’s Dream. The Dream will likely carrying concealed, licensed weapons under their flight
meet the PCs on the independent station Djachroum in the suits. A COMMAND test can reveal that two of the bodyguards
Rimward Reach and then travel to Aiwaz and rendezvous with (Harista and Makid) have backgrounds in the Hegemony’s
the rest of the delegation. A meeting has been set up between fleet. Their stern faces and postures contrast the crew’s only
the PCs and the Syndicate crew in the commercial district Firstcome member, a dark-skinned, tattooed man with a
of Djachroum, a busy place of stevedores, prospectors and shaved head and a colorful shawl identifying him as a nomad
merchants. After the meeting, they immediately head for Aiwaz. (Moshi). Next to the captain sits a beautiful but mysterious crew
member (Arin) who doesn’t bother hiding a finely ornamented
MAJOR EVENTS Vulcan cricket.
Meeting captain Birbasil and passing thru the Kua system ◆ The Meeting: Captain Hemisha spots the PCs as soon as
are the scene’s major events. they arrive. She waves across the room and appears happy
to see them, getting up to greet them properly when they
y START: THE SYNDICATE AGREEMENT arrive at her table. The PCs are offered sweet wine, stuffed
The PCs have arrived on Djachroum. The spaceport’s labyrinth vegetables, deep fried grasshoppers, steaming hot chai
of docked loaders, salvage rigs, asteroid exos and mining and small baklava squares covered in powdered sugar.
drones seems as chaotic as the corridors and elevator shafts After the appropriate amount of cheek kissing and small
inside, lined with frozen goats, crates of vacuum-dried vege- talk, she moves on to the matter at hand.

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 The Tenth Icon

◆ The Mission: Hemisha’s ship, Birbasil’s Dream, has been ship to Aiwaz, they will have less time to get to know the
chosen directly by the Amesha Spenta to take a delega- Birbasil crew. The rest of the delegation’s members will
tion of negotiators, including the PCs, to the Sadaalian be picked up along the way. The Miran and Order of the
capital of Alburz. The Dream has been authorized to Pariah fleets already have ships in Aiwaz and the Salam
travel in the otherwise closed system which means the Flotilla is en route to Errai, where the Zenithian fleet
PCs must leave their ship behind. The mission is time and some ex-legionnaires contracted by the Zenithian
sensitive, but you decide if you want the PCs to board Coalition are waiting.
the Dream here on Djachroum or if they’re allowed to ◆ Departure: When the PCs are ready, they should make
take their own ship to the rendezvous point in Aiwaz. their way to dock 16 to board the sleek freighter Birbasil’s
If they leave their ship behind, the PCs might consider Dream. A PILOT or TECHNOLOGY test can identify the ship
docking it for service and upgrades at the Kandah Yards as a Miran torpedo ship model.
(see PC incentives, page 53). If they take their own Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory)

63
WAKE OF THE ICONS

HEMISHA BIRBASIL, SMUGGLER CAPTAIN

Hemisha Birbasil has had a long career of transporting valuable arti-

facts, kidnapped dignitaries and sensitive trade agreements. Her con-
tracts are usually related to the family business in some way – remote
and unscrupulous Sadaalian factories or her aunt Raquin’s plantations
on Kua for example, at least up until the Fall. The occupational haz-
ards that come with the territory have made her invest in discreet
cybernetics as backup in case a situation turns hostile, and she has
widened her network of contacts by taking a lover within the Bureau
of Medicine on Sadaal. She pumps her paramour for information and
has become excellently situated to leverage good contracts with high
priest Amesha Vanzur.
Hemisha dresses austerely and wears a discreetly patterned thick
shawl around her neck that covers her mouth. If she takes a liking to a
business proposal, her cautious interest can flare into a passionate,
almost overwhelming decisiveness. In such a situation, she takes over
the conversation completely and her gaze becomes very intense.

CHARACTERISTICS: Rubs the contact electrodes in her palms when

studying or listening to someone in a conversation.

ATTRIBUTES:
STRENGTH 2, AGILITY 3, WITS 4, EMPATHY 4

HIT POINTS: 5

MIND POINTS: 8

REPUTATION: 6

SKILLS: Command 5, Manipulation 5, Culture 4, Melee Combat 4,

Observation 4, Dexterity 3 (+2), Ranged Combat 3, Data Djinn 2
TALENTS: Wealthy Family: Birbasil, Accelerated Reflexes, Skin
Electrodes
ARMOR: Flight suit (armor 1) with ablative elements (-3 to first
hit)
GEAR: Vulcan cricket, encrypted tabula (containing orders to
deliver the delegation to Sadaal for immediate arrest), tag
(5,000 birr)

THE CREW: The crew all have attributes scores of 3, 6 Hit and Mind class as Harista. Avid domino player and card house builder.
Points and a skill level of 5 in the skill relevant for their crew position. ◆ MOSHI: Firstcome engineer and physician. Retires to a cot in the
Additionally, they all have a skill level of 3 in CULTURE (except for Arin, the reactor room when the rest of crew starts discussing Zenithian
gunner), MELEE COMBAT and RANGED COMBAT. They each have access to a supremacy.
Vulcan carbine, an acc pistol, a flight suit and a tag of 300 birr. ◆ ARIN: the crew’s enigmatic gunner. Former Legionnaire who left
◆ HARISTA: dry personality, dedicated and meticulous. Pilot from the faction after the Fall to work private security for Zenithian
the Hegemony’s Aviation Academy. aristocrats on the run. Has a sweet tooth.
◆ MAKID: irritable and observant sensor operator from the same

64
 The Tenth Icon

y TO THE PORTAL after the mission ends and captain Hemisha has planned for
The journey from the sector of the Lady of Tears isn’t exactly an extended holiday on Sadaal when they’re done. If the PCs
a small affair. The 47 AU between Djachroum and the core somehow pick up on the crew’s doubts about the mission,
takes most freighters just under a segment to travel. The trip is directly confronting them with the right questions can lead
long and tiring and most crews will make stops along the way to the captain admitting that Aremerat and Amesha Spenta
on one of the smaller mining bases in the inner asteroid field, aren’t the most trustworthy of employers but that this truly
for repairs and some well-earned rest. Birbasil’s Dream is a appears to be the only way of securing negotiations.
ship designed specifically for long distances, however, and will Cost: 0 DP
make it all the way to the portal station in about twelve days.
The crew is likable and welcoming but unwilling to talk about y AN OFFICIAL WORD
what kind of jobs they usually take on and why they have so many As the PCs are nearing the Kuan portal station, news from
stasis units onboard. They make the trip to Sadaal fairly regularly Dabaran reaches the system via a probe. The sender is emir
and can share their firsthand experiences of the tightening of Rahmalan the Elder and his three daughters dari-Jahra, dari-
control around portal access. Outsiders are escorted straight to Mefti and dari-Masedleh and the broadcast comes straight
Alburz or to one of the giant bulk haulers that transport cargo from the emir’s palace in Dar Bahri (see “The Emir’s Speech”).
to the shipyards in the sister system of Bahram. The Amesha Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory)
Spenta and Aremerat’s advisors pay handsomely for special
deliveries, however – often of a much more glamorous nature BIRBASIL’S DREAM, REPURPOSED TORPEDO SHIP
than what’s imported for the general population.
◆ Aboard: Life onboard the Dream is simple. The crew work their Birbasil’s Dream is an impressive feat of imaginative reconfigura-
shifts and after a few days, the PCs may be entrusted with some tion. An old Miran torpedo ship has been turned into a fast courier
shifts of their own if they want. None of the crew members are ship with a creatively designed cargo hold. Despite the sleek design
particularly skilled in the kitchen and the meals onboard are and the shortness of the craft – it measures only twenty-eight
often nutrition cubes and algae paste. PCs who can actually meters from bow to stern – the modules inside have been divided
cook will be very much appreciated. One of the stasis units between three levels. The lower level contains the reactor, the
contains Hemisha’s private wine collection – an impressive engine room and the acc gun turret connected by low corridors.
selection of vintage bottles from practically the entire Horizon. The living modules can be found in the center of the ship, lined with
◆ The Mission: During the trip, let the PCs get to know the two long rows of cryo chambers and the top level holds the service
crew, have dinner together and explore the ship a bit. None module, cargo space and torpedo room. Hemisha Birbasil both owns
of the crew members wish to end up on the wrong foot and captains the ship after having bought it cheap in poor condition
with “the Chosen” and will try hard to be friendly with the off a retired corsair from Ordana. The former owner had salvaged
PCs. The crew expect a substantial reward for delivering the the ship from the cemeteries in Yastapol and rumors about it say that
delegation to Sadaal and are aware of what fate awaits their it had taken part in an expedition to one of the system’s many aban-
passengers. They will probably have a difficult time traveling doned weapons platforms – a trip from which few return unscathed.

THE EMIR’S SPEECH

“People of the Third Horizon. I, my daughters and the leading dars of our world stand before you today under the
lotus, ready to tell you the truth about our drastic isolation. A group of thugs afflicted with the mystic’s disease have
carried out a series of terrorist attacks in our system. Dabaran and our portal station were severely affected by
these dark acts springing from the infected’s unholy alliance with the false Icons. To protect the rest of the Horizon
from a fate worse than death, we have chosen to place ourselves under complete quarantine. No vessels are allowed
in or out of the system. The terrorists have been apprehended and we will send you more news when we have them.”
EMIR RAHMALAN THE ELDER, DAR BAHRI, DABARAN

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

BIRBASIL’S DREAM, (REPURPOSED TORPEDO SHIP, CLASS II)

◆ SHIPYARD: (Chelebs, Mira) Harima, Kua

◆ CREW: 4
◆ EP: 5
◆ HP: 3
◆ MANEUVERABILITY: +4
◆ SIGNATURE: 0 1
◆ ARMOR: 4
◆ SPEED: 4 A
◆ MODULES: 2 Cabins (1 person standard), B C B
2 Cabins (5 people coffins), Cargo Hold
(5 tons), Docking station, Heavy Acc X Y Z X 3
Cannon, Service Module, Smuggler’s Stash
(1 ton), 4 Stasis Holds (times 5 beds),
U U
Torpedo System (2 plasma, 2 nuclear) Y Y
◆ FEATURES: Antimatter Rockets, Atmospheric
Entry, Bonus Modules (5), Ejector 2
◆ PROBLEM:
Unstable transponder: The ship’s tran- V V
sponder sometimes overcharges when the
sensors are activated, allowing for a mis-
identification of the ship’s identity based on
it’s far from spotless past: either as the cor- W
sair vessel Black Onyx (wanted by both the
Colonial Agency and the Order) or the de-
serter torpedo boat Hamsha Alil, allegedly
involved in an attack on one of Mira’s former
matriarchs.
◆ COST: 620,000 birr X

28.5 METERS MIDDLE DECK

1: BRIDGE 6: DOCKING STATION

19.5 METERS

2: LIVING QUARTERS 7: HEAVY ACCELERATOR

3: TORPEDO SYSTEM CANNON
4: CARGO HOLD 8: REACTOR CONTROL
5: SERVICE STATION 9: ANTIMATTER ROCKET

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 The Tenth Icon

2×2 meters
6

A A C
B 7
!

3 X X

X X

! !
5

UPPER DECK

A B C LADDER W CANTEEN, KITCHEN

U V CABIN, COFFINS X STASIS HOLD
Y SANITARY MODULE
! SERVICE TUNNEL Z SHOWER
LOWER DECK
^ ELEVATOR

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

MINOR EVENTS ◆ The corsairs fire warning shots around the fighters and
If you feel like it, take the opportunity to let your players experi- proclaim all Kuan space to be under Djachroum protection.
ence some more of the unique features of the Rimward Reach. ◆ The fighters request permission to pursue and defeat
The sector has its own societal norms, a rich, unexplored fleeing deserters but are denied.
history and many strange natural and cosmic phenomena. ◆ The crew of the supply ship tries to beg for help. They claim
to be pilgrims seeking asylum in Kua.
y RENEGADE DESERTERS
As the ship passes through the outskirts of the asteroid belt, It’s up to the PCs how they wish to act – leave the supply ship
the sensors suddenly report of incoming vessels. A DATA DJINN to its fate, or choose sides in the conflict? Will they step in
test can reveal the class and affiliation of the ships as three between the corsairs and the Order fighters, or between the
Order fighters (type Nasia, class I, The Last Cyclade page 32) fighters and supply ship?
chasing one of their own supply ships, commandeered by For 1 additional DP, the supply ship positions itself with
mystics who have answered the call of Xene (use the “Salvage the PCs between it and the pursuing fighters.
model” stats on page 159 of the Coriolis core rulebook). For As the GM, you’re free to decide if the fleeing ship escapes
1 extra DP, another two signatures are on their way – corsairs into the asteroid belt or is destroyed and whether or not the
in the service of the Aqbar of Djachroum (page 160 of the corsairs allow the Order’s request for firing permission. If
Coriolis core rulebook). the PCs travel aboard the Dream during this event, it could
The corsairs will try to stop all military vessels in the sector lead to some intense debating. Captain Hemisha might
and threaten to fire upon the Order ships unless they turn for example offer aid for payment, or ignore all pleas for
back toward the portals. The fighters concentrate on trying help completely.
to destroy the fleeing supply ship. Cost: 1, 2–3 DP

COMING TOGETHER
The whispering, dreamless mists of hypersleep feel like a welcome Chain. The Djachroum declaration of peace in Kua means that
reprieve after your long journey through Kua. You wake up no factionary warships may stay in Kuan space, making all
to proximity alerts from your sensors as you arrive in Aiwaz. fleet logistics between the Dabaran Circle and the rest of the
An enormous vessel appears before you: The Hammer of the Third Horizon difficult. All passage of military vessels must
Martyr, the flagship of the Order of the Pariah. High prayer be announced well in advance via probe or courier and larger
towers and glittering glyph armor make her a spectacular, cruisers must pass alone, without escort. The Alabaster Council
terrifying relic from the Portal Wars. The space around her in Khorsabad has also imposed strict new regulations on fleet
and the Aiwazian portals is filled with fighter patrols, torpedo movements in the Quadrant of the Pillar and the sector is
ships and small destroyers. becoming known as less safe than it used to be. Rumors say
“This is the Shakush-M’hatoun. In the name of the Martyr, we that the devastating weapon systems in the Black Sector in
welcome you to Aiwaz. Your arrival has been highly anticipated. Altai have become able to spot and fire on ships as far away as
Welcome aboard – we don’t have much time…” by the portals. The combined effect of the changes above is
that most of the Third Horizon fleets currently reside in Aiwaz
THE SITUATION or the nearby systems of Errai, Zalos and Mira.
During The Last Cyclade, Aiwaz was under Order blockade but
an alliance has formed between Zalos and Mira after the Fall of y THE DELEGATES
Coriolis. Starting with pilgrims, Zalosian space was eventually The four delegates represent the Horizon’s major factions
opened also for commercial traffic along the reopened Miran that desperately want to negotiate with the Sadaalian regime.

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 The Tenth Icon

All but the Zenithian Coalition’s representative are already high tempo but should build toward the third and final part
onboard The Hammer of the Martyr when the PCs arrive. of the book.
Upon arrival, Birbasil’s Dream is escorted to and given
docking clearance with the mighty battleship to meet up y START: THE MARTYR’S HAMMER
with the delegation and its entourage of bodyguards and The Order’s monastery cruiser orbits close to the portal station,
assistants. As this is going on, a mystic mutiny aboard The surrounded by a swarm of torpedo ships and fighters. Despite
Hammer begins. the words of welcome as the PCs came out of the portal, they are
If the PCs rescued an appropriate patron or Council member taken to The Hammer by a heavily armed escort. Two torpedo
during the finale of The Last Cyclade, you can substitute this ships lock onto Birbasil’s Dream (and the PCs’ own ship if they
character for one of the below to represent their faction. brought it) and six fighters in combat formation make sure they
Personal connections between the PCs and the delegates stick to their approach vector. Regular Order monastery cruisers
are favorable – no matter if they are good or bad. are already enormous – measuring 1,100 meters from bow to
◆ Khaleem Hydarnes: Member of the Martyr Council, (uncle stern – but look like toys compared to the ancient, 1,800 meter
of Chabaun Kheml who led The Warriors of the Holy Light long flagship, one of the largest vessels ever constructed in the
in Emissary Lost), the Order of the Pariah Third Horizon. Position lights glitter on the fractal armor hull
◆ Mata Amri: Religious leader and advisor to the matriarch and the glyphs placed there by the prophets of old light up,
and patriarch of Mira, the Church of the Icons sentence by sentence, as the PCs begin docking.
◆ Sandar Artabazus: Successful corsair lord (and secret After docking, the PCs and captain Hemisha enter a large
Draconite agent) and son of the matriarch Genya who chamber with arcades and stone walls reminding them more
rules the most influential clan on the Alabaster Council, of the aristocratic quarters in the City of Foreigners than the
the Nomad Federation labyrinthine architecture usually associated with the Order of
◆ Ana Din Eusidia: Former neo-Zenithian lobbyist responsible the Pariah. Surprisingly enough, the chamber even has trees
for the deal with Sadaal to build the Nadir Flotilla (The Last planted along its walls and mechanical birds flutter between
Cyclade, page 183), the Zenithian Coalition the treetops in the pale, artificial sunlight form the ceiling.
Halls like this were constructed in the exodus era, designed
MAJOR EVENTS for crews to live out their entire lives in as the Order exiled
The PCs meet the delegation and travel to Sadaal. The urgency themselves from the Second Horizon to cross the darkness
of the situation is emphasized as the Emissaries’ interference in search of a new home. This is truly hallowed ground.
and the war between the Old Horizons become increasingly The PCs meet up with the other delegates and their accom-
noticeable. The events below can be played through in a panying assistants and bodyguards. Eight martyr warriors

AIWAZ

Aiwaz was explored relatively late in the Firstcome colo- gas giant, Haish, believed to hold remnants of First Horizon
nization of the Third Horizon. The first colonists came from weapons from the Portal Wars in its orbit.
Kua and later also from Zalos as defectors and began taming Aiwaz-B, the distant sister star, is said to be a system far
a couple of the planets in the system, mainly in the form of richer in natural resources but the 300 AU journey to get there
biodomes on the two planets closest to the star, Aiwaz and its makes large-scale colonization difficult. The system has
exo-moon Sahrt. instead become a refuge for deserters and retired corsairs
The planets share an orbit at about 15 AU from the star and looking for new lives away from the prying eyes of the rest of
the Foundation’s astronics believe the significantly smaller society. Rumors about Aiwaz-B also speak of ruins from a dead
Sahrt must have been a moon to Aiwaz that was struck out of its civilization, perhaps a sister tribe to the mysterious Founders in
original orbit by an asteroid. The system also contains a remote the Rimward Reach?

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

TABLE 11: DELEGATION NPCS

STRENGTH AGILITY WITS EMPATHY HP DP REP SKILLS GEAR

Typical 2 3 4 5 5 9 9 Culture 5, Encrypted tabula, talisman, tag

delegate Command 4, (5,000 birr), fine clothing, subdermal
Manipulation 4, emergency transponder chip
all other skills 1 (position)
Talents: Faction Standing
Typical 3 4 4 2 7 6 5 Observation 6, Stun gun, acc carbine, 3 stun
bodyguard Dexterity 5, grenades, body armor (6), personal
Ranged Combat 5, communicator, advanced scope
Melee Combat 4, Talents: Executioner
Infiltration 3,
Medicurgy 3
Typical 3 3 4 4 6 8 4 Culture 5, Tabula with itinerary, personal
assistant Science 4, communicator
Data Djinn 3,
Manipulation 2,
Ranged Combat 2
Martyr 4 4 3 3 8 6 3 Melee Combat 4, Vulcan carbine (homing rounds
warrior Ranged Combat 4, +2), light Order armor or Holy Glyph
Infiltration 3, Armor (The
(The Last Cyclade,
Cyclade, page 89)
Observation 3, Talents: Combat Veteran,
Manipulation 2 Machinegunner
Mystic 2 3 4 3 5 7 4 Pilot/Data Djinn/ Stun or Vulcan pistol, Order flight
mutineers Technology 4 suit (armor 4), dura knife or acc
(depending on pistol
crew position), Talents: one mystical power
Melee Combat 2,
Mystic Powers 2,
Ranged Combat 2
Akouba/ 3 4 4 3 9 9 6 Ranged Combat 5, High-density armaweave
Diona Manipulation 4, uniform (armor 4), Judicator
Melee Combat 4, model acc pistol (INIT +1), dura
Observation 4, claws, communicator
Command 3, Talents: Tough, Hardened
Dexterity 3, (Emissary Lost,
Lost, page 43)
Infiltration 3

THE LEGACY OF THE GRAND MASTER

On approach, the sensors pick up another signature of epic sphere when they dock and may not even be let onboard.
size, the Shakush M’hatoun’s sister ship Naar-Amshaar. If they instead helped Samesh, they receive a warm wel-
This means that grand master Samesh Alim, leader of The come with lots of deep bows, well-wishes and “May the
Cold Flame and the monastery fortress Amshaar, is most Crown of the Martyr guide you.” They may also encounter
likely present (unless he was assassinated by the PCs the grand master in person as he has remained onboard
during The Last Cyclade). The Hammer, waiting to personally shake their hands and
If the grand master is dead or if he was turned down in kiss their cheeks once more before taking a shuttle back
the previous scenarios, the PCs are met by a hostile atmo- to his cruiser.

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 The Tenth Icon

in their mythical animate suits of armor are their escort, the

leader of which welcomes the Chosen and introduces them
THE MARTYRS’ WARNING
to the rest of the delegation before leading the way back
toward the Dream. The minor event contains a premonition “You walk in the shadow of the Martyr, far from the
of the mutiny after which you can progress to the next scene. holy light. Darkness seeks to destroy you. You are
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory) heading into conflict and danger. Sadaal wishes you
harm but you are the prophets, the Third Horizon’s
y THE WARNING Chosen. Find us in Deeptown in Alburz, near Pheri’s
At some point after the PCs arrive at the flagship – but prefer- Hammam. Ask for the light and we will come to you.
ably before the mutiny begins – a secret message is delivered Beyond The Phantoms’ bloodhounds and the delu-
to one of them. The message (see box) is delivered on a tag sions of the tenth Icon, you will find friends and learn
pressed in their palm during a handshake, for example by the truth. We have to meet. Sleep with your weapons
grand master Alim, or slipped inside their pocket by a passing near. Remember where the escape pods are and be
guard “accidentally” bumping into them. Alternatively, an ready to fight to stay free.”
encrypted message is sent straight to one of their tabulas
or coms for them to read as they leave the ship.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

The message is from the agents of The Warriors of the Holy y WORRIED VOICES
Light that managed to escape the invasion of Dabaran. They The delegation is gathered aboard Birbasil’s Dream, but the
are hiding out near Pheri’s Hammam, the baths in Deeptown PCs can choose to travel to Errai in their own ship and only
underneath Alburz. At the cost of 1 DP, the PC receiving the join the rest of the delegates before the final jump. Play this
message feels sick, hears her heart racing and is stricken by event either immediately after the mutiny or after the PCs
a throbbing headache (resulting in 2 points of stress). The have left their own ship in Errai.
sensation is quickly followed by a wave of warmth and a sense It’s becoming all too clear that the spreading unrest in the
of safety if she has merged with the Machine Icon, and she Horizon is wearing down the factions’ abilities to organize
hears the echo of a beautiful song. She feels drawn toward and mobilize. Several of the delegates say that the mutiny
Sadaal and the promise of “the truth” – whatever it may be. on The Hammer shows that no one is safe anymore, not
Cost: 0, 1 DP (Mandatory) even the most loyal. The Order and Mira representatives
say that this event makes it clear that those infected with
y THE MUTINY the mystic’s disease have become a threat to the future of
On their way back to the docks, the PCs hear worry in the the entire Third Horizon. The Nomad Federation disagrees
voices of the martyr warriors. A scuffle breaks out up ahead with this, saying instead that the new mystics’ lack of true
and then shouting. A shot rings out and an alarm starts faith has made them susceptible to the influence of the false
ringing. Groups of crew members are fighting each other or Emissaries. The darkness is growing around Xene and the
screaming with their weapons drawn. This event generates delegation’s task of bolstering their respective fleets with
8 DP as complete chaos erupts around the PCs. The martyr the Nadir Flotilla becomes even more urgent.
warriors and the delegation bodyguards form a protective Captain Hemisha and the crew interrupt the discussion
half circle around their marks and the PCs, and try to bring and tell everyone to get ready for stasis. End the scene when
them back to the Dream as quickly as possible. The Emissaries the Dream jumps to Errai or Sadaal, depending on when the
have assumed control over all mystics onboard The Hammer scene is set.
and the mutiny spreads like wildfire. At the cost of 1 DP, an Cost: 0 DP
assistant or staff member of the delegation becomes a Dakin
puppet (see page 42). For 2 DP, it affects one or more y THE JUDICATOR RETURNS
martyr warriors or bodyguards. This is the final event before the PCs reach Sadaal. It makes
If the mutineers are fired upon or if they are denied control sure that all the required characters finally end up together
of the ship, fighting breaks out, but they will primarily try to aboard Birbasil’s Dream.
get their way using threats and will avoid violence for as long Remnants of the fleet of the Legion and a couple of
as possible. Make sure the PCs’ main goal is escaping with the Hegemony destroyers form a scattered blockade at the
delegation rather than joining the fight. The martyr warriors portal station in Errai. During the night watch, a lone shuttle
will prioritize getting the delegation to Birbasil’s Dream safely approaches the Dream from one of the ships in the blockade,
before turning around to deal with the mutineers. in the last hours before the delegation and the PCs go into
As the Dream leaves the monastery cruiser, its projectors stasis for the jump to Sadaal.
light up and the enormous battleship starts to move toward Onboard the shuttle is the delegate for the Zenithian
the portals. The escorting squadrons desperately try to avoid Coalition and her bodyguard who turns out to be a familiar
a barrage of fire from The Hammer’s countless weapon face: judicator Akouba Kosha, or Diona Hashim (if either of
stations. Smaller monastery cruisers converge on the flagship them are still alive at this point in the campaign). Having lost
to try to stop it, but soon the portal field shimmers and the much of her influence and reputation after the finale of The
commandeered colossus disappears toward Kua. Left in its Last Cyclade, the judicator now provides personal security to
wake is the wreckage of the ships that got in its way and the the Zenithian Coalition delegate. She is strict but sociable and
despairing remains of the Order’s fleet. may exchange a few words with the PCs before they go on
Cost: 0, 1–2 DP (Mandatory, generates 8 DP) ice. Fresh scars show that she only barely escaped the Fall of

72
 The Tenth Icon

Coriolis (her Strength has been lowered) but she looks more drawn to some of the cruiser’s crew members and feel a
experienced and dedicated than ever (see table on page 70 shared sense of belonging. The crew members in question
plus page 228 of The Last Cyclade). may feel the PCs’ gaze and shy away as if in shame or fear,
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory) or as if they’re afraid of being found out.
A MANIPULATION test can indeed identify the crew members’
MINOR EVENTS reactions as stemming from a fear of being exposed. A mystic
The event below can be used as a premonition to the coming PC may try to read the mind of the crew members by testing
scene. MYSTIC POWERS and if she passes, she can tell that several of the
crew are secretly mystics. A critical success also reveals that
y RESONANCE: THE AFFLICTED something else – someone else – is hiding on the outskirts
As the PCs board The Hammer and meet her crew, one or of the mystics’ minds, whispering. Singing.
more of them may experience a resonance event. They feel Cost: 1 DP

THE BETRAYAL
The mutiny onboard The Hammer of the Martyr was like a dagger The PCs find themselves in a very delicate situation. They
in the back. The mighty Order stood defenseless against the false must escape the ship and make it down to Sadaal in whatever
Emissaries. Haunting dreams plague your sleep. Whispering way they can think of.
voices. Ghosts in the night. A strange cold…
As the stasis unit opens and the mists clear, you hear captain y KIDNAPPED DELEGATION
Hemisha’s voice: The delegates are already being brought aboard one of the
“Welcome to Sadaal. I’m sorry it had to end like this…” torpedo ships when the PCs wake up. Some of the bodyguards
She steps out of the light from the stasis bed and disappears fought hard to protect their employers but were defeated. In
into the shadows. the ship’s mess, rows of bodies with sheets carelessly thrown
“Rayid, our mission has been accomplished. I expect immediate over them bloody the floor.
payment.” The delegates and their surviving staff are in handcuffs and
Armed silhouettes step into the light. Your pale faces are on their way to Sadaal and the Ziggurat of the Icons where
reflected in the visors of their helmets. Aremerat will determine their fate. In less than twenty-four
“In the name of Aremerat the Eternal, I place you under arrest hours, at dawn, a mock trial will be held resulting in a live
for treason. Resistance will be met with deadly force. Your sentence broadcast execution staged to rally the people against the
and punishment awaits…” insidious factions of the Horizon trying to infiltrate Sadaal.

THE SITUATION MAJOR EVENTS

Aremerat has once again had his way. Birbasil’s Dream – a ship The PCs evade arrest aboard Birbasil’s Dream and manage to
usually bringing alcohol and opiates for the Bureau of Medicine make it down to the Sadaalian capital of Alburz. The minor events
– had been tasked with bringing the factionary delegates and, can be used to add some extra flavor to the different stages of
most importantly, the Icons’ Chosen to Sadaal. Two torpedo the escape. Reward your players for inventive ways of somehow
ships from the Habathus Flotilla were primed and ready above making it to their contact at the Pheri’s Hammam baths.
Sadaal, carrying Angra Mainyu patrols, the regime’s secret
police. When the Dream arrived, only the crew were woken y START: A SADAAL AWAKENING
up at once, the other stasis units thawing one by one to make Four members of the secret police (see “The Phantoms”, Table
the arrest of the delegates as easy and controlled as possible. 12, page 74) surround the PCs as they come out of stasis.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

SCENARIO LOCATION: SADA AL AND ALBURZ

See page 78 for more details about Alburz. After escaping

the ambush on Birbasil’s Dream, this is where the PCs end up.

TABLE 12: SADA ALIAN NPCS

STRENGTH AGILITY WITS EMPATHY HP MP REP SKILLS GEAR
Typical 2 3 3 3 5 6 3–6 Force/Data Tools, clothing, 20–300 birr,
Sadaalian Djinn/Medicurgy/ basic or expensive mask
Technology 4
(depending on
profession),
Dexterity 3,
Manipulation 2,
Melee Combat 2
Angra 3 4 3 2 9 5 8 Infiltration 5, Vulcan carbine, communi-
Mainyu (The Observation 4, cator, stun grenade, abla-
Phantoms) Ranged Combat 4, tive armasuit (armor 3, -3
Data Djinn 3, to first hit), sensor helmet
Manipulation 3, (OBSERVATION +1)
Melee Combat 3 Talents: Body Armor (+3),
Targeting Scope, Nine Lives
Guard or police 3 2 2 3 5 5 5 Melee Combat 3, Acc carbine, smoke grenade,
officer Observation 3, dura knife, shock stick
Ranged Combat 3 Talents: Third Eye,
Machinegunner
Attack drone 4 2 4 2 6 – – Ranged Combat 6, Grav unit,
Melee Combat 3, thermal cricket, grape rifle,
Observation 3, stun glove, communicator
Dexterity 2,
Infiltration 2,
Manipulation 2
Recon drone 1 3 5 3 4 – – Observation 5, Grav unit, stun gun,
Infiltration 4, communicator
Dexterity 3,
Manipulation 3,
Ranged Combat 2
Martyr warrior 3 4 4 3 9 7 3 Culture 4, Vulcan carbine, dura
(The Warriors Manipulation 4, knife, discreet clothing
of the Holy Melee Combat 4, (INFILTRATION +1)
Light) Observation 4, Talents: Tough, Combat
Ranged Combat 4, Veteran, Fanatics (2 AP:
Command 3, regain 2 HP and
Data Djinn 3, consciousness if broken, see
Dexterity 3, Emissary Lost page 22)
Infiltration 3,
Pilot 2

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 The Tenth Icon

There might be combat immediately, or later as they are airlock. The person suddenly attacks the patrol or
being taken away. If they allow themselves to be arrested, they throws a smoke grenade to distract The Phantoms
are handcuffed and brought to the torpedo ship. Along the long enough for the PCs to escape. The crew member
way, they see signs of combat and dead bodies in the ship’s might even get off the ship together with the PCs and
corridors. It’s up to you as the GM to decide the number become a valuable ally.
of enemies the PCs have to defeat to escape – it could be ◆ The Airlock: A last conversation between the captain
only the original four plus the pilot waiting by the airlock, and the patrol right outside the airlock presents a
or another two to four soldiers as backup. Below are some quick-minded PC with an opportunity to access the
suggested ways down to the planet: airlock controls (DATA DJINN or TECHNOLOGY). The doors
◆ Shootout in the Stasis Chamber: At least one PC is armed suddenly close with the PCs and one very surprised
and manages to spring a surprise attack on the soldiers soldier on one side and the rest of The Phantoms on
(INFILTRATION to draw the weapon unseen) or uses the the other…
handcuffing to get close enough to wrestle with one of ◆ Help from the Icon: One PC’s more dangerous new
the enemies for their weapon (opposed MELEE COMBAT). powers manifests during the stress of being arrested and
◆ Unexpected Assistance: A crew member meets up with can trigger combat. Remember that the first activation
the patrol as the PCs are being herded toward the of a new power may be an automatic critical success.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

DELAYED ESCAPE
Making planetfall requires either getting to the escape pods
or stealing the docked torpedo ship (or perhaps Birbasil’s
If the PCs accept arrest, they will be taken to the Dream). On the way down, Habathus Flotilla fighters will chase
spaceport of Alburz aboard the waiting torpedo after them but as they aren’t built for atmospheric entry, they
ship and then escorted through the city under break off pursuit when the PCs reach the upper clouds. If the
armed guard. At a point of your choosing after PCs used the escape pods, they can avoid being pursued by
this, martyr commandos will strike to liberate shutting off their emergency transponders. Make the PCs sweat
the PCs. The warriors engage the PCs’ captors in to escape below the clouds and down to the mountain range.
a firefight to give them a chance to escape with On their way, the PCs spot both the Waha-Najima bulk hauler
the instruction to meet up with their liberators in from Dabaran and two of Aremerat’s giants, the bulk haulers that
Deeptown later. shuttle between Sadaal and the Daharab shipyards on Bahram.
The escapees’ destination is Alburz, the megacity where
both the captured delegates and the PCs’ mysterious contact
can be found. As they immediately become wanted in the
system, heading for the spaceport will be difficult. Regardless
of where they land, they will have to enter the city from the
lowlands below the mountains. Pheri’s Hammam in Deeptown
underneath the city should be their first priority but the city is
now swarming with police and Phantom patrols, informants
and recon drones all looking for the PCs. Time to blend in…
TORBA, SADA ALIAN TORPEDO SHIP
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory)
CLASS: II

SHIPYARD: Daharab, Bahram (Coriolis core rulebook page y THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES

143) The PCs land their escape pod or stolen ship below the high
CREW: 8 (Captain, Pilot, Sensor operator, Engineer, 4 peaks of the mountains and far from its sensors and guns.
Gunners), skill level 7 in all relevant skills
The landscape is a bleak, windy one – treeless steppes as far
EP: 4
as the eye can see. The wind whips sand in their eyes and
HP: 4 the cold air is hard to breathe. The day’s first light pierces
MANEUVERABILITY: +1 the mist and colors the sky a glowing red, like lava. Small
SIGNATURE: −1 herds of urvan buffalo graze nearby below some low, rocky
ARMOR: 4 hills. The silhouette of Alburz appears against the rising ridge
SPEED: 4 in the distance. Much closer to their landing site, however,
MODULES: 2 Advanced Torpedoes (4 ion, 4 nuclear),
they spot a massive slaughterhouse complex with huge,
Countermeasure Dispenser, 2 Stasis Holds (5+5 beds), fenced-in stockyards and freezing works brightly illuminated
Autocannon, Chapel by floodlights on high stands. Huge herds of urvan packed
FEATURES: Ablative Armor II (−3 damage to first two hits), tightly together wait in narrow pens to meet the butchers’
Atmospheric Entry, Ejector
knives. Train tracks emerge from the main building through
an opening in the rather decrepit fence. The trains transport
both the workers and their products to Alburz.
◆ The Train Station: The platform is located inside the slaugh-
terhouse but security is pretty lax. The difficult part might
be sneaking past the outside guards patrolling the fence (use
the “Soldier” stats, Coriolis core rulebook, page 343). If they

76
 The Tenth Icon

AFRAAT, SADA ALIAN FIGHTER

make it inside, the PCs can disguise themselves and bluff
their way past any inquisitive administrators (“Agent”, Coriolis CLASS: I

core rulebook, page 343) in an opposed MANIPULATION test. SHIPYARD: Daharab, Bahram
Alternatively, sneaking past and onto the trains could be an CREW: 2 (Pilot and Gunner), skill level 8 in all relevant skills
opposed INFILTRATION vs OBSERVATION test. Another option is EP: 3
to try to sneak inside one of the refrigerator cars as the train HP: 2
is being loaded at the warehouses behind the platform. If
MANEUVERABILITY: +2
they fail a die roll and the guards begin chasing them, they
SIGNATURE: −2
might have to give up on taking the train altogether.
◆ The Tracks: Hiking on foot along the train tracks will take ARMOR: 3

most of the day. They will arrive at the outskirts of the city SPEED: 4

by late afternoon and have very little time left. MODULES: Ordinary Torpedoes (4 ion), Autocannon,
Nestera Mangler
◆ Sadaalian Winds (1 DP): Without a mask and something to
FEATURES: Ejector, Ship Intelligence (Attributes 1, Skills 3),
drink, traveling across the steppes becomes difficult. For 1 DP,
Precise Thrusters (PILOT +2 to docking, landing and eva-
have a PC test SURVIVAL to find drinkable water and shelter from sive maneuvers)
the winds. If the roll fails, all PCs suffer 2 points of damage but
may test FORCE to withstand it (each 6 negates 1 point of damage).
Cost: 0, 1 DP

y THE FACE OF ALBURZ

As the PCs draw nearer to the city, the train tracks lead up
the high cliff sides of the Shimush Mountains. If the group
travels on foot, the mountain face requires some challenging
THE VOICE OF THE VESTAL
climbing (FORCE to avoid 2 points of damage). If they have
the proper equipment or if the one leading the way passes a “The sky darkens above you and the sound of waves
SURVIVAL or DEXTERITY test, they get a +2 to the roll. drowns out the city. Lights twinkle at you through the
◆ Service Tunnels: On the lower ridges of the mountains, the cloudy air… or is it water? Something bears down on
PCs see huge industries – sewage plants and compressor your body and lungs with great force. You see a clear-
stations for the gas pipelines leading up to the city. A CULTURE er light appear, the silhouette of a person. The most
(−2 unless a PC is from Sadaal) or SCIENCE test supplies the PCs radiant beauty you’ve ever seen. A perfect melody,
with knowledge of how water and natural gasses are transported a whisper, of belonging… until it’s interrupted by a
up into Alburz which they may use to access the plants’ service young girl’s voice, the Machine Icon: – Not here! Not
tunnels. Through the tunnels, they can travel unseen into the now! They aren’t yours to command!
city, or maybe even straight to Deeptown (GM decides). You’re suddenly returned to the plaza and envel-
Cost: 0 DP oped in the sounds of the city. Prominent in the sound-
scape are the tortured screams of the prisoners of
y RESONANCE: THE VOICE OF THE VESTAL The Phantoms amplified through speaker posts. The
As the PCs approach the gardens and fountains of the Cherry pained cries from the Ziggurat of the Icons remind you
Plaza and the Ziggurat of the Icons, PCs who merged with with perfect clarity of just how the Sadaalian leaders
the Machine Icon are struck by a dark vision. The Vestal of keep their subjects in line.”
Sadaal is trying to manipulate them but the Machine Icon
steps in and disrupts the attempt. Read or hand out the
text in the box.
Cost: 0 DP

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

SCENARIO LOCATION:

SADAAL AND ALBURZ

The people of Sadaal were hit hard by the Portal Wars – or- y SADAAL’S ICON BELIEF AND AMESHA SPENTA
bital bombardments crushed the Shimush Mountains and The eight religious leaders advising Aremerat embody the
caused tsunamis that drowned entire cities on Bahram. unique local Icon worship practiced in Sadaal since the end of
From out of the chaos after the ceasefire, Aremerat the the Wars. The members of the council have taken the names
Eternal arose to subjugate the people and to rebuild the of the Icons they represent and oversee the various bureaus
systems. and institutes that make up the political, spiritual and mili-
tary organization of Aremerat’s rule.
y SADAAL – THE CHILDREN OF AREMERAT ◆ ERIOSANG (THE MESSENGER): Upholds tradition. Heads the
The citizens live humble, predictable lives in service of Bureau of History and the education departments together
their great society where the words of the leaders are never with Amesha Ramaiti. Amesha Eriosang is firmly against
questioned. The news is information and information is outsiders gaining a foothold in the systems and preaches
truth. The high priests of the Amesha Spenta take good care isolation and dogmatic purity.
of their citizens and although there is much hard work to be ◆ VANZUR (THE DANCER): Represents inspiration and eter-
done, the citizens are graciously also bestowed leisure time nity. Through the Institute of Culture, carefully curated
to spend as they like – in the steams at one of the many bath and edited art is presented to the people. Amesha Vanzur
houses, with friends in a quiet cafe or a gambling hall or brings happiness and rest to the hard-working population.
walking in one of the beautiful parks. The societal structure The yourba dancers’ swirling skirts, the songs of the taribs
is quite diverse and complex and the system has a multitude and the Bureau of Medicine’s approved intoxicants give
of languages that identify both class and neighborhood back- people a much-needed break and a sense of community.
ground. As a rule, the aristocracy can’t speak Zeni, choosing Amesha Vanzur has growing dealings with the Syndicate’s
instead to do business with foreigners via strictly controlled smugglers.
interpreters. Ziggurats and residential complexes rise above ◆ MATAY (THE SEER, THE GAMBLER): Uncertainty and the possi-
parks and squares. Punctual train and grav services keep bility to change. The Department of Insights is the closest
it all moving. Moderation is a coveted virtue except for two thing to research one finds in Sadaal. Amesha Matay main-
nights per year when the cities are richly decorated and the tains the ED fields that protect the coastal cities from tidal
people forget their duties for the revels of the Dance of the waves and organizes the expeditions that explore the sys-
Masks carnival. tem’s secrets. These so-called astromantics investigate

THE MASKS OF SADA AL

Since the Portal Wars, the Sadaalian lowlands and moun- craft and decorations of your mask are, the more import-
tain slopes have been plagued by intense sandstorms. ant you are. The works of the best craftsmen sell for tens
The air outside is still thick with dust, forcing the people of thousands of birr. Many homes have statuettes in the
to wear masks to protect themselves. The wealthy also entrance hall for visitors to hang their masks on when they
air condition their homes and gardens and use ED fields to arrive. Pilgrims and workers often use single-use paper
keep the dust out. The masks have become a way to display or rubber masks while the merchants and administrators
your standing in society – the finer and more fanciful the prefer to splurge on fabrics or wood.

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 The Tenth Icon

THE ASHEGRID STAR

According to the legends, the Sadaal star was originally descended from the heavens and snuffed out the black sun,
known as Ashegird, “the Black Sun.” Its corruption pulled instead lighting the blessed new star Sadaal to rejuvenate the
people down into darkness and let snakes loose in the prom- worlds. To this day, the shadow of Ashegird is said to sweep
ised lands. After the final days of the Portal Wars, the people through the system like the ghosts of the plains on Sadaal,
of the systems prayed to the Icons and were heard. Aremerat raising dancing djinn and efrites in its fiery wake.

everything from the bloodthirsty rampage of the tarwich institutes and medicurgical centers that keep the popula-
ghosts on the steppes to the rumors about Ashegird, the tion alive and healthy. The Eternity Bureau is an inescap-
black sun, saying that the fragments of the dead star still able part of everyone’s lives as they organize the funeral
orbit the system’s sun. pyres that reunite the souls of the dead with Aremerat.
◆ RAMAITI (THE SERVANT, THE DECKHAND): Duty and obedience.
Through the Populist Bureau, every citizen is guaranteed In addition to the eight members of the council, the ninth
work and a wage. Amesha Ramaiti makes sure the right Icon is represented by HAK AD (The Whisperer, The
person ends up in the right place and keeps the workers Faceless) in the form of the secret police Angra Mainyu, or
content and accepting of their lot in life. “The Phantoms” as they are known on the streets. They are
◆ URVATAT (THE BRINGER OF GIFTS, THE MERCHANT): Gives the said to answer only to Aremerat himself and not even the
people what they need – no more, no less. The Bureau Ameshas are safe from their judging eyes and deadly meth-
of Logistics organizes the supply chains between the ods. The Phantoms are believed to be the ones choosing a
slaughterhouses, mines and factory cities and oversees new Amesha after her predecessor has returned her soul to
the scheduling of the bulk hauler traffic between Sadaal Aremerat.
and Bahram. Ten enormous bulk haulers called Aremerat’s
Giants regularly make the long trip back and forth. y FACTS ABOUT SADAAL
◆ HABATHU (THE JUDGE): Justice, law and order. The Defense Despite the system having quite a few planets, mainly Sadaal
Institute monitors the people and safeguards Aremerat’s and parts of Chathu have been colonized in a more substan-
rule. They are also responsible for planetary defense and tial way.
control the fleets and the army. Rumors say that Amesha ◆ VANZUR (3 AU): The planet of the Dancer. Home to mysteri-
Habathu has been sidelined and that Aremerat himself now ous places where time is said to stand still.
controls the institute. ◆ AUF (5 AU): Steppes and high mountains, inhospitable be-
◆ MANAVOH (THE ADVISOR, THE TRAVELER): Good advice to cause of the toxic atmosphere.
the faithful. The Ministry of Worship preaches the wisdom ◆ RAMASI (6 AU): Pristine beaches and deep woods. Aremerat
of Aremerat to the people. The preachers in their crimson vacations here and the planet is therefore off-limits to
robes are always ready to guide the lost back into the fold. both visits and business.
The temple of the Eternal offers redemption and forgiveness ◆ SADA AL (8 AU): A scarred world rebuilt from the ashes of the
to the repentant, but some say that The Phantoms of the Wars. Deep beneath the Shimush Mountains, dissidents
Whisperer take care of those who admit to too much. Amesha hide in mysterious caves. The steppes are home to djinn
Manavoh has faced much resistance from the other council and soulless geustasa driving cattle to the slaughterhous-
members for wanting an open system and her priests are ru- es. In the worktowns, hands and aristocrats alike wear
mored to sow doubt in the minds of the younger generations. masks for protection against the harsh winds.
◆ VOUK ASHA (THE LADY OF TEARS): Protector of the dead and ◆ CHATHU (10 AU): Hot spring resorts and ice cold mountain
the dying. The Ministry of Life runs the hospitals, bionics lakes.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

◆ MARASTA (16 AU): Sulfuric world where the Bureau of ◆ FS-19 “BELETSER” (25 AU): On one of Byasta’s moons.
Logistics runs mining operations. Formerly owned by the Tilides family, abandoned since the
◆ URMANI (20 AU): Habathu fleet bases and, according to the collapse of the Monolith. Squatted by a dissident group
rumors, a secret shipyard. called “Tempus” looking to join the Draconites.
◆ BUYASTA (25 AU): Gas giant with twenty-three moons. Left ◆ CHOMA (35 AU): Gas planet with ice storms and cold phe-
alone and forbidden, rumored to contain ruins and defens- nomena known as The Dancing Frost Efrites.
es left behind by the Portal Builders. ◆ HADLADAR (48 AU): A barren, lonely moon.

THE SADAAL SYSTEM (A)

portal the star portal beletser

to ghodar sadaal to errai vanzur ramasi chathu urmani station hadladar

3 AU 6 AU 10 AU 20 AU 48 AU

5 AU 8 AU 16 AU 25 AU 35 AU

portal auf sadaal marasta buyasta choma

to nagar

PLANETARY DATA THE LIGHTHOUSE

◆ DIAMETER: 10,621 km (about 85% of Kua) In the darkness between the systems lies Aremerat’s Gift,
◆ GRAVITY: 0.9 standard gravity a sensor station guiding traffic through the darkness along
◆ DAY LENGTH: 28 hours carefully calculated vectors. The sector is a tumultuous
◆ SIDEREAL YEAR: 487 days no man’s land where the two systems wrestle for control
◆ AXIAL TILT: 27 degrees of asteroids and debris from the Wars. The lighthouse is
protected by a mighty artifact, however – a microsun sta-
bilizing the asteroids. The Foundation believes it could be
a remnant from an earlier civilization but all of Aremerat’s
citizens know that it’s a gift from the Eternal Leader him-
MORE ABOUT SADA AL
self.
Read more about Sadaal in the Atlas Compendium
(p 15).

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 The Tenth Icon

MINOR EVENTS leads them back to his family. The aged but strong matriarch
The following events can show the PCs a bit more of Sadaal there can offer first aid (MEDICURGY 8) and suture any cuts
or throw surprise complications at them during their journey they might have. The poultices and herbal remedies applied
there. count as one m-dose.
Cost: 0 DP
y GHOSTS OF THE PLAINS
The PCs pass a newly deserted campsite. The ashes from y DRONES
a fire are still warm and the surrounding ground has been At the cost of 1 DP, a recon drone (Table 12, page 74) is
grazed and trampled by hooves. A family of geustasas, the suddenly within range of the PCs, scanning the area. One
native nomad people, spent their night here. Despite their PC may test MANIPULATION or INFILTRATION at −2 to hide the
origins as the descendants of the system’s earliest Firstcome group. If they are detected, the drone starts to follow them
settlers, the geustasa have been treated like pariahs and and three attack drones (Table 12, page 74) show up after
barbaric heathens ever since the Portal Wars. about a minute.
As the PCs continue, more and more urvan buffalo appear At the cost of another DP, the recon and attack drones
until they are almost surrounded by a huge herd. Trying to arrive at the same time.
scare the animals away would be very unwise but the herd Cost: 1–2 DP
keeps coming closer. There’s suddenly a sharp whistling and
the herd changes direction under a unison choir of hums and ALBURZ
grunts. A young boy walks up through the herd, gesturing Alburz is built on the highest plateau of the Shimush
to the PCs to stand very still. He then points out small sand Mountains. Untouched by the fire of the Wars, it’s one of
whirls blowing across the steppes all around the PCs. When the few remaining places where the history and culture of the
observed closely, it looks like shadowy shapes stir up the original settlers still lives. The heavily populated metropolis
sand with their footsteps. A biting cold emanates from the is rightly considered one the wonders of the Horizon as it’s
dust devils and they make the group feel uneasy. carved directly out of the rock and richly decorated with
◆ The Djinn Dance: A PC with the Exorcist talent can sense volcanic glass and obsidian to reflect and refract the lights
that some kind of ethereal beings – djinn or ghosts – are from a city that never sleeps.
wandering across the plains, looking for weak minds and Ziggurats, wide avenues and squares, pillars of steam and
warm bodies. They won’t find any today, however: the elegant bridges make up the central districts but the bulk of the
boy takes a couple of steps forward, closes his eyes and massive population lives in the surrounding cave systems or
begins to dance while slicing the air around him with his lower down under the slopes beneath the plateau. Both public
riding crop. Spinning faster and faster in his dusty robe, places, such as the sloping terraces on the mountain sides,
he seems to attract the sand whirls. They flow around and and private gardens and rooftops are covered in plants and
with him until he suddenly raises his tattooed hands and apiaries thanks to the protection offered by the Shimush from
they shoot up into the air and disappear. the sandstorms and oppressive heat waves of the lowlands.
After the dance, the boy approaches the PCs and signs Below the mountains lie factories, sewage treatment plants
at them to give him something. In return, he can offer and huge compressor stations that supply the city above with
them water from a skin slung across his shoulder. If they clean water and natural gasses.
give something valuable, he also takes out a small box and The dedicated craftsmanship of the city’s artisans has
from it, an ink bowl. He spits into the bowl, crushes and earned Sadaalian crafts high renown all around the Horizon.
mixes the pigment into a dark liquid and offers to draw Finely carved masks, exclusive chronographs, jewelry, crystal
protective symbols on the PCs’ hands and arms. If they are glass and talismans fetch high prices at auctions and over
uninterested or hostile, he disappears back into the herd. the counter in all systems claiming at least a modicum of
◆ A Helping Hand: If any of the PCs are injured since their civilization.
escape from the ship and if they can pay enough, the boy

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

THE SECTOR OF THE WHISPERER:

BAHRAM
The main planet in the sister system of Bahram suffered the Fall, many of the islands have been deserted after the
terrible tidal waves and floods at the end of the Portal severing of Zenithian trade agreements. Aremerat doesn’t
Wars. Today, the rebuilt cities are protected by enormous want outsiders spying on the construction of the Nadir
ditches and ED based wave fields. The Newlands used to be Flotilla, now growing ship by ship in the asteroid belt by
an area open to foreign factions and companies but since the portals.

FACTS ABOUT BAHRAM

THE BAHRAM SYSTEM (B)
◆ THE PORTAL BELT (0–2 AU): An inner
the star asteroid field hiding the Nadir
bahram the portal belt sanfir Flotilla under the supervision of
parts of the Habathus Flotilla.
◆ BAHRAM (4 AU): Fertile oceanic
6 AU
planet now closed to outsiders.
Home of the controversial Daharab
Shipyards.
◆ SANFIR (6 AU): Desert planet whose
rich mineral deposits are mined
extensively to supply Daharab with
ore. Loading point for bulk haulers.
◆ THE OUTER BELT (10 AU): Dense
4 AU asteroid belt separating Bahram
from Sadaal. Home to several large
bahram the outer belt mines and smelteries.

y THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES back home to the city after a completed two-week rotation,
In the shadow of the mountains sit the slaughterhouse many claim to see white shapes dancing around the nomads’
districts and before them, the wide steppes where the urvan campfires from the train windows.
buffalo graze. The cattle are herded by the native nomads,
the geustasa, who are considered bloodthirsty and soulless y THE ZIGGURAT OF THE ICONS
but nonetheless a vital part of the local economy. Only the The Ziggurat of the Icons in the Alburz’s city center is a
slaughterhouse foremen deal with the nomads and there is reminder of ancient glory. The city around it appears to climb
therefore many rumors and superstitions among the common its terraced sides and from each level rises high aqueducts
workers accusing the geustasa of having a secret pact with overflowing with plants. The hanging gardens climb down
the djinn and ghosts of the plains. When the workers head and between the supporting stone pillars to form a soft

82
 The Tenth Icon

ceiling of vines, flowers and fruit above the Cherry Plaza lava pillar that burst forth from the ground on the day the
below, where the biannual harvest festival Urvatat Khari takes Icon Aremerat took physical form. Some people say that the
place to honor Aremerat and his creation. Eternal Leader sometimes watches the city from the protected
In contrast to the tranquil beauty of the Cherry Plaza’s balcony and that he is present for all major executions to
orchards and fountains, the temple is also known for some- guide his opponents back into the light after their deaths.
thing else and under a different name: the Crying Ziggurat.
Criminals and dissidents are arrested by the secret police and y DEEPTOWN
brought to the ziggurat for relentless torture, flogging on Deeptown is a constant whirlpool of people coming and
the Plaza or public executions on the top of the pyramid. The going. The layered and covered fashion of the upper levels
screams of the torture victims are sometimes broadcast over gives way to looser and more plain coats or caftans here,
a city-wide PA system to remind any would-be insurgents and it’s the destination of choice for most people looking
of the price for resisting the Eternal Leader. to spend their days off with friends in a gambling hall or
A square tower in obsidian with a single balcony high in the steaming baths that keep Deeptown in a perpetual
above the ground rises at the edge of the Plaza. It’s called misty haze. It’s a mask-optional zone and this appears to
the Eternity Spire and is said to have been carved from a bring out a more open and relaxed atmosphere, regardless

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

ALBURZ

SPIRAL TRAINS SUBWAY TUNNELS TO DEEPTOWN

D2

THE CITY D9
OF THE EXILED
ZENITHIANS SHIMUSH MOUNTAINS 1×1 km

D4 D10

ALBURZ LOWLANDS
D3

D1

D12

D11
D5 D8
D6 THE SPACEPORT
OF THE ABYSS
D7

DISTRICTS: PLAZAS: 03: THE ETERNITY SPIRE

D1: THE DISTRICT OF ETERNITY A: THE CHERRY PLAZA 04: THE SADAALIAN ARCHIVES
D2: CITY OF THE WHISPERER B: THE PLAZA OF 05: THE MEDICUM INSTITUTE
(NEWTOWN) THE PROPHETS 06: CRAFTMANSHIP ACADEMY
D3: THE DISTRICT OF MATAY C: SOUK OF THE MASKS 07: HABATHUS GARRISON
D4: THE CITY OF PRAYERS D: THE PLAZA OF ASHES 08: THE LOGISTICS BUREAU
D5: THE ESPLANADE E: THE PLAZA OF STEAM 09: RAMIR’S GAMBLING
OF VANZURS F: THE BUFFALO MARKET 10: WALLA’S TEA HOUSE
D6: PLATEAU OF THE HEAD G: THE PLAZA OF GAMBLING 11: THE CRYSTAL ALLEY D9
D7: PLATEAU OF THE HAND H: THE MEAT HALLS 12: PHERI’S HAMMAM
D8: PLATEAU OF THE FOOT 13: ARDIONA’S BUTTERFLY
D9: THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES PLACES: HOUSE
D10: RAVINE OF STEAM 01: THE ZIGGURAT OF 14: MARHALLA’S BIONICS
D11: DEEPTOWN THE ICONS 15: ARSHAD’S AUCTION HOUSE
D12: INDUSTRY CITY 02: THE TEMPLE OF MANAVOH 16: EMAN’S CURIOSITY

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 The Tenth Icon

HIGHLAND CITY

750×750 m

02

06

03 A
01
07
B

04 05

THE SPACEPORT
DEEPTOWN OF THE ABYSS

F H
09 G 11

16 E
13
12
10 D
15 14
08

500×500 m 400×400 m

85
WAKE OF THE ICONS

TABLE 13: ENCOUNTERS IN ALBURZ

NAME BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION
Badri Surhan False seer (propagandist) The servants of the Seer, the Kavi, can be found near the Plaza of the Prophets
where the words of Aremerat and the Ameshas are carved directly into the stone.
For a couple of birr, passersby can have their fortunes told, often relating to one
of Aremerat’s decrees.
Kalyan True seer (mystic Kavi) A kavi with the mystic’s disease walks down the street chanting: “If you hear the
Song, you know liberty. Leave Sadaal and give yourself to the Icons.”
Shortly thereafter, two masked individuals in dark robes show up to arrest the
seer.
Palani Nizagana Clockmaker An unassuming older lady sits by a small market stall. On the cloth before her lies
water clocks, pocket watches and chronographs. The Icon Vanzur is etched into
several of the cases. The clocks sell for 25 birr but are probably worth around 200.
She’s very grateful for any business she can get since The Phantoms destroyed
her shop…
Vessek Sarabrua Merchant with submissive A wealthy man with a richly decorated fabric mask haggles aggressively with a
& Nalah interpreter shopkeep. He prods his defeated interpreter with a walking stick. The shopkeep
is Zenithian and is complaining about the rise in buffalo meat prices.
Vaishali Bihar Gardener An older man with a maimed right hand and plenty of scars from an adventurous
past is carefully pruning a flower bed as he mutters to himself:
“Making it pretty. Green leaves and flowers to appease the Eternal. Maybe
the screams won’t be as loud if there are more dancers at the next U-Khari…” He
is referring to the Urvatat Khari harvest festival that takes place on the Cherry
Plaza just below The Crying Ziggurat.
Rewa Koraam & Worker and foreman from the A man and a woman are drinking. The woman says that she has seen the barbar-
Ghodava Barathi slaughterhouses ians of the plains drink buffalo blood and draw strange symbols on the ground.
The foreman shakes his head and mutters in agreement. He thinks the geustasa
are summoning djinni and evil spirits with the their foolish rituals and that they
possess the cattle…
Tirup Sans Arid News smuggler Along a dimly lit street sits a row of outcasts. Some passed out, some with their
lips sewn together, many with missing limbs. One of them pulls herself from her
stupor to beg for a drink or a couple of birr and then whispers in a raspy voice:
“Strangers. This is what they do to those who speak of the world outside.”
Sawa Rikesh Gambler A gambler notices the PCs. She wonders if any of them would be interested
in a low-stakes game of kardhkel. Minimum bet is 50 birr. Roll an opposed
MANIPULATION (Sawa has 8) test. The winner doubles her bet. If Sawa loses more
than 150 birr, she might send a couple of dock workers along later to reclaim her
loss… (2 DP)
Kala Ferin Zenithian former scientist (the The PCs are recognized by the former scientist and she needs their help. Many
Alketer Foundation, Beletser station) Zenithians have ended up in jail and had their assets confiscated. The station she
was working on had found Portal Builder ruins on one of Buyasta’s moons but
they never had time to analyze the results before The Phantoms showed up… For
1 DP, the scientist attracts the attention of a police patrol.
Bogdhâ Nim & Pilgrim and dissident A pilgrim from the mining town of Kedar plays the card game nardshir on a park
Farouk Harab bench. He talks about how the righteous can win Aremerat’s favor by working in
the Ramaiti temple towns. He has sent in his application and is praying for good
news. His opponent, a part time drunk, full-time cynic who works as a detective
says that there are no such temples, only labor camps and a slow death. Rumors
say that the residents of the now empty Whispering City were taken to such a
“temple town”...

86
 The Tenth Icon

of the intermittent drone patrols that keep an eye on things the forgotten wartime bunker systems and with several
for Amesha Habathu. of Aremerat’s ziggurats and the Amesha Spenta’s topside
These levels of the city are part of old Alburz and were institutes.
constructed long before the Wars. Streets and chambers
bustle with workshops, gambling halls, cafes, restaurants y THE SPACEPORT OF THE ABYSS
and squares with vertical gardens and hot springs. The light The city’s spaceport can be found in one of the mountain
coming in from above through deep atriums is supported valleys outside the capital’s limits. Large hangar gates in the
by huge chandeliers full of growth lamps, large vats of mountainsides connect to wide chambers where docking
sugar globes and prayer alcoves filled with oil lamps to plateaus and loading bays in many levels await incoming
chase away the dark. Deeptown is a calm oasis of relative freighters. Defense Institute guards in dark armor and mirrored
freedom in the otherwise regimented and windswept visors patrol the spaceport; attack drones high in the steamy
capital. The central blocks are home to the Steam Plaza air scan for dissidents and smugglers and meticulous; well-
and the white marble palace shared by the prestigious dressed customs officers check and double check all import
Pheri’s Hammam baths and Ardiona’s Butterfly House. licenses. Larger ships are usually diverted to the lowlands
There are rumors going around about a secret network of to dock with the slaughterhouses and unload their cargo for
tunnels and chambers that connect Deeptown with both distribution via shuttles or trains.

FRIENDS AND ENEMIES

“In the name of the Martyr – welcome. My name is Kamala Hydarnes, at the Cherry Plaza to be executed as soon as the sun rises.
follower of the teachings of the prophet Iria Urahuk, daughter of
arch priot Khaleem, cousin of your former enemy Chabaun Kheml.” MAJOR EVENTS
The woman before you is covered in scars and tattoos after In Deeptown, the PCs search for the contact from the message
a long life in the service of the Holy Light. You can see that she they got aboard The Hammer of the Martyr in Aiwaz. They
wore glyph armor until very recently, probably until she and her find out what’s in store for the delegation.
crew had to hide here on Sadaal.
“My cousin was… misinformed. We believed we were keeping the y THE ENVOY
darkness out. But the glyphs from the Wars never spoke of us – you If the PCs get lost or take too long, The Warriors of the Holy
are the true champions of the Martyr! Our agents gave their lives Light dispatch someone to come and find them. A drunk
to bring this knowledge to you. The leaders you brought here will older lady staggers out into the street from a gambling hall.
be executed at dawn. Aremerat is in league with the dark. He wants She wears a plain, ill-fitting paper mask to protect against
the Nadir Flotilla for himself and is ready to go to war with the rest the night winds. After spotting the PCs, she feigns collapsing
of the Horizon. Inside the Ziggurat of the Icons, your allies await into their arms and whispers or gives them a piece of paper
their deaths. Help us rescue them. Our ships and weapons are at with the message on it.
your disposal. May the Prophet be ever by your side.” ◆ The PCs must make it to Pheri’s Hammam in Deeptown
before dawn.
THE SITUATION
The PCs have avoided the Sadaalian patrols and made it to She then asks for some food and drink and at the cost of 1
Pheri’s Hammam in Deeptown. In a network of tunnels, the DP, she also steals a couple of birr or a non-essential item
martyr warriors who managed to flee with the data about the from the pockets of one of them (especially if they didn’t give
true fate of Dabaran are hiding. Time is running out as the her anything to eat or drink).
arrested delegates have been taken to the Crying Ziggurat Cost: 0, 1 DP

87
WAKE OF THE ICONS

y A NIGHT AT THE BATHS and everything has been wiped clean of condensation from
The Steam Plaza by the central chamber of Deeptown is the baths further in. A visit costs 50 birr (non-negotiable).
the largest in the lower city and this is where you find the ◆ The Passphrase: By discreetly asking for “the light” and
marble palace that houses Pheri’s steam baths. The square then waiting while the confused receptionist speaks to
outside is lined with open pools where tired workers soak Seliah herself, the PCs will be taken to a private steam
their legs in the warm water, breathe in the steam or enjoy chamber with ensuite changing rooms. The PCs are left
a mug of chai. alone to rest for a while and may help themselves to fruit
Before the PCs enter the palace, they are led through a and beverages while they wait.
gallery full of plants and butterflies, with mosaic walls of ◆ The Ambush (3 DP): At the cost of 3 DP, the secret police
painted glass. This is Ardiona’s Butterfly House, a calm and ambush the PCs at the baths. Phantoms (page 74) armed
peaceful garden cafe run by the younger cousin of hammam for close combat spring from two hidden doors on opposite
matriarch Seliah Pheri, the half-Zenithian Lea. As they step sides of the chamber and attack, but The Warriors of the
inside the bath palace, they are greeted by staff who give Holy Light arrive after a while to aid the PCs.
them towels and bathrobes. The arches and benches in the ◆ The Agents: A woman and two men enter the chamber.
reception feel soft and soothing despite being made of marble They are wrapped in anonymous cloaks but the tattooed

88
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Martyr glyphs are still clearly visible, despite the clothes • She is a follower of the prophet Iria Urahuk and the cousin
and a thick layer of makeup. The woman has what looks of Chabaun Kheml, the priot encountered by the PCs at the
like burns all the way up to her jaw, identifying her as Foundation hospital during Emissary Lost.
being bionically linked to a suit of holy Zalosian glyph • The Warriors of the Holy Light have analyzed and re-evalu-
armor and holding the rank of priot (group leader). You ated the holy verses and identified the PCs as the prophet’s
don’t recognize these specific individuals but you have met chosen ones.
their kind before: martyr warriors. They raise their empty • The Urahuk Verses prayer book was quoted in Emissary Lost.
hands to show peaceful intentions and gesture for you to The “The Song of Urahuk” box contains a longer version
follow them down into one of the Shimush Mountains’ and may be read to the PCs.
forgotten bunker systems. • The Warriors were misled by the Vestals and turned on
◆ The Complex: The warriors have found a series of aban- the Messenger Emissary and the mystics when they would
doned tunnels and a half-collapsed bunker underneath the have been the way to salvation. The Emissary is the key to
mountains. After a kilometer or so to the northwest, one of finding the Hermit, an ancient ally hiding in the Quadrant
the tunnels leads to a cave where three injector ships are of the Pillar.
hidden (Emissary Lost, page 87). These stealth-equipped • The PCs are given a Machine Icon talisman that wears a
space scooters are the only way for the martyr warriors to Martyr crown of thorns (blessed, +1 to any one roll).
get in and out of the city undetected. This model has been • Kamala plays a clip on her tabula showing what really
constructed to carry up to three passengers, or two tons of happened on the Dabaran portal station (see box “The
cargo, but has an armor rating of only 1. The martyrs’ courier Fate of Dabaran”).
ship, Ruhm-alyash (“The Jade Spear”), is hidden in orbit • The Waha-Najima bulk hauler brought Hadid humanites
around one of Sadaal’s moons. In the warriors’ makeshift from Uharu to Sadaal to strengthen the army and crew
base – a chamber near the cave with the injectors – one the Nadir Flotilla with capable soldiers loyal to the Vestals
of the walls is covered in glyphs describing both ancient and the First Horizon.
prophecies and recent events. The agents have clearly been • The Vestals appear to have some form of darkmorph under
trying to interpret the sacred texts in a new way. their command, swarms of something insect-like that the
◆ Gear: Crates of weapons and armor can be found just outside martyr warriors call hashara.
the chamber and the PCs are welcome to take what they need • The members of the delegation are under arrest and
of the following: 1 chameleon suit (Coriolis core rulebook, scheduled for execution atop the Crying Ziggurat by the
page 119), 2 modulation masks, 3 Vulcan crickets, 2 Vulcan Cherry Plaza at dawn.
scorpions, 1 accelerator pistol, 1 medium breach charge and
ablative pads. The ablative pads are fastened to a person’s Regardless of whether the PCs feel comfortable around their
armor and subtract 3 from the damage of the first hit. After former enemies or not, the agents will be cooperative. You
that, the tech must be restored using an advanced spare part can end Kamala’s speech with “Kamala’s confession” (see box).
and TECHNOLOGY. Full body protection requires six pads; if After meeting the martyr warriors, progress to the last scene.
you wear less, roll a die when hit to see if the pads activate. Cost: 0, 3 DP (Mandatory)
For example, if you wear three pads, a roll of 1–3 means
the attack hits one of your pads (player chooses which one). MINOR EVENTS
◆ The Mission: The delegates have been sentenced to execution The following events can be used to spice up their stay in
at dawn. The PCs are given access to the martyr warriors’ Alburz and add some extra pressure.
space scooters and gear to try to liberate them and escape
Sadaal. The Nadir Flotilla is lost but the alliances between y PHANTOMS IN THE STREET
the Third Horizon factions might survive if their leaders do. An Angra Mainyu patrol (The Phantoms, page 74) has
You can use the scene’s intro text as priot Kamala’s welcome tracked down the PCs and attempts to arrest them in a
speech if you like. Additionally, she tells them the following: narrow alley or tunnel. The situation quickly escalates with

89
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grenade blasts and gunfire echoing between the stone walls.

For 1 extra DP, The Phantoms have set up an ambush with
frag grenades and for 2 extra DP, they have rigged inferno
grenade traps they try to herd the PCs into. The ambush may
THE SONG OF URAHUK be spotted with OBSERVATION at −1.
Cost: 2–4 DP
We shall face the children of Terra beyond dawn and
sorrow and old chains shed. y THE CITY OF THE EXILED ZENITHIANS
Eyes that close open the way for false prophets. The relatively recent addition of Newtown can be found on
There will come a time when mankind turns to dark- the outskirts of Alburz. The neighborhood is also known as
ness once more. When the unworthy speak without Whisper Town after the inhabitants who lived here before
tongues. When sister betrays sister. When the light Newtown was built all vanished overnight about ten cycles
of peace nourishes the servants of darkness. When ago. Zenithian businesses and organizations moved in instead,
brother kills brother. Only they who live in the dark- remodeling the block after their own stringent tastes in
ness will see the light, and find truth within the false office buildings, boutiques and wide avenues. All visitors and
song.
They are the prophets and the pathfinders. When
light turns to darkness, the hermits come down from
the mountains and cross the blood-red fields to
greet the new dawn…”

FILM: THE FATE OF DABARAN

THE “PROPHET’S PATH” VERSE, THE URAHUK
VERSES PRAYER BOOK The tabula shows the flickering Dabaran portal just as
butterfly ships and glimmering, shell-covered destroyers
break through it, swarming around a giant bulk hauler.
A camera drone follows a tattooed woman sneaking
around in the bulk hauler’s cargo hold – rows and rows
of stasis beds, it must be thousands. Several units are
open and bright lights shine on hairless humanites
with rough, silvery skin surrounding a Vestal. A shot
rings out and the spy falls down dead. Cut.
K AMALA’S CONFESSION
The Dabaran portal station. People running for their
“The Serafs of Terra poisoned our minds and deceived lives. Armored soldiers follow the Vestal through dark
us. As we fought and closed our portals, you contin- corridors that seem to disappear behind them. A com-
ued along the path of the prophet. When we tried to plete, swarming darkness follows the group, drown-
silence the unworthy, you fought for their future. We ing everything and everyone in its way. Cut.
believe you are the pathfinders mentioned in the holy The tabula shows a feed from the exterior hull
texts – the ones meant to find the hermit and lead the camera of a courier ship. The crew’s voices over the
Horizon through the war and into a new dawn.” intercom shout in Zalosi, desperate to take off. Three
ships leave the portal station and start heading toward
the star. One is ripped apart by a fractal torpedo. Two
butterfly ships pursue the remaining courier ships as
they jump blindly to escape with the data.

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 The Tenth Icon

residents here must wear masks at all times, regardless of opiates and other permitted intoxicants but a new drone
weather and wind, and foreigners must even wear a special network and surveillance system called the Shalan, “the
kind of red mask to identify them as off-worlders. eyes of the high priest,” makes sure to record what’s said
After the collapse of the Monolith, many Zenithians sought and done while under the influence.
asylum in the system and after some negotiating with the ◆ Monitored: A couple of Newtown’s upsides are that you can
Amesha Spenta, the Newtown complex was given to the converse in Zeni and that almost anything, even weapons,
Zenithian refugees as their new home in exile. Previously can be purchased here if you’ve got the money. The streets
wealthy families who operated mines in the system in the are heavily monitored, however, and if the PCs wish to
past also live here but most have lost their former status and stay out of the way of The Phantoms or informants, they
now live off small scale trading. need to be wary. One PC must roll an INFILTRATION test
The Birbasil Syndicate family has taken over running the at −2 for the group to avoid the sensors. Another PC may
district and various Syndicate gangs patrol the streets and assist by rolling CULTURE to reward bonus dice for each 6
clubs. Newtown’s small spaceport, its warehouses, nightclubs rolled. Failure most likely leads to the PCs running into a
and gambling halls have given Deeptown some competition Phantom patrol (see “Phantoms in the street” above) or
for the workers’ time and money. A deal with the Bureau of recon drones (see page 74).
Medicine and Amesha Vanzur has secured a steady flow of Cost: 0 DP

THE CRYING ZIGGURAT

Dark tunnels and caved-in bunkers lead you toward the The PCs will have to make their way through the Ziggurat
surface. The sounds of the city waking up above you tell of the Icons and into the council chambers, or up to the roof,
you time is running out. Dawn is fast approaching and the but regardless of when and how they reveal themselves, the
Cherry Plaza will soon be full of devout citizens waiting for Vestal Ashaan-Unt Et-U’haya will confront them.
the traitors to face their doom. The crowds praise the glory
of Aremerat and hope to see the Living Icon on his balcony y THE CALL OF DAWN
in the Eternity Spire. Let the PCs prepare for the rescue mission as they travel
The light from the tabula leads the way. You follow the through the bunker network toward the ziggurat and hear
bunker map and find the stairs near the Plaza and the gate that the crowds gather in the plaza above. The delegates are
should take you inside the Crying Ziggurat, to the chambers already being brought to the execution site. As the GM,
of the Amesha Spenta and the imprisoned leaders of the Third you decide how large the tunnel complex under the city
Horizon. The fate of the delegation now rests in your hands… is and how long it takes the group to arrive. Use this to
determine how much time they have when they eventually
THE SITUATION make it to the ziggurat, but if they’ve wasted more time
On Aremerat’s orders, the Amesha Spenta has sentenced the than they should have, the executions might already have
delegates to death for treason. Their lust for the Nadir Flotilla started when they do. Several of the delegates might already
– Aremerat’s way of securing peace for the Horizon – must have bled out over the stones on top of the ziggurat (your
be punished. The news reports also say that the delegates choice of who).
were extremists planning to assassinate members of the
Sadaalian government. When the sun dial at the Cherry Plaza y PROTECTED
awakens at dawn, the condemned will be taken to the roof of The Amesha Spenta has gathered in the council chambers
the Ziggurat of the Icons and be exsanguinated. Their blood together with the recently arrived armored Hadid bodyguards.
shall water the climbing gardens and fatten the vultures. The corridors of the ziggurat are full of guard patrols.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

THE ZIGGURAT

12 E ELEVATOR

S STAIRCASE

E E

30×30 m 11

5 S 5
S S S S

4
7 8
6

3 2

S S
9 10

HABATHUS SECTOR
S SERVICE SECTOR
PLANTATIONS

RESIDENTIAL MODULE 1
S

1: THE BUNKER COMPLEX 7: CELL BLOCKS

2: THE CHERRY PLAZA 8: TORTURE ROOMS
3: THE ETERNITY SPIRE 9: THE CRYPT
4: THE ACOLYTE SECTOR 10: THE CADAVER CLOCK
5: THE COMPLEX OF THE CLERGY 11: COUNCIL CHAMBERS
6: THE SECTOR OF THE PHANTOMS 12: THE ALTAR OF THE ICONS

y VOICE OF A VESTAL they will be subjected to their manipulative powers but the
The Vestal will witness the execution from the balcony at the protection of the Machine Icon might let them see the truth.
top of the Eternity Spire. Dark powers allow the Vestal to wear
the appearance of Aremerat rather than reveal itself as an agent MAJOR EVENTS
of Ardha, but the illusion is powered by the energies of the The PCs must make their way through the ziggurat to reach
cadaver clock and will be weakened if the clock is destroyed. the delegates. The council chambers are cleared to take the
In this case, maintaining the illusion will sap the Vestal’s own convicted up to the roof. You can reveal the imprisoned body
energy. When the PCs finally encounter Ashaan-Unt Et-U’haya, of Aremerat before or after the rescue.

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 The Tenth Icon

HELP FROM THE MARTYRS

If the PCs have a hard time making it to the top of the zig- distraction to buy the PCs some time. The warriors are
gurat or escaping from the final combat, you can let the ready to sacrifice themselves to allow the PCs to complete
martyr warriors arrive as reinforcements or to create a their mission.

y THE ZIGGURAT 4. The Acolyte Sector: Wide corridors and rooms with stained
The Ziggurat of the Icons contains ancient halls and cham- glass skylights filtering light from high above. This section
bers dedicated to the Icons brought to the systems by the is always busy with clerical assistants, analysts and admin-
original settlers. The concepts of the Amesha Spenta mirror istrators from the different institutes who work hard to
these Icons to this day, albeit in a modified form. Worn keep the city running smoothly. The offices, archives and
glyphs, faded paintings and cracked mosaics portray Icons meeting rooms breathe centuries of piety. Most of the
still revered by other original Firstcome clans throughout governmental operations take place in the actual institutes
the Third Horizon. After the Portal Wars, the wisdom of and bureaus but this is where the work is compiled and
Aremerat has been added to the decorations and each presented to the Amesha Spenta. In the early hours only
chamber has a gold-lined quartz and obsidian plaque in a few eager assistants are in, plus a handful of security
the ceiling telling the story of how the Eternal Leader lit guards doing their morning rounds through the pyramid.
Sadaal’s new sun. The ziggurat is practically a labyrinth of 5. The Complex of the Clergy: Eight suites surround an
dark and secret tunnels, some of which are known only to arboretum with a tearoom in the middle. This is where the
the secret police and the clergy. members of the Amesha Spenta meet to plan and scheme,
1. The Bunker Complex: Tunnels and low halls upheld by each of them having a suite of their own as well as offices
robust pillars and arches containing forgotten equipment and relaxation areas built from exquisite Sadaalian obsidian,
from the days of the Portal Wars. The complex is divided limestone, marble and Bahramian teak. The complex is
into sectors: a residential module containing beds and kept separate from the rest of the ziggurat and protected
lockers; kitchens with dead plant beds and dry fish farms; by rigorous security systems (DATA DJINN or INFILTRATION −2)
and the Habathus sector where abandoned monitors, coms but there are secret tunnels that lead here from the sector
and gunner’s seats once controlled sensor stations and of the The Phantoms. In Sadaal’s history, it’s been alleged
weapons platforms all along the Shimush Mountains. The more than once that Ameshas with plans to go against
different sectors are separated by thick metal doors but Aremerat have vanished or been found dead in the tearoom.
most of them are open. At the cost of 1 DP, the PCs come 6–8. The Sector of The Phantoms: No one knows where the
to a locked door (FORCE to open manually, or TECHNOLOGY) entrances to the headquarters of the secret police are, only
or a collapse in the tunnel (FORCE) that slows them down. that somewhere within the Ziggurat of the Icons, dissidents
2–3. The Cherry Plaza: The plaza is a large public space just and rebels are tortured and murdered. The Phantoms’
below the aqueduct gardens. As the day begins, more and Sector [6] is a series of floors around the central column
more citizens arrive after having heard the propaganda inside the pyramid all the way from the crypt to the council
about the treason of the rest of the Horizon. The gathered chambers. One reaches the labyrinthine tunnels and Cell
hope to be blessed with Aremerat’s presence as maybe the Blocks [7] through hidden doors and elevators from the
great leader will come to watch the execution in person other parts of the ziggurat, but there are also tunnels that
from his perch in The Eternity Spire [3]. The Spire’s reach deep into the underground bunker network. Far
black majesty contrasts the lush green that covers the below, hidden hangars contain gravcraft and atmospheric
Ziggurat of the Icons. shuttles. At the heart of the sector of The Phantoms, a false

93
WAKE OF THE ICONS

atrium lit by bright floodlights contains a central staircase of a flaming sun on top of which sacrifices can be made to
carved into the polished marble walls. The stairs and the the skies. Four ledges protrude above the plaza from the
hidden elevators take The Phantoms to whichever Torture platform. These are sometimes used by victims awarded
Room [8] or prison cell they like. The whole sector reeks of the option to step over the edge of their own volition and
death and terror and muffled cries and wails can be heard fall to their deaths against the jagged stone ornaments
coming from behind sturdy, locked doors. covering the sides of the ziggurat. All public executions
9–10. The Crypt: Underneath the labyrinth of The Phantoms are broadcast by camera drones swarming around the altar
and the complex of the clergy lies the crypt. Low tunnels to large holo screens on the pillars below the aqueducts.
lined with sarcophagi preserve the remains of former Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory)
members of the Amesha Spenta. Skeptics falsely believe
that this is where earlier generations of the Aremerat figure y THE CADAVER CLOCK
might be hidden away, but this is wrong – Aremerat’s The chamber with the cadaver clock is obscured by the
families and lovers are interred here (some of whom met Vestal’s illusions and not even the secret police who patrol
with premature ends) but the Eternal Leader himself is the surrounding corridors or the acolytes who work in the
just that, eternal. The crypt is decorated with obsidian and crypt know the way inside. The PCs’ bond with the Machine
cut vulcanite and lit by sugar globes in small niches in the Icon heightens their senses and gives them a chance to
walls. The globes are fed sugar water dripping down from see through the lies, but the ornate stone doorway leading
canals in the walls and the sound of the slow drip gives the inside the chamber (the crypt of Marabed the Wise, Sadaal’s
crypt a wet and stuffy atmosphere. An illusion, guided by first leader) still just glides through the PCs’ field of vision,
the presence of the Vestal, keeps curious visitors from the like a mirage – one second it’s there, in the corner of their
central chamber and The Cadaver Clock [10] (see below). eye, and then gone again. A sense of dread and the smell
The central chamber is round and dimly lit. Vines with red of decay are constantly present, however, telling them that
leaves climb the walls toward the eight slowly rotating gears something dark is close by. PCs who didn’t merge with the
in the ceiling that churn away above a mosaic rendering Machine Icon see or feel none of the above.
of the Great Beast U’haya. The pained screams of dying ◆ The Doorway: The door is opened with an electronic key
victims from executions in the past live on as echoes here that is part of a talisman the ancient leaders of Sadaal used
and feed the dark energies that strengthen the agents to wear. The talisman contains one key for each chamber
of the First Horizon. A broken, tortured body hangs in and former leader but is currently worn by the Vestal.
the middle of the chamber – Aremerat himself (see “The Without the key, forcing the door requires a DATA DJINN at
Cadaver Clock” below). −1 or a critically successful FORCE .
11. The Council Chambers: Sharp rock walls cut from the ◆ The Chamber: Marabed’s sarcophagus in the center of
bedrock of the Shimush rise above a marble floor. Nine the room is covered in mother-of-pearl, gilded glyphs in
thrones sit on sculpted cliffs, like little islands, with stairs what looks like ancient Miran, polished neodym from the
leading up to them. Eight of the thrones form a semicircle Sadaalian asteroid belt – and partially dried blood. Hung
facing the ninth – the golden throne of the Eternal One. in the ceiling, rotating slowly, are eight dark gears forming
The teachings of Aremerat cover the walls as glyphs or a death wheel. The turning of the gears flickers in and out
paintings. Empty galleries for assistants or visitors still of vision. The air is thick and nauseatingly sweet. Anxiety
remain from the time before the Wars when Sadaal was grips the hearts of the PCs and you can have them roll for
a blossoming socialist democracy. It’s been many years terror (The Last Cyclade, page 31) if you like.
since anyone used the benches now. ◆ Aremerat: Suspended from thin, silky wires below the rotating
12. The Altar of the Icons: On the roof of the Ziggurat of the wheel hangs Aremerat the Eternal. A thin man with long, lank
Icons, surrounded by the splendor of the hanging aqueduct hair and moist, cracked leathery skin appears to slowly melt
gardens, rises an octagonal terrace on thirteen pillars. In the onto the sarcophagus. The face is twisted in pain and from
center of the platform, an altar has been cut in the shape behind the grinding teeth comes a low whimper. MEDICURGY

94
 The Tenth Icon

can reveal to the PCs that the body is in remarkably good

condition, given the circumstances, which is probably the NEW TALENT: SHIELD OF THE ICONS
work of the nanites and bionics meant to give the leader an
unnaturally long life. The Eternal Leader can still be saved The person feels protected by the Icons or some
by passing a SCIENCE test at −2 to get him down off the other higher power. It can be actual divine pro-
cadaver clock, and a MEDICURGY test at -1 to treat his wounds tection or simply rigorous training. The person
(requires medical supplies). He has been infected by dark may pray to the Icons for a reroll to an armor
memes, however, and is all but apathetic, unable to walk on roll once per hit. Costs 1 DP if the user is an NPC,
his own. It will take a lot of time and treatment before the generates 1 DP when used by a PC.
leader of Sadaal is in his right mind again.
◆ Darkness: The cadaver clock feeds the darkness and the
Vestal for as long as it’s active. Even if the PCs rescue
Aremerat, the life force of imprisoned dissidents will
continue to supply it with some power. To shut off the
clock without creating a hole in reality, the PCs need to
pass a MYSTIC POWERS roll at -2. Even if they pass the test,
you can let a darkmorph make it through. At the cost of 1
DP, it’s a darkbound and for 2 DP, it’s either the Hounds
of Tirides or a dark djinn. You decide if the PCs realize
something is breaking through before it happens.
Cost: 0, 1–3 DP
PUBLIC ADDRESS

y THE EXECUTION “As the sun rises, we come together before Aremerat
The Altar of the Icons at the top of the ziggurat is surrounded the Eternal. We have defended the interests of the
by rows of Hadid humanites in white armor and Angra Mainyu Third Horizon and created community through inge-
Phantoms. The delegates and their bodyguards are lined nuity and trade. Ours is the toil in the mines, ours is
up nearby with their hands cuffed and with golden hoods the sweat in the smelteries and shipyards. Despite
over their heads. The Amesha Spenta is represented at the our sacrifices for peace, our neighbors mean to bring
execution by Vanzur (the Dancer), Habathu (the Judge) and us war. Their so-called negotiators have set their
Voukasha (the Lady of Tears). Acting on what they believe to assassins and agents on us to try and destroy our glo-
be Aremerat’s orders, they have organized the execution of rious realm, but we shall never bow to their demands.
the delegation. Today, the guilty stand before you, the people of
Habathu stands on one of the protruding platforms overlooking Sadaal, to repent their misdeeds through the ultimate
the Cherry Plaza, ready to address the masses. See the box sacrifice…”
below or make up your own speech containing the following:
◆ The Sadaalian people have built a peace fleet and the other HIGH PRIEST HABATHU, THE ZIGGURAT OF THE ICONS
factions now desire it to make war.
◆ Sadaal with its workers and craftsmen are the Third Horizon’s
heart and destined to lead the other systems to peace
and unity.
◆ The delegates stand accused of having sent assassins and
spies to undermine the rule of Aremerat but they were
apprehended in time and will now be sacrificed for the
glorious future of the system.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

NEW HUMANITE/CYBERNETIC TALENT:

ADAPTIVE SKIN ◆ The Sacrifices: After the speech, the delegates and their
surviving entourage are led, one by one, to the edge of
A mesh of ablative micro pads has been grown the platform. Their hoods are removed and their faces
into the person’s skin. The thickness and com- wiped with a wet rag. After Habathu grants them the Icons’
position of the metallic mesh can be regulated forgiveness, cables tied to their wrists pull their arms above
by a network of neurally linked receptors. The their heads. Ritual symbols are carved into their back and
skin has a natural Armor Rating of 2 but will also belly and their blood starts to pool in canals on the floor.
adapt as it learns to handle new threats. All hits When they can’t stand upright anymore, or pass out from
from the same damage source after the first have blood loss, the frame they’re hanging from is swung out
their damage reduced by 2 (after normal armor over the edge and the body is let go. A triangular pattern
rolls) but the skin can remember only three of sharpened stone teeth sticking out from the side of the
types of damage at once (for example: Vulcan, pyramid mangles them as they fall to their deaths on the
thermal, acc, stun, regular melee combat). Bio lower terraces. Stress the PCs’ lack of time to intervene,
sculptors in Menkar have managed to create a the execution will start before they can plan their attack.
cybernetic equivalent of the graft, but this can When the execution begins, you get 4 new DP.
only remember one type of damage at a time. ◆ Combat: Let the PCs gauge the strength of their opponents
COST: 15,000 birr (CYB). before they are discovered. You should tailor the number of
guards to the size of your group – a small group should meet
NEW HUMANITE/CYBERNETIC TALENT:
four Hadid and two Phantoms (page 97), a medium-size
ECHOLOCATION group should meet six Hadid and three Phantoms and
a full-size group should be faced with eight Hadid and
Transmitters and receivers in the frontal bone four Phantoms. You can let the enemies act in groups of
and trachea allow for an advanced form of echo- between two and four individuals in terms of movement
location. People nearby can hear it as clicking or and initiative. Unless the odds are clearly in favor of the
crackling sounds. The sonar has a reach of 100 executioners, the Ameshas will quickly retreat through one
meters and ignores light and dark completely, of the four exits from the ziggurat roof.
giving the user a +2 to OBSERVATION. A cybernetic Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory, generates 4 DP)
version has been created by the Legion for tunnel
warfare during the Tarash conflict on Algol. y THE ARRIVAL OF THE VESTAL
COST: 8,000 birr (CYB) When the fighting escalates to the point where the PCs get a
chance to start rescuing the delegates, the worried murmurs
NEW BIONIC SCULPT: INDOCTRINATED
from the crowd below abruptly change to ecstatic cheers. A
light from the Eternity Spire hits the top of the Ziggurat of
The person has been genetically manipulated for the Icons and even the combatants take a second to look out
blind loyalty to the members or leaders of a cer- across the plaza in startled anticipation. Use the text below
tain organization. Rank and chain of command or make up your own description of the Vestal’s arrival.
can’t be altered without extensive surgery. The ◆ The Vestal has been looking for the PCs and wants to turn
person is unable to commit disloyal actions or them into its lieutenants in the new Horizon.
disobey commands. If subjected to manipulation ◆ The Machine Icon will try to speak to the PCs to break the
attempts to go against her leader, the indoc- Vestal’s spell, regardless of whether they merged with
trinated person gets a +3 to MANIPULATION to her or not.
resist. When physically near the leader or when ◆ The Vestal will eventually realize that they aren’t willing
acting on the direct orders from that leader, the to join the First Horizon and then attack, but feigned
indoctrinated is immune to stress. submission might buy them some time.

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 The Tenth Icon

TABLE 14: NPCS AT THE EXECUTION

STRENGTH AGILITY WITS EMPATHY HP MP REP SKILLS GEAR
High priest 2 2 4 5 4 9 9 Manipulation 6, Thermal cricket, ornate
Culture 5, mask (worth 5,000
Observation 4, birr), exquisite clothing,
Dexterity 3, armasuit (armor 3).
Science 3, Talents: Shield of the
Infiltration 2, Icons (see box), Wealthy
Medicurgy 2, Family, Beautiful,
Ranged Combat 2 Regenerate
Angra 3 4 3 2 9 5 8 Infiltration 5, Vulcan carbine, commu-
Mainyu (The Observation 4, nicator, stun grenade,
Phantoms) Ranged Combat 4, ablative armasuit
Data Djinn 3, (armor 3, -3 to first
Manipulation 3, hit), sensor helmet
Melee Combat 3 (OBSERVATION +1)
Talents: Body Armor
(+3), Targeting Scope,
Nine Lives
Hadid humanite 4 4 3 2 8 (5) 5 Infiltration 5, Thermal carbine, acceler-
Melee Combat 5, ated combat suit (armor 6,
Ranged Combat 4, DEXTERITY +2), advanced
Manipulation 3, scope
Observation 3 Talents: Adaptive
Skin, Echolocation,
Indoctrinated (see boxes)

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

After speaking to them, the Vestal will float toward the PCs
high above the plaza and then join its minions in attacking
them on the ziggurat’s roof. This generates 4 DP. The crowds
below are also under the Vestal’s control and will act as a
poorly armed mob (see “Mob combat” on page 220 of The
Last Cyclade). Use the text below or describe the revelation
of the Vestal in your own words.
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory, generates 4 DP)

VESTAL ASHAAN-UNT ET-U’HAYA

Ashaan-Unt was one of the first Vestals to reach the Third Horizon
after almost fifty years of waiting in the darkness between the portals.
They are the captain of the butterfly ship that attacked and enslaved
the Tsurabi colony in Taoan (see The Last Voyage of the Ghazali) and
began the process of awakening the slumbering Nazareem cells.
Ashaan-Unt is loyal to the Eternal Emperor until death and beyond and
is now general over the armies in Sadaal, tasked with preparing for
the arrival of the First Horizon and its rightful conquest. Ashaan-Unt
demands absolute loyalty from their manipulated citizens and is using
a mass illusion to trick everyone, even the Amesha Spenta, into seeing
the Vestal as Aremerat rather than as themselves.

CHARACTERISTICS: The Vestal floats through the air and never

touches ground. The stillness around it is deafening and its hands

and mouth appear to be the only parts of it that move.

The stats below are for the Vestal in its normal form. For its weak-
ened shape, see the “Without the Cadaver Clock” box.

ATTRIBUTES:
STRENGTH 3, AGILITY 5, WITS 5, EMPATHY 8

HIT POINTS: 20

MIND POINTS: – (immune to stress)

REPUTATION: 10 (automatically superior)

SKILLS: Culture 10, Mystic Powers 8, Command 5, Data Djinn 5,

Manipulation 5, Melee Combat 5, Observation 5, Pilot 5, Science
5, Technology 5, Dexterity 2
ACTIONS: Three separate initiatives per turn, each with 3 AP to
spend.
TALENTS: See powers table. Costs 1 DP per activation except
CHANNEL THE VOID and ENTHRALL .
ARMOR: Ablative absorption negates 2 points of damage from
first physical hit each turn and negates one CRIT.

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 The Tenth Icon

THE VESTAL ATTACKS

A light and a note beyond human hearing attracts your atten- Machine Icon wraps her cloak around you and calls out
tion. Aremerat’s body and golden robe morph into a floating through a sea of burning stars:
Seraf of ethereal white light coming toward you. Its eyes are “Heed not the nihilistic promises of Terra. You have
covered by a red silk ribbon but you still feel seen like never grown beyond the Horizons. You are your own now, you
before. Love and anxiety duels in you chests. Your hearts don’t need your parents anymore.”
pump hard. A choir of voices caresses your minds: The image of the Seraf flickers. The light fades and
“My friends, we have looked for you between the stars turns to ash and whirling darkness carrying a deformed
and here you are, in our home. We are the light and the body toward you. Blood runs from a mouth full of glittering,
future. Stand with us against our lost children. Renounce razor-sharp teeth. The sounds from the crowds unify in a
the dark agenda of the Symmetry and make way for a new single, hateful voice:
Horizon. We are the parents you never had. You have been “If you can’t love us then love nothing. You are doomed
through so much but we are here to release you from the to perish. Your lifeless bodies will nourish us and make
chains and shames of society. Give yourselves to a true life, way for the true rulers of the Horizons. You are the heralds
without moderation, modesty or hierarchies.” of a new era but will never see the fruits of your labor. We
You feel how love and a liberating anarchy grows within will break your bones like bread and spill your blood on the
you, but then a cry for help cuts through the mists. The ground like spoiled wine. Today is your last day.”

PROTECTED

PCs who have merged with the Machine Icon are immune
to the Vestal’s mind-tricks and manipulations. All NPCs
(except the Dakin) are automatically affected, however. BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH
The PCs get the Machine Icon bonus (page 45) to all de-
fensive MYSTIC POWERS rolls. If the Vestal drops to 0 HP and isn’t able to regain at least
1 point (see “Channel the Void”), the body hangs limply in
the air in a sort of regenerative coma. The PCs may then
test MYSTIC POWERS if they have a power that somehow
banishes spirits. The comatose Vestal gets a −3 to its de-
fense roll. If the banishing succeeds, the Vestal is torn

WITHOUT THE CADAVER CLOCK

apart by the escaping forces of the dark but risks opening a
tear into portal space as it dies (see the “Dark Birth” event,
If the PCs destroyed the cadaver clock in the crypt, the page 102).
Vestal is weakened:
◆ −1 to all skill rolls.
◆ Only two activations per turn instead of three.
◆ The ablative armor becomes useless after absorb-
ing one CRIT.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

TABLE 15: THE VESTAL’S POWERS

D6 DESCRIPTION
* CHANNEL THE VOID: This power is automatically activated when the Vestal reaches 0 HP or when the GM runs out of DP.
The Vestal harnesses energy from the darkness. Cracks appear in the air around it, leaking dark, heavy smoke and glittering,
black dust. Everyone within Short range of the Vestal must pass an EMPATHY or MYSTIC POWERS test or suffer 2 points of stress.
◆ Each failed test generates 2 DP and heals the Vestal for 3 HP. If the stress leaves a character broken, roll a die: On a 6, the person
also suffers a Mania (see page 337 of the Rulebook).
◆ If no one fails their roll, the Vestal enters its regenerative coma (see “Between Life and Death”).

1 ENTHRALL: The Vestal can puppet its devotees within Short range. The affected act out the Vestal’s wishes until they drop to 0 HP.
The attack is a MYSTIC POWERS roll and affects everyone within Long range. For a victim to disobey or break free, she must pass a
MYSTIC POWERS test with a −1 for each 6 on the Vestal’s roll (up to -5). Breaking free leads to 2 points of stress.
MERGED: PCs who merged with the Machine Icon are immune.
2–3 LEVITATE: The Vestal can levitate itself or others by testing MYSTIC POWERS + DEXTERITY (effectively 10 Skill dice). Alternatively,
anyone within Short range may be targeted for either of the following:
◆ The victim is knocked one distance further away from the Vestal (opposed MYSTIC POWERS vs FORCE).
◆ The victim suffers physical damage. Roll a MYSTIC POWERS attack (weapon damage 2, CRIT 2) against the victim. The victim must
test DEXTERITY instead of Armor to reduce the damage.
4 WARP: The Vestal can remind its victims of their Problem by winning an opposed MYSTIC POWERS roll (any number of targets within
Long range, one roll per target). Each roll inflicts 2 points of damage on the Vestal.
◆ A won roll activates the target’s Problem for D6 turns in combat or ten minutes out of combat.
◆ Each extra winning 6 inflicts 1 point of stress on the target and heals the Vestal for 2 HP.

5 DESTROY: The Vestal challenges a target to an opposed roll for MYSTIC POWERS vs MYSTIC POWERS, alternatively FORCE. If the Vestal
wins the roll, the target experiences a vacuum-like state for one turn per winning 6.
◆ Tissues necrotize and blood begins to boil. The victim must test FORCE at the beginning of each turn until the effect wears off,
with a cumulative −1 modifier for each turn after the first.
◆ Failing the roll leads to losing all HP, becoming broken and dying after D6 minutes unless treated with a successful MEDICURGY test.
◆ If the Vestal reaches 0 HP, the effect ends immediately.

6 ALLIANCE: The Vestal tests MYSTIC POWERS and draws in a darkmorph form the Void to fight alongside it for one turn per 6 rolled.
See “New darkmorphs” below).

HINN, SPIRIT [−1]

A relative of the ethereal djinn but sprung from toxic fumes, acids and
environmental destruction. They’re sometimes also known as samum.

NEW DARKMORPHS
As ethereal beings, they can only be harmed by MYSTIC POWERS, rituals
using CULTURE and rose water, but they can take physical form and focus
The power of the Vestal feeds off the dark be- their smoke-like appearance as crystals, often appearing in shades of
tween the stars but this comes with side effects. green or purple. Dark mystics have tried to enslave hinn, locking them to
Some darkmorphs breaking through take physi- their physical manifestation by fastening a copper plate inscribed with
cal form (see “Darkmorphs” in the Coriolis core the rules of the spell on the creature’s chest (like the golems of Ardha).
rulebook, page 325) while others are only ethe- When the greenish cloud that is the hinn moves around, plants wither
real spirits or twisted echoes from a distant past and die and dark maggots burst from the ground.
(“Spirits and Sarcofagoi”, Coriolis core rulebook
page 333). Choose from the rulebook or use the ATTRIBUTES:
STRENGTH 6, AGILITY 3, WITS 3, EMPATHY 4
new beings below when determining what comes
HIT POINTS: 9
howling through the tear…
MIND POINTS: 7

1 00
 The Tenth Icon

SKILLS: Force 5, Melee Combat 5, Mystic Powers 4, Dexterity 3 ◆ BLADESTORM: The creature shakes and the shreds of two-dimen-
ARMOR: (Crystal body 10) sional fur turn into knives that stab in all directions, hitting any number
WEAPONS: (Crystal stab, damage 3, CRIT 2, poison strength 4) of targets within Short range. Strength 8 attack, damage 3, CRIT 1.
◆ PHASESHIFT: The creature folds in on itself and disappears. In
◆ CRYSTALLINE: For 1 DP, the hinn takes physical shape as razor- the following turn, it may reappear anywhere within Long range
sharp crystals. It can use its body as a weapon to slice and cut and may perform an ambush attack with a +3 to initiative. The
opponents and poison them. targeted opponent may try to spot the kutrub when it reappears
◆ ACID WIND: While in ethereal form, the hinn can summon toxic to negate the ambush (OBSERVATION −3).
mists and acid rains targeting everyone within Short range. The
rains are a strength 5 attack (damage 2, CRIT 2) every turn and
they erode 1 point of armor per attack (can be repaired using MINOR EVENTS
TECHNOLOGY ). If a target would suffer a critical injury, roll a Use these events to make the ziggurat even more difficult.
strength 3 fire attack instead (Coriolis core rulebook, page 97).
◆ SUFFOCATE: For 1 DP, the hinn can encapsulate a victim in its y TRAPPED
crystalline form (opposed DEXTERITY ). The effects of the crystal Ambush! A group of Hadid humanites (Table 14, page 97)
prison are equivalent to the vacuum of space (Coriolis core rule- in white armor and mirrored visors surrounds the PCs. The
book, page 99) but the victim or someone on the outside may try attack takes place inside the ziggurat as the PCs are heading
to break the cell. After suffering 6 or more points of damage, the toward the execution site. For 2 DP, the attackers number as
hinn reverts back to its ethereal form. many as the PCs and for 4 DP, they outnumber the PCs two
to one. The Hadids’ metallic skins and sonar-like sensory
capabilities make them terrifying opponents and it might
KUTRUB, DARKMORPH [−2]
be a good idea for the PCs to withdraw.
Cost: 2–4 DP
A creature haunts the dark folktales of the Third Horizon, a creature with
fur like ripped shreds of anti-light. The kutrub can lie dormant, curled y JAILBREAK
into a fetal ball in the nothingness of space or deep underground in putrid In the sector of The Phantoms, the PCs come upon torture
crypts only to spring to life when it catches the scent of living flesh and chambers and prison cells holding a handful of badly injured
blood. Their shape is sometimes described as enormous wolves walking prisoners. The captives might hear the PCs approach and
upright and sometimes as something in between a human and a bird plead for help through the door in broken Zeni or one of
spider. The number of long, spindly limbs ending in sharp talons varies but the local dialects. The door locks are controlled from a
their mouths always burn with the light of a newborn sun. central chamber which might be guarded by two Angra
Mainyu guards (for 1 DP). Hacking the system without
ATTRIBUTES: triggering the silent alarm requires a DATA DJINN test. If
STRENGTH 8, AGILITY 6
they trip the alarm, a handful of guards either storms
HIT POINTS: 14
the control chamber or stages an ambush nearby. The
SKILLS: Melee Combat 4, Force 4, Dexterity 2
cell doors can also be blown open with explosives (GM
ARMOR: 5
decides the blast power needed). The escapees have the
WEAPONS: Bite (damage 4, CRIT 3), Stab (damage 2, CRIT 2)
“Fugitive” stats according to Table 15.1 on page 343 of
the Coriolis core rulebook but only 3 HP and 2 MP. Some
◆ SUNRAY: At the cost of 1 DP, the mouth opens and lets out the example escapees are:
raging starfire, burning the eyes and faces of everyone within ◆ Awyan Khau: Slaughterhouse worker who tried to organize
Short range. All affected get a −3 to actions requiring clear vision a strike for better working conditions. FORCE 4.
and suffer a strength 3 fire attack (Coriolis core rulebook, page ◆ Merrai Tarash: Teenage ex-deckhand of a merchant vessel
97). The light is active for two turns. who was begging for food on the Cherry Plaza. Was taken

101
WAKE OF THE ICONS

after witnessing the secret police arrest a (now dead) dissi- y RESONANCE: DARK ENERGY
dent. TECHNOLOGY 2. As the PCs leave the bunker complex and enter the ziggurat,
◆ Tama Eb-Walah: Mystic captain (with one power of your they feel a rising sense of dread. Tormented screams echo
choice) from the Habathus Flotilla. Knows about the crewing in their heads and they feel as if something is blotted out of
of the Nadir Flotilla with humanites arriving from Dabaran. their minds, creating a blind spot. A seductive song is trying
COMMAND 4, PILOT 4. to break through, carrying the scent of rose petals, but then
Cost: 0, 1 DP their minds reject the illusions of the Vestal, instead bringing
out sensations of darkness, lust and anxiety. Voices and sharp
y RESONANCE: THE DAKIN’S ALLIANCE fingers claw at their skin. Something is hidden here, like the
If the PCs liberate Tama Eb-Walah above, or if there are other illusion they experienced in the hangar bay of the Zafirah in
mystics in their group, you can trigger this event. Second The Last Cyclade. Grinding wheels and screams of pain ring
Horizon Dakin dominate and puppet the mystic’s body and in their heads.
offer the PCs an alliance: At the cost of 1 DP, the affected PCs suffer 3 points of stress
◆ The Emissaries are worried about the PCs’ interference reduced by 1 for each 6 rolled on a MYSTIC POWERS test. If the
and either demand their loyalty or threaten to attack them. roll is successful, they also get a sense of direction to what is
◆ The immediate enemy of them both is the Vestal ruling Sadaal, creating the blind spot in their heads – the chamber of the
however. The PCs are therefore safe from retribution for cadaver clock calling them in its attempts to stay hidden.
the time being and the Dakin suggests a temporary alliance For another 2 DP, the energies of the cadaver clock attract
until the agents of the First Horizon have been defeated. a bokor or sarcofagoi (Coriolis core rulebook, page 335–336)
◆ If the PCs decline the offer, the Dakin could still choose that manifests in the shadows nearby or in the body of a
to attack them at the cost of 1 DP. deceased dissident.
Cost: 0, 1 DP Cost: 1–3 DP

ENDING
After having been called to Sadaal, the PCs have survived ◆ Tear (9 DP): If the PCs fail to disable the cadaver clock
the betrayal of Aremerat and the Syndicate. War is drawing or if they actually manage to defeat the Vestal, a tear
near but there’s still a moment of uncertainty about what leading to the darkness between the portals may form
will happen next. The Vestals have proved themselves at the cost of 9 DP. Like when they found the body of
servants of the dark between the stars and the people of the Messenger Emissary in Emissary Lost, true darkness
Sadaal have fallen to the First Horizon. What remains to be seeps in and takes shape. The being manifests slowly
done is to bring the delegates back to their fleets in Aiwaz and is at first confined to the crypt or the top of the
and then try to rally the people in defense of the Third ziggurat, but will eventually grow and consume all of
Horizon. More and more crews defect to the Emissaries Alburz…
at Xene, however, and the Syndicate’s betrayal makes the ◆ Rage of the Vestals: The death of Ashaan-Unt on Sadaal
other factions even less inclined to trust each other. The may anger the rest of the First Horizon’s agents so
future looks bleak indeed. much that they step out from the shadows. As the GM,
you might therefore choose to play the “Legacy of the
y DARK BIRTH Founders” mission (page 154) earlier than described in
The end of the scenario might create a permanent tear in the the text and awaken the sugar globes at the beginning
fabric of space on Sadaal and the actions of the PCs could of the war.
come to affect the next scenario a great deal:

1 02
 The Tenth Icon

ESCAPING SADA AL
y THE MACHINE ICON’S SPEECH
Urni en-Argonnas, the Machine Icon who has become one The PCs can flee Sadaal at any time. They don’t
with the PCs, now becomes their guide as they try to unite the have to bring all of the delegates with them but
peoples of the Horizon. When the PCs leave the system, they how well they do will affect the coming scenar-
have a hypersleep dream where they once again encounter io. As they retreat through alleys and tunnels,
Urni standing on the fields of Argonnas. angry mobs of citizens may attack at any point
(Mob combat, The Last Cyclade, page 220) or they
“You are betrayed and broken but there is still light behind could run into guard or Hadid patrols. The PCs’
the storm clouds. My brothers and sisters see the children of escape should remain an escape and not become
the Horizon as their tools and minions. My parents see you as a lengthy battle, however. Encourage them to find
children who must never grow up. We must destroy them, pull clever ways to avoid pursuing enemies. Leaving
up the roots to bring down the crown. In doing so, we will need the planet can be accomplished using the martyr
all the help we can get. It’s time for you to meet my first family, warriors’ injector ships, aboard Birbasil’s Dream
the temple under the pillars of the Horizon where only the lost (if they managed to steal it at the beginning of the
wander. There, under the lotus, sits the Santulan who left it all chapter) or by stealing a ship in the spaceport. As
behind to become one with the Horizon. We must visit Rima, they ascend through the atmosphere or on their
the first Emissary, the Four who are One…” way to the portal, Habathus Flotilla fighters may
take up the chase.

THE NADIR FLOTILLA

“Your sensor screens are flooded with activity as you ap- flotillas of torpedo ships and destroyers from Bahram. The
proach the portal station. The alarms going off inform you newly-constructed fleet now under First Horizon control
of hundreds of ships waiting around the star. White hulls is being crewed by humanites unloaded from the Waha-
gleam with gold ornaments and glyphs praising Zenith, Najima bulk hauler orbiting Sadaal. The Nadir Flotilla is
Nadir and the glory of Ardha. Huge battleships are joined by ready and now begins the war for the Third Horizon…”

103
The Horizon Wars
Ardha’s children, chained to history.
A dance with darkness and light.
In the broken Horizon,
where fire reigns and burns.
Despair, the final challenge,
and beyond it – the future.
THE DECREE OF RIMA, QUADRANT OF THE PILLAR, C54
WAKE OF THE ICONS

INTRODUCTION In the final part of the Mercy of the Icons campaign, war
breaks out and the PCs must lead the people of the Third
Horizon to victory. They must disrupt the Symmetry’s control
and repel the fleets of the First Horizon, form alliances and
use the mysteries of the Void as weapons in the war of all
wars. Will they survive the test, or add their names to the
martyr songs of coming generations?
IN THE HORIZON WARS, the PCs participate in battles y THE TIDES OF WAR – PAGE 109
and events that reshape the Third Horizon forever. The factions’ goals and motives determine
Their sacrifices steer the course of the war and their involvement and movements in the war.
determine what remains when it’s all over. From out Below is a short summary of the outcomes of
of despair comes hope and the promise of a new era. the different missions the PCs will undertake.
The Horizon Wars will mainly take part along
BACKGROUND the Sadaal Route and the Dabaran Circle, with
War is here. The PCs have fought the power a strategic focus around Zalos, Mira and Kua.
hungry Zenithians, broken the Nazareem’s The Quadrant of the Pillar and the Algol Route
Sacrifice, seen the true faces of the Emissaries are more or less out of harm’s way.
and found both betrayal and unlikely new allies. The missions will lead to positional changes
They have become that which keeps the story in the war, as the different factions win or lose
and the Third Horizon together. The cluster’s territories. The outcome of the missions might
alliances must be strengthened to make the also affect the scenario locations and starting
fleets ready for war with the Eternal Emperor. situations of later scenarios, but practically all
The Santulans’ control over the new mystics of the missions will fit in the game regardless,
must be broken, the exile of the Janhagir fleet albeit with more or less modifications.
must end and ancient weapon systems must
once again be powered up. Time has come to y MINI MISSIONS – PAGE 119
determine the fate of the Third Horizon. There are multiple mini missions in the book
for you to use as you like. Elaborate on these
OVERVIEW adventure seeds or events to turn them into
The Horizon Wars consists of a series of missions proper missions to involve the PCs in the war
and space battles (War Turns) that lead to drastic directly – as tacticians, couriers, rescue parties
changes to the Horizon. Depending on the PCs’ or secret agents. The mini missions contain
level of success – if they succeed at all – their actions example bonuses for the players to use in the
and choices control the outcome of the naval battles metagame, as well as proposed changes to how
raging across the star map. The battles are fought the war progresses.
with a new metagame ruleset described below,
which can lead to the loss of entire fleets or even y SCENARIOS – PAGE 124
systems. As the GM, you determine when and if The War Turns are the backdrop for all the
it is the right time to interject mini missions and scenarios the PCs get involved in. They are
adventures of your own between the War Turns, contacted by old patrons or contacts within the
to alter the length of the Horizon Wars. From start different fleets, or find guidance in the dreams
to cataclysmic end, it may be anywhere from a few and wisdom of the Machine Icon – you determine
short segments to an entire cyclade. what information they get and how it’s shared

1 06
 The Horizon Wars

with them. If appropriate to your story, they might take active THE METAGAME
in-game part in the strategizing of the fleets before the War
Turns, but either way you should make the ebb and flow of the The following pages describe a way for you and
war present in the game and give the players a direct sense of your group to play out the war in a metagame of
how their actions affect the war. The end of the chapter describes fleet movements and clashes. This allows you
the final mission that determines how the PCs end the war. to actively shape the war and the future of the
Third Horizon, but feel free to engineer your own
BEFORE YOU BEGIN version of the war.
For the ending of the Mercy of the Icons campaign, you need ◆ Before the first scenario and in between all
to prepare well and read up on the different stages of the missions after that, play one metagame War
Horizon Wars. Make sure you know the beginnings and Turn. Together with your players, resolve a
outcomes of the scenarios and in which order they can be battle on each of the fronts of the war.
played. All NPC descriptions can be found in the events ◆ The players control the fleets of the Third
in which they are introduced. It should also be noted that Horizon – where they move, how they attack or
even though many of the scenario locations are described defend, and which bonuses to use.
in previously published products, sometimes in more detail, ◆ You control the First Horizon and roll all dice
this book includes all you need in order to play the adventure. for the invaders (see below). Unless the play-
ers move in to attack, the First Horizon will
y PC INCENTIVES always try to advance.
Regardless of the backgrounds of the PCs they have become ◆ The metagame is for the whole group and the
key assets for the factions and leaders of the Third Horizon, thoroughly described conflict phases (page
acting as advisors and agents capable of handling special 114) guide you through it. Move the fleets on
operations – sometimes behind enemy lines. the star map that came with this book.

y IMPORTANT FACTS
Anchor the consequences of the PCs’ action in the world as
you play to give them a clear sense of how they affect the story.
As the war is developing, some other events to include are:
◆ The Santulans’ control over the new mystics tears the
alliances of the Third Horizon asunder.
◆ The PCs need to travel to Xene to strike against the Santulans,
but the weapon in the Quiet Zone is a potent threat.
◆ The PCs must aid the Zenithian fleet and the Order’s APPENDIX: SPACECRAFT
blockade to avoid losing Dabaran.
◆ The sugar globes are the Vestals’ secret weapon and will be The appendix at the end of this book (page 191)
used to plunge the Third Horizon into chaos and despair. describes the stats of various ships taking part in the
◆ The Armada of the Firstcome risks falling into enemy hands war, as enemies or allies of the PCs. The list adds to
and must either be conquered or defended. the ship table on page 160 of the Coriolis core rule-
◆ The enormous fleets of the First Horizon are about to book and can be used as needed.
stabilize the Taoan portal fields and jump through in full
force. They must be stopped in the final battle.
◆ The PCs need to decide if they will travel to the First Horizon
and destroy the portals there, or sacrifice Kua and maim
the Third Horizon forever.

107
WAKE OF THE ICONS

STARTING CONFLICTS AND SCENARIOS IN THE HORIZON WARS

S STARTING CONFLICTS
1:1 THE FIFTH SYSTEM (THE OXYGEN OASIS)

1:2 THE FIFTH SYSTEM (WELCOME TO SHINDA)

2 THE GHOSTS OF XENE (STATION FS-7)

3 THE LEGACY OF THE FOUNDERS (THE RIMWARD REACH)
4:1 THE BATTLE FOR THE HORIZON (THE FALL AND REBIRTH OF AMSHAAR)

4:2 THE BATTLE FOR THE HORIZON (THE BATTLE FOR KUA)

4:3 THE BATTLE FOR THE HORIZON (THROUGH HAMURA)

4:4 THE BATTLE FOR THE HORIZON (DARKNESS IN TAOAN)

4:5 THE BATTLE FOR THE HORIZON (THE BATTLE OF AINION)

DARKNESS POINTS
NPCS
Each mission begins with the generation of new DP equal to
The NPCs important to the various missions are de- the number of players, down to a minimum of 4 DP. If a Third
scribed in the events in which they are introduced. An Horizon fleet is forced to retreat, 2 new DP are generated
NPC index can be found at the end of the book. and if it’s defeated, you get 4 new DP.

1 08
 The Horizon Wars

THE TIDES OF WAR

The balance of the war is determined by the movements and be struggling to rally the nomad fleets as long as the
actions of the various fleets. The fleets move and act either Janhagir fleet is missing.
while the PCs are off adventuring or as a direct result of ◆ Kua and the Rimward Reach: The peace in Kua is still upheld
their actions. The PCs’ missions can be grand battles or mini by Aqbar Rakiv Fatiman’s Purple Guard and mercenary
scenarios comprising only one or a couple of events. The War corsairs. After dramatic negotiations in the Horizon Council,
Turns, during which the battles are resolved, lead to drastic however, parts of the Rimward Reach fleets are diverted
changes in the cluster depending on the tides of the war. to Algebar to assist the Zenithians.

THE WARS BEGIN SCENARIO SUMMARIES

When the Horizon Wars begin, the factions of the Third The different missions are summarized briefly below. The
Horizon are divided. Suspicious rumors and strife have come “Requirements” column contains the narrative prerequisites
in the way of a joint strategy in case of a First Horizon invasion. for involving the PCs in the mission. The different possible
Just before the first battle, the situation is as follows: outcomes and the consequences of the actions of the PCs
◆ Sadaal: The Nadir Flotilla is activated in Sadaal (see previous are also described for each mission.
scenario).
◆ Aiwaz: Mira and Zalos strengthen their positions in Aiwaz. y SCENARIO: THE FIFTH SYSTEM (PAGE 124)
◆ Algebar: The exiled Zenithian fleet in Amedo is forming a
blockade toward Algebar to prepare for an attack on Rigel REQUIREMENTS EARLIER OUTCOME

and Dabaran. The Tenth Icon The PCs have visited Sadaal and realized that
(page 49) the Vestals are involved and that the Nadir
◆ The Quadrant of the Pillar: The Alabaster Council have Flotilla is under First Horizon control.
isolated themselves from the rest of the Horizon but will

FLEET POSITIONS

The fleets are present on various fronts when the war THE SECOND HORIZON: The false Icons are assembling a dis-
begins and have reinforcements waiting in their home sys- parate fleet of deserters and force their crews to perform
tems. Use the star map as the game board for your metag- suicide strikes to protect Hamura from the fleets in Taoan.
ame. The fleets begin in the locations described below The Emissaries’ control over the mystics continues to
and each have goals they want to accomplish: sap the strength of the Third Horizon fleets through more
mutinies.
THE FIRST HORIZON: The agents of the Eternal Emperor
invade the Third Horizon from Dabaran, Taoan and Sadaal. THE THIRD HORIZON: The alliance between the larger fleets
They try to take control of the home systems of their en- of the Third Horizon makes up the foundation of the clus-
emies to wipe out all opposition. Dabaran and Taoan are ter’s defense. Whether or not the PCs manage to bring
replenished with ships that make it through the unstable back the Janhagir fleet and assume control of the armada
Taoan portal, but the Nadir Flotilla in Sadaal has a fixed in the Mouth of Kandah will have a huge impact.
strength and may be routed and destroyed. Sporadic
cells belonging to the Nazareem organize themselves in
Odacon during the later part of the war (See Table 18).

109
WAKE OF THE ICONS

WAR TURNS AND TIMELINE

The PCs travel to the Quadrant of the Pillar to visit Rima, the
exiled Santulan hiding in Shinda, the secret fifth system of
A War Turn is made up of one PC mission (over the quadrant. This is also where the Janhagir fleet and the
one or more sessions) and a metagame phase Mogul elders have gone to seek guidance.
where you resolve one battle on each front of
the war. You can either use the metagame rule- OUTCOME: The PCs’ past and negotiation skills determine if
set (page 112) or make up something of your the Janhagir fleet joins the war or not.
own. We recommend that you let this closing
chapter of the Mercy campaign contain at least y SCENARIO: THE GHOSTS OF XENE (PAGE 140)
the four main scenarios in this book plus three to
four mini missions. Play the very first War Turn REQUIREMENTS EARLIER OUTCOME

before your first scenario. Mystics The PCs have recruited Rima the Santulan
capable of (The Fifth System) or Fahti the mystic
weakening the (Harmony) and are able to weaken the
Emissaries’ weapon system.
defenses
A fleet under The PCs are unable to attack Xene on their
player control own. An allied fleet of the players’ choice can
in the meta­ join in, trying to break through the defenses so
game joins in the PCs can board FS-7.
the attack

As the Emissaries’ influence grows from their base above

Xene, more and more deserters join them. The PCs must
use an allied fleet to break through the defenses of the Quiet
Zone and then confront the Emissaries aboard station FS-7.
INTELLIGENCE NETWORKS The Machine Icon and their other allies help and protect
them during the attack.
Reliable information is paramount to the war effort.
The PCs can use their patron or their contacts to find OUTCOME: The PCs’ handling of the Emissaries determines
out how things are going. The Draconites are hard at how the blockade against Taoan fares and how the liberation
work in the shadows to steer the strategic decisions of the puppeted mystics will go.
of the fleet commanders, and you can use agents from As long as the power of the Emissaries isn’t broken, the
Aishan’s Emporium or Ahlam’s Temple as informants fleets of the Third Horizon are considered “Overrun” and
as well. Use NPCs the PCs know from earlier scenari- get a −2 to Strength in all battles (see page 114).
os. More information about Aishan’s Emporium can be
found in The Last Cyclade.
Cyclade. y SCENARIO: THE LEGACY OF THE FOUNDERS (PAGE 154)

REQUIREMENTS EARLIER OUTCOME

The Ghosts of Xene The PCs have either struck a deal with
(page 140) or or defeated the Emissaries and thereby
another mission strengthened the fleets of the Third
outcome that has Horizon. They might also have inter-
angered the Vestals fered in a conflict somewhere and made
the First Horizon worried about the suc-
cess of their invasion plans.

1 10
 The Horizon Wars

The Vestals activate the sugar globes and hashara swarms

hatch in system after system to corrupt and enslave the
people of the Third Horizon. Meanwhile, a coup is staged on
Djachroum where hashara and mercenaries from the Yimen
prospector clan try to conquer the station and form an alliance
with the armies of the Eternal Emperor. In the ensuing chaos,
Nazareem cultists enter the station’s Forbidden Sector to
find the keys to the Armada of the Firstcome. Who will the
dormant warships in the Kandah cloud belong to – the First
or the Third Horizon?

OUTCOME: The PCs’ actions will determine the continued

involvement of the Rimward Reach in the war, and whether or
not the Armada of the Firstcome becomes a friend, an enemy
or remains asleep. The aftermath of this scenario will affect
how well Kua can withstand the invasion of the First Horizon.

y SCENARIO: THE BATTLE FOR THE HORIZON (PAGE 168)

REQURIEMENTS EARLIER OUTCOME

Earliest War Turn 6 The war is going poorly for the Third
or at some point after Horizon and at least one front has been
The Legacy of the pushed back all the way to Kua. The
Founders Imperial fleets seem endless and the
Third Horizon won’t be able to hold on
for much longer.

The PCs have reached the end of the Horizon Wars. The
scenario is divided into two parts and two War Turns. Part
one contains luring parts of the First Horizon fleets to Zalos
and activating the Order’s ancient weapon systems. The
second part sees the PCs attacking into Kua aboard an Order
monastery cruiser together with the fleets of their surviving
allies. They steer their ship toward their goal and fight to
stay alive. METAGAME LOG BOOK
The enemy is constantly reinforced through Taoan and the
PCs must destroy a monolith to stop the Emperor once and Use the metagame sheet to keep track of the
for all: either the one on Kua or one behind enemy lines in Strength and Reinforcements values of the
the distant First Horizon. various fleets as well as their current positions.
See Tables 18 and 19 for information about the
OUTCOME: The end of the war shapes the future of the fronts and fleets.
Horizon. As the GM, you choose how your surviving
Horizon evolves and what stories will be told on the
ruined worlds. See the epilogue on page 185 for more
information.

111
WAKE OF THE ICONS

PLAYING THE METAGAME

TOTAL WAR
Each mission followed by a chance to act in the war is what
In between PC missions, resolve a battle on each makes up a War Turn. The length of the turn varies – form a
front every War Turn. The turn phases are de- few days for a mini mission up to whole segments. The fleets
scribed in Table 16. As the GM, make sure to keep clash on the fronts, often in the form of a defender trying to
notes of how the war is developing. The players maintain their blockade while the attacker attempts to somehow
will know how the war is going in detail, but you sabotage or weaken it and make it through the portal field.
should make sure to introduce information to You will play the metagame together with your players –
their PCs as well, to give them a chance to react deciding which fleets move where, how reinforcements are
to and act on the changes in the metagame. used and who goes on the offensive.
During a War Turn, play through one battle ◆ The locations and stats for each fleet (Strength and
at a time phase by phase (Table 16). The fleets’ Reinforcements) should be revealed to the players.
Conflict Goals (page 116) give you an idea ◆ During the first War Turn, the First Horizon always attacks
of how they prioritize. When playing the First the starting blockades of the Third Horizon.
Horizon, stick to these goals, but give the play- ◆ After that, the players assume control over the Third Horizon
ers more room as they play the Third Horizon fleets and decide how and where they move, if they should
fleets – as long as they aren’t wasteful with their merge, where to attack and where to blockade.
precious few resources.
If your players wish to avoid taking big strategic decisions or if
they aren’t that into the metagame, you can play out the war on
your own and simply summarize the important changes to them.
Make sure they get to make some of the decisions, however.
DISTRIBUTING DAMAGE TO STRENGTH

y THE SHIFTING METAGAME

The person controlling the fleets that suffer damage ◆ War Turns: The fronts change as the war rages and most
distributes the damage as she likes. Damage suffered large fleet movements happen while the PCs are away on
may be split between allied fleets, for example: a mission. In terms of battles, a War Turn consists of one
If the Order of the Pariah and Mira are blockading battle on each front (or a nervous standoff in case both
Aiwaz and suffer 2 points of damage, either one of fleets are weak and awaiting reinforcements).
them may lower their Strength by 2, or they may each ◆ Movements: The players decide where the fleets of the
lower their Strength by 1. Distributing damage wisely Third Horizon are needed the most to slow down the
is key to keeping individual fleets from retreating or Imperial invasion.
being destroyed. ◆ Outcomes: The actions of the PCs can give the fleets of
their allies bonuses (or penalties) in coming War Turns.
◆ Reinforcements: Some fleets may be reinforced from their
home systems, but if a fleet is routed and defeated completely,
the remaining, unused reinforcements turn into refugee or
FRONTLINE ALLIANCES
mercenary fleets and no longer affect the war (if the Strength
of a fleet drops to 0, so does its Reinforcements value).
Tables 18 and 19 list what factions have formed
wartime alliances and merged fleets. This is GM y THE PCS AS STRATEGISTS
only information, to give you an idea of who is If the PCs are faced with a difficult choice or a mission with
fighting who. The merged fleets cannot be split an uncertain outcome, one of them may test COMMAND to
into smaller units. gain a hint form the GM. For each of the other PCs with a skill

1 12
 The Horizon Wars

level of at least 1 in COMMAND, the roll gains a +1. For each 6

rolled, a clue about the situation or possible outcome should RETREAT AND REGROUPING
be provided. As the GM, you decide how detailed your answers
should be but an example can be: “If you manage to recruit When an individual fleet is reduced to Strength
Rima, it will be easier for you to get at the Emissaries at Xene.” 1, it retreats to avoid total destruction. The ex-
ception is when it is defending its home system,
y STRENGTH AND REINFORCEMENTS in which case it fights to the bitter end. At the
Each front must contain at least one active fleet. Each fleet has end of the War Turn, all fleets with Strength 1 will
two stats, Strength and Reinforcements. The tables below list how regroup. This means that merchant captains,
much lost Strength may be recovered through Reinforcements. previous deserters, pensioned war veterans or
The fleets may be reinforced no matter where they are but always warmongering corsairs join with the fleet to bol-
from their home systems. When Reinforcements is lowered, ster its strength (Strength 1+1=2).
the Strength of the fleet is raised correspondingly. When you
play out a fleet battle during a War Turn, use the total Strength
of all allied fleets within the same system.

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TABLE 16: CONFLICT PHASES

PHASE: STEP: DESCRIPTION:
1.1 REINFORCEMENTS If any of the active fleets called for reinforcements, raise their Strength and lower their home system
ARRIVE Reinforcements.
(+/- Strength)
1.2 MANEUVERS The players decide if the fleets of the Third Horizon will attack or defend. Attacking fleets may move
(Attacker’s any number of jumps as long as they don’t encounter resistance. The First Horizon will almost always
movement) try to attack unless the players do so first. The above applies unless:
◆ A lone fleet has a Strength of 1 or 2: It may await reinforcements or form a blockade regardless of
which side it’s on.
◆ A fleet has been reduced to Strength 1, Reinforcements 0: The fleet retreats back to its home system
(unless cut off by blockading enemies).
1.3 ACTIONS Allied fleets fight together and total their Strength scores if in the same system. Remember their indi-
(Both attackers and vidual Strength scores when distributing damage, however (see below). The battle begins:
defenders) ◆ System entry: Phase 2.1 through 2.4, once per battle.
Engagement: Phase 3.1 through 3.4, repeated until battle is over.
2.1 EVENTS Roll once on Table 17, COMBAT EVENTS.
(Table 17) The attackers are already jumping through the portal and the outcome of the event cannot be
avoided (unless the PCs have gained such an option through a mission).
2.2 BLOCKADE If a system is defended by a fleet, the blockade lowers the Strength of the attackers by 1 as they enter.
(Attacker’s Closed systems with unstable portal fields (Dabaran and Taoan) may only be attacked as part of PC
Strength −1) missions.
2.3 STRATEGY Each side rolls a die. The First Horizon always gets a +2 to their roll except when fighting a Third
(D6 vs D6+2, Horizon fleet in its home system, in which case the bonus instead goes to the Third Horizon. The side
Strength −1) with the lowest roll suffers a -1 to Strength. In case of a tie, neither side suffers any damage.
2.4 OVERRUN If one side’s total Strength is at least 2 lower than its opponent, it suffers 2 points of damage (to be dis-
(2 less Strength tributed among the active fleets).
than opponent, −2 to ◆ Until the Emissaries are defeated (see The Ghosts of Xene, page 140), all Third Horizon fleets are
Strength) considered Overrun except for the mystic fleet at Hamura.
3.1 CONTACT Each side suffers 1 point of damage simultaneously. If multiple fleets are battling together, the con-
(Strength −1) trolling player chooses who suffers the damage. If the damage is more than 1 (see “Vicious fighting”
in Table 17), it may be distributed between multiple fleets.
3.2 RETREAT If a fleet drops to Strength 1, it retreats to a system one jump away (though not into or through enemy
(Strength 1) units). If the fleet can’t retreat or is already in its home system, it will fight until defeated or the enemy
retreats.
If both sides would retreat at the same time, the attackers leave the system and the defenders
remain. After the retreat, all fleets that took part in the battle and that have Strength 1 regroup, mean-
ing they get +1 in Strength before the next War Turn starts.
3.3 DEFEATED A fleet is considered defeated if it drops to Strength 0 before it has a chance to retreat (phase 3.2) or if
(Strength 0) it happens in its home system. The fleet is routed and any remaining Reinforcements are scattered or
destroyed (Reinforcements also drop to 0). The First Horizon fleets invading from Dabaran and Taoan
are exempt, however, as their resources appear endless. If such a fleet is defeated, replace them with
a new attacking fleet at Strength 4 in their home system at the beginning of the following War Turn.
3.4 CONTINUED ASSAULT Repeat phases 3.1 through 3.4 until one side wins (by defeating or forcing their opponent to retreat).
(Return to phase 3.1)
4.1 EMERGENCY HAILS When a battle is over, or if a fleet avoids combat during a turn altogether, the final phase of the turn
(If less than allows all survivors to call in reinforcements from their home systems.
Strength 6) ◆ A single fleet may never exceed Strength 6 at the beginning of a turn, except through events in
Table 17: Combat Events.
◆ The First Horizon fleets always call for as many reinforcements as possible (see Table 18).
◆ The Third Horizon fleets may call for reinforcements up to a maximum of 2 points (players decide,
0–2 points if available) per turn.
◆ The reinforcements must have a clear route to their destination free from enemy fleets.

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 The Horizon Wars

TABLE 17: COMBAT EVENTS

3D6 EVENT FRONT EFFECT
3 THE SERAFS The Vestals rally followers in subjugated systems. In the next War Turn, all First Horizon fleets get 1
additional point of Strength in addition to any reinforcements called.
4 THE NAZAREEM Nazareem cultists intercept the courier ship carrying the reinforcement orders. One random Third
Horizon fleet may not call for reinforcements during phase 4.1 cannot be a fleet with Reinforcements 0).
5 DEVOTION The Vestals attract new followers. The Third Horizon fleet suffers a -1 to Strength and the First Horizon
get a +1.
6–7 PORTAL MISHAP Ships are lost during a jump. The attackers loose 1 point of Strength (if more than one fleet, determine
loss randomly).
8–9 PRECISION STRIKE A flagship is targeted by a guerrilla strike. The side with the highest Strength total loses 1 point of
Strength (determine loss randomly if equally strong).
10–11 DECOYS A decoy attack using sensor probes confuses the defenders. Skip the BLOCKADE phase (2.2).
12–13 VICIOUS FIGHTING Both sides lose 2 instead of 1 Strength during the first CONTACT of the turn (phase 3.1).
14–15 UNSTABLE PORTAL The portals become unstable during the fighting. No side may RETREAT (3.2) until after at least two
CONTACTS (3.1).
16 SECRET DATA Informants manage to steal enemy data. Skip OVERRUN (2.4).
17 DESERTERS Humanites break free from the Vestals’ control. The First Horizon fleet suffers a −1 to Strength, the Third
Horizon fleet gets a +1.
18 NEW RECRUITS Mercenaries and refugees join the alliance. Distribute 3 points of extra Reinforcements between your
choice of Third Horizon home systems. May re-raise a system’s Reinforcements stat above 0 as long as its
fleet remains.

STARTING FLEETS IN THE METAGAME

THE HORIZON WAR METAGAME:

FIRST HORIZON FLEETS
THIRD HORIZON FLEETS
FLEETS ACTIVATED THROUGH SCENARIOS

∞ INDICATES
INFINITE
REINFORCEMENTS
STARTING
STRENGTH
∞
2 4
REINFORCMENTS

SEE TABLES 18–19 FOR MORE DETAILS

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TABLE 18: FIRST HORIZON FLEETS

HOME FACTIONS GOALS STRENGTH REINFORCEMENTS
Sadaal THE NADIR FLOTILLA: AIWAZ, then ZALOS and MIRA . 6 6
◆ The Nadir Flotilla
◆ The Habathus Flotilla Will move toward Kua through
Odacon and the Quadrant of the Pillar
if Zalos and Mira have been wiped out.
Dabaran THE FIRST IMPERIAL INVASION FLEET: KUA and then ZHAU. 6 3/1*
◆ The Dabaran Dar flotillas
◆ First Horizon ships Will only continue toward Mira and
Zalos after all fleets of the Quadrant
*) Endless reinforcements. Up until Kua, they get 3 of the Pillar have been defeated.
points per turn – farther away than that, only 1 point. Will take the Odacon route to Mira if
undefended.
Taoan THE VESTALS’ SLAVE FLEETS: HAMURA and then KUA 4* **
◆ Butterfly ships from the First Horizon
◆ Taoan and Uharu’s colonist fleets (with surviving **) Infinite reinforcements at 2
Order ships) points/turn

*) This fleet’s conflict with the Emissaries doesn’t use

the regular War Turn rules. The fleets are considered
equal and will fight for Hamura until the PCs have played
“The Ghosts of Xene” (See “Outcome”, page 152).
Kua THE ARMADA OF THE FIRSTCOME: If the fleet falls under First Horizon 6 0
◆ The Armada of the Firstcome (from the Mouth of control, the GM chooses a goal from
Kandah) one of the other Imperial fleets.

“The Legacy of the Founders” may result in this fleet

belonging to the Third Horizon instead.
Odacon THE NAZAREEM’S SACRIFICE: ZALOS or MIRA / KUA 2/4* 0
◆ Local Nazareem cells
◆ Mercenaries and corsairs *) The fleet of the Nazareem shows
up if the Third Horizon manages to
The Nazareem show up behind enemy lines and may fight off an attack on Kua or Altai.
strike against unprotected home systems. If either If the PCs completed all of the
of the Order or Miran fleets are alive, the Nazareem Nazareem scenarios in The Last
will focus on attacking their home worlds. If the Cyclade and defeated the cells fea-
Nazareem reach the systems without combat, they tured in them, the Nazareem fleet
use the next War Turn to reduce the Reinforcements has its Strength reduced to 2. If any
value of the system they’re attacking to 0. If both Mira of the cells survived, the fleet has
and the Order have been defeated, the Nazareem Strength 4 (GM decides).
head for Kua instead.

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 The Horizon Wars

TABLE 19: THIRD HORIZON FLEETS

HOME STARTS IN DESCRIPTION STRENGTH REINFORCEMENTS
Zalos Aiwaz THE FLEETS OF THE ORDER OF THE PARIAH: 4 4
◆ The Martyr Flotilla
◆ The Salam Flotilla
Mira Aiwaz THE MIRAN FLEET: 3 2
◆ The Miran defense fleet
◆ The Honorary Legion of Zhau
Amedo Algebar THE ZENITHIAN EXILE FLEET: 4 2
◆ Surviving Hegemony fleet squadrons
◆ Ex-Legion flotillas
Kua Algebar THE PURPLE GUARD: 2 *
◆ The Djachroum Purple Guard
◆ Rimward Reach corsairs
◆ Rimward Reach nomad swarms
◆ Ex-Legion flotillas

*) The Purple Guard get a +1 to Strength every turn as more corsairs and
mercenaries join the war. If defeated, the fleet regroups in Kua at Strength 1
in the following turn. The fleet is disbanded if Djachroum falls to the allies of
the Vestals during “The Legacy of the Founders” (page 154).
The Quadrant Altai THE NOMAD FLEET: 4 2*
of the Pillar ◆ The corsairs of Khorsabad
◆ The swarms of the Quadrant of the Pillar Ex-Legion flotillas

*) The fleet has the entire Quadrant as its home system in terms of strate-
gic advantages and reinforcements. May retreat into any Quadrant system
if reduced to Strength 1.
The Quadrant Sivas THE JANHAGIR FLEET: 3–6* 0–1**
of the Pillar ◆ The Mogul swarms
◆ The swarms of the Quadrant of the Pillar

*) The fleet becomes player controllable if the PCs manage to convince the
Mogul elders during “The Fifth System” (page 124). Otherwise, it remains
in exile. You can either set its Strength to 5 or have the result of the PCs’
persuasion attempts determine its value (page 134).
**) The fleet has the entire Quadrant as its home system in terms of strate-
gic advantages and reinforcements. May retreat into any nearby system if
reduced to Strength 1.
Kua Kua THE ARMADA OF THE FIRSTCOME: 6 0
◆ The Armada of the Firstcome (from the Mouth of Kandah)

Player controllable if the fleet falls under Third Horizon control. If so, it
begins in Kua.

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METAGAME PHASE EXAMPLES

Each War Turn contains one battle per front against the ◆ (3.2) The Order can no longer defend Aiwaz and retreat to
First Horizon. The example below involves the Order and their home system of Zalos. They regroup there and recover
Miran fleets, after the players decide to pool their resources 1 point of Strength for a total of 2. The Nadir Flotilla now con-
(Strength 4 and 3) in Aiwaz to defend against the attack of the trols Aiwaz.
Nadir Flotilla (Strength 6). ◆ (4.1) All fleets now call for reinforcements. The
Nadir Flotilla requests 3 points and will be down to
y WAR TURN 1 Reinforcements 3 in the coming turn (6–3=3). The Order re-
◆ (1.1) No reinforcements arrive during the first War Turn. quests 2 points, lowering their Reinforcement value from
◆ (1.2) Aiwaz is already under blockade. The Nadir Flotilla 4 to 2. Mira also requests 2 points and depletes their home
moves from Sadaal to Errai and attacks into Aiwaz (1.3). system Reinforcements (2–2=0).
◆ (2.1) The GM rolls a 12 on Table 17 and reads the “Vicious
Fighting” entry. Both sides will suffer worse losses during “The Nadir Flotilla has attacked Aiwaz. The vicious fighting
the first Contact of this turn. first broke the Miran fleet, forcing it to flee, and continued
◆ (2.2) The Nadir Flotilla jumps through the portal and en- to decimate the Order fleet, dissolving the blockade and
gages the defenders’ blockade. The attackers lose 1 point winning the system for the First Horizon. If it hadn’t been
of Strength (Strength 6–1=5) for the mystic mutinies, maybe the admirals of the Third
◆ (2.3) The strategies of the fleet commanders determine Horizon could have defended better against the invasion.”
how well they anticipated the enemy’s actions. Each side
rolls one die. As no one is in their home system, the Nadir y WAR TURN 2 (AFTER THE FIRST SCENARIO)
Flotilla gets a +2. Both Horizons roll and total a 4 – a tie. No ◆ “The PCs can either use the Janhagir fleet to attack Xene
one loses any additional Strength. and stop the Emissaries from puppeteering any more mys-
◆ (2.4) The defenders’ Strength total is 7 and the attackers tics or choose to reinforce Zalos. They leave Zalos and Mira
have 5. This would normally mean the attackers lose 2 to their fates and focus on the Emissaries.”
points of Strength, but as the Emissaries still cause massive ◆ (1.1) Reinforcements arrive from Zalos and Mira. Both
mystic mutinies from Third Horizon ranks, their fleets are fleets are reinforced by 2 points and reach Strength values
considered Overrun. The Third Horizon fleets lose 2 points of 4. The Nadir Flotilla is also reinforced by 3 points and
of Strength and the players decide to split it between the reaches Strength 5.
two fleets (the Order Strength 4–1=3, Mira Strength 3–1=2). ◆ (1.2) The Third Horizon fle ets choose to stay in Zalos. The
◆ (3.1) The first Contact phase of the turn starts with both Nadir Flotilla attacks.
sides at Strength 5. The roll on Table 17 above means the ◆ (2.1) The GM rolls an 8 on Table 17. A surprise attack catch-
intense fighting leads to 2 points of Strength loss for both es the stronger side off guard! The defenders have a joint
attackers and defenders. The Nadir Flotilla lowers its Strength of 8 and the attackers a total of 5. The GM decides
Strength from 5 to 3. The players don’t want to lose any of that a group of Nazareem cultists take out a Miran flagship
their fleets and divide the losses between them (the order just as the turn begins, taking away 1 point of Strength from
Strength 3–1=2, Mira Strength 2–1=1). the fleet (Mira Strength 4–1=3).
◆ (3.2) The Miran fleet is down to Strength 1 and retreats into ◆ (2.2) The Nadir Flotilla jumps through the portal into Zalos
Zalos to regroup and avoid being defeated. They recover and engages the blockade. The attackers lose 1 Strength
1 point of Strength and are back at Strength 2. The Order (Strength 5–1=4).
fleet is left alone to defend Aiwaz. ◆ (2.3) Once again, the strategists attempt to predict the
◆ (3.4, 3.1) A new Contact is played out, and both sides lose 1 point enemy’s tactics. Each side rolls a die. Because the Order of
of Strength (Nadir Strength 3–1=2, the Order Strength 2–1=1). the Pariah are in their home system, they get a +2 to their

1 18
 The Horizon Wars

roll. Both sides roll a 4 but because of the bonus, the Third Reinforcements value to 0. The Order request 2 points, also
Horizon wins with a total of 6. The Nadir Flotilla loses 1 depleting their Reinforcements. The Miran fleet is already
more point of Strength and is now down to Strength 3. at Reinforcements 0.
◆ (2.4) The defenders total Strength 7 (Order 4 + Mira 3)
and the attackers only 3. The attackers are due for more “The Nadir Flotilla has attacked Zalos. A strike against a Miran
damage, but as the Emissaries are still active, the Third flagship gave the defenders a tough start, but the martyr war-
Horizon is considered Overrun and loses 2 points of riors came resolutely to their aid and turned the tides toward
Strength. Since the Order fleets are already in their home victory. The Nadir Flotilla was forced to retreat back through
system and cannot escape anyway, the players choose the portal after suffering devastating losses. It’s time for the
them to suffer the whole loss (Strength 4–2=2). Third Horizon to launch a counter attack and perhaps defeat
◆ (3.1) Contact. Both the attackers (Strength 3) and the de- one of the invading First Horizon fleets altogether…”
fenders (Strength 5) lose 1 point of Strength, leaving the
Nadir Flotilla at Strength 2 while the players opt to reduce y FURTHER WAR TURNS
the Order fleet to Strength 1. The examples above describe a potential way of playing the
◆ (3.2) No fleet is retreating, since the Nadir Flotilla and the first two War Turns as the PCs are heading to the Quadrant
Miran fleet have more than Strength 1, while the Order fleet of the Pillar to find the oracle Rima. The outcomes of their
(which is at Strength 1) can’t retreat from its home system. adventures have already started to affect the war. The above
◆ (3.4, 3.1) Second Contact. Both sides lose 1 point of describes only one front, however, and it soon becomes clear
Strength; the Nadir Flotilla is reduced to Strength 1 that the hijacked Dabaran fleet has been used to drive away
(Strength 2–1=1), and the players choose to lower the the exiled Zenithians and threatens to crush Amedo. Are the
Strength of the Miran fleet to 2 (Strength 3–1=2). Zenithians in greater need of the newly returned Janhagir
◆ (3.2) The Nadir Flotilla is unable to continue its assault and fleet than the Order? What will happen when the Emissaries
retreats into Aiwaz where it regroups and restores 1 point can’t fight off the invasion in Hamura any longer? Some
of Strength (for a total of Strength 2). The defending fleets people claim to have seen First Horizon agents traveling the
remain – the Order has Strength 1 and regroups (1+1=2), song routes of the Rimward Reach to meet with the leaders of
while the Miran fleet is at 2 and does not regroup. The the prospector clans…
Zalosian defense didn’t break. As the GM, present your players with a multitude of paths
◆ (4.1) The fleets call for reinforcements. The Nadir to follows and hard, potentially world-ending, choices.
Flotilla calls for their remaining 3 points, dropping their

MINI MISSIONS
To establish the Horizon Wars as truly great and apocalyptic – and y TO TASTE
also to make sure that the preferences and expertise of your players The mini missions are all optional and should only be played
and their PCs get enough room – there are mini missions to play for added depth. They allow for more varied play between
in-between the main scenarios. They shouldn’t contain more the main scenarios to give the PCs more insights into both
than one or a couple of events, such as a new location, a fight the consequences of the metagame and the situations for
and some negotiating. Below is a short list of missions that can the various fleets.
have a smaller, but still valuable, impact on the war as a whole.

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y SHORE LEAVE y THE MISSION

The War Turns take weeks or sometimes a whole segment. Let The PCs could either lead a fleet into the system to try to
the PCs use the time between missions to rest up on allied hold off the attackers or assist with the evacuation. They
portal stations or bases. Let them receive medical care, get might have come to rescue their own family or the relatives
their ship repaired and be met by rumors from the front. of someone close to them.

y THE MISSIONS y OUTCOME

A mini mission – including travel and rest – always takes ◆ If they rescue any prominent Zenithian leaders, they get
one War Turn. The mini missions described in this book are a +1 to Reputation.
listed below, but feel free to create your own: ◆ If the evacuation goes well, the players get 2 extra points
◆ The Blood of the Zenithians – below of Reinforcements to distribute among the Third Horizon
◆ Harmony – below fleets as the exiled Zenithian captains begin cooperating
◆ The Admiral – page 122 with the other fleets more.
◆ Blitz – page 122 ◆ If the PCs hear about the evacuation but choose not to visit
◆ The Gauntlet – page 122 Amedo until later, a large portion of the Zenithian fleet is
◆ A Ravenous Dark – page 123 already destroyed and the PCs may only attempt to rescue
the leaders (see the first bullet above).
THE BLOOD OF THE ZENITHIANS
The domes shake under the enemy bombardment. The forest on HARMONY
the slopes of the Alantide Mountains is burning as more and As you enter, you hear the chanting of praying acolytes fill the
more ships leave the spaceport and the evac zones. Fortunes room. The glow of the sugar globes in the wall niches falls on
change hands as wealthy families buy their way to first in line red carpets laid out over the stone basement floor.
for passage off-world. Artifacts and family heirlooms recently “Can you feel the call of the Emissaries fading? You are safe
returned to their former owners from the ruins of Coriolis are here and may remain safe if you share your wealth with us.
left behind to be buried under the collapsing palaces. Survival is Before the truth, we are all equal.”
the only thing that matters for the Zenithians now. The old man stands before you wrapped in silk, gold patterns
snaking up his arms. He signs at you to sit down before a
y THE SITUATION curtain hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the room.
The Zenithians’ exile fleet is about to be destroyed by the This is the veil that separates you from the holy guru – from
enslaved Dabaran dar flotillas. First Horizon ships fresh Fahti the Farseer…
from the Void strengthen the attack. The enemy has
reached Amedo and the Zenithian bloodlines are threatened. y THE SITUATION
Expatriate and Zenithian refugees are evacuated from the All through the Quadrant of the Pillar and the Miran
dome city of Xhi. clergy, a rumor is spreading – a rumor about a new cult

THE LENGTH OF THE WARS

As the GM, you decide if you play a metagame War Turn for every mission (including mini mis-
sions) or if you do it only for the main scenarios. We recommend that you begin the final scenar-
io in War Turn 7. You can wait longer of course, but after War Turn 10, the Third Horizon fleets
will likely have been decimated beyond any hope of winning the war. The desperate atmosphere
of almost certain death might be an interesting backdrop for the final scenario, however.

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 The Horizon Wars

called the Voice of the Truth. In the Ash Belt of Odacon, the cultists are terrified of once again falling prey to the
a mystic by the name of Fahti the Farseer has attracted Song of the Emissaries.
a growing number of followers. Through his powers,
his f lock is said to be protected from the call of the y OUTCOME
false Emissaries. Could he be the key to defeating the ◆ If Fahti accompanies the PCs (voluntarily or otherwise), he
Santulans at Xene? can help them weaken the Emissaries’ defenses at Xene
(see “The Ghosts of Xene”, page 140).
y THE MISSION ◆ If the PC bring Fahti along on their journeys instead of using
The PCs are looking for Fahti to understand his powers him to defeat the Emissaries, they get one reroll on Table 17:
and possibly to ask for his help against the Emissaries. Combat events, after having played “The Ghosts of Xene”).
The guru they seek turns out to be a ten year old boy with ◆ If the PCs leave Fahti in the hands of the cult, they may
mighty powers being held captive by the cult forming allow one fleet in the metagame to retreat and regroup
around him. His uncle heads the growing cult which in Odacon before the first Contact phase of the turn,
attracts mystics with both real and imagined powers. regardless of its Strength value. The route to Odacon must
The followers pay Fahti’s uncle for the boy’s powers and be clear of enemies.

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THE ADMIRAL batch of Hadid humanites in combat exos from Uharu. Several
“If it’s me they want, I’ll take them all with me in death. Their freighters are heading for the front, escorted by torpedo
efforts will mean nothing and we will come out stronger.” ships and a small fighter squadron.
The admiral turns back toward the bridge monitors to look
at the enemy sensor echoes that draw nearer like a swarm of y THE MISSION
locusts with no other purpose but to destroy. The PCs lead an attack behind enemy lines with the goal
of taking out the new assault troopers. They need a small,
y THE SITUATION quick team to jump in undetected and strike without the
A successful fleet admiral has managed to hold the line against battleships in the nearby system being alerted. No probes
the Imperial invasion and is growing her ranks. She is on her must be allowed to leave the system…
way to meet up with additional flotillas to prepare for the next
battle but is attacked en route. Enemy agents try to sabotage her y OUTCOME
ship. The admiral is prepared to fight until death if necessary. ◆ If the ships are destroyed, the nearest enemy fleet gets only 1
point of their requested Reinforcements during this War Turn.
y THE MISSION ◆ If the ships are hijacked, the above applies in addition to the
Agents either from Aishan’s Emporium or the Astûrban have players getting to raise the home system Reinforcements
figured out the enemy’s plans to attack the admiral’s ship value of one of their fleets by 1 point.
to demoralize her followers. The PCs are nearby and might ◆ If the attack fails, the nearest enemy fleet gets full rein-
get there in time to stop the attack, mislead the enemy or forcements.
perhaps evacuate the admiral from the doomed ship. It
might be difficult to rescue someone intent on dying at her THE GAUNTLET
post, however. The torn remains of a courier ship drift through the night in the shadow
of the portal station. Dead bodies silhouetted against the bright star
y OUTCOME after the impact of the fractal torpedo. A patient, shell-covered shape
◆ The admiral survives, perhaps even together with her ship. floats nearby – a chrysalis waiting for shining wings to unfold and
The victory bolsters morale and the recruitment offices doom the next victim foolish enough to use the portal.
overflow. Instead of a War Turn event roll on Table 17, the
players may choose the “Deserters” entry. y THE SITUATION
◆ If the admiral dies, the next Third Horizon fleet to drop to Communications between the Third Horizon fleets are in
Strength 2 in the metagame must retreat after the first Contact. shambles due to constant enemy attacks. Courier ships and
probes are being taken out and it’s becoming harder and
BLITZ harder to coordinate attacks or request fresh reinforcements.
The dimly lit cargo hold flickers as the freighter passes through The Vestal butterfly ships prowl the darkness around the
the portal field. The pale light falls on row upon row of stasis portals like lions on the savannah.
beds and lines of combat exos whirring softly in alcoves in the
walls. In the darkness outside the dura glass of the airlock, termite y THE MISSION
destroyers glisten ominously. The fighter escort swarms like The PCs must deliver a message to an allied fleet fighting
Miran sawflies around their nest, ready to defend the precious at the front. On their way there, a butterfly ship ambushes
cargo against any and all threats. them. The ensuing chase takes them through both portal
fields and asteroid belts.
y THE SITUATION
Agents from Dabaran have managed to smuggle out data y OUTCOME
about reinforcement orders. The First Horizon is about to ◆ The PCs bring the vital message to the front. One fleet of
bolster its boarding parties of assault troopers with a new the players’ choice gets to retreat from a system before

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 The Horizon Wars

any combat and get a +2 to Strength in addition to any y THE MISSION

reinforcements requested. The PCs locate the site – possibly together with a strike
team for backup – and find it completely dark and dead,
A RAVENOUS DARK slowly falling toward a nearby planet or into an asteroid belt.
The helmet lights illuminate empty corridors and slowly drifting Inside, they find mangled corpses, darkbound and perhaps
soot in the air. What looked like the result of an evacuation soon something even worse…
turns out to be something else entirely. Scraping echoes, burn
marks and holes from tiny legs on the walls, twisted bodies and y OUTCOME
gutted exos await you in the darkness… ◆ The sensor logs contain vital information about the hatching
of the sugar globes. What initially looks like just white noise
y THE SITUATION turns out to be an encrypted data sequence, transmitted
An important portal station, naval base or flagship goes silent from probes secretly spread around the Third Horizon by
as swarms of hashara hatch and spread across the Horizon. the Vestals. The command activates a chemical reaction
Sensor logs or an emerald disc with information about what inside the sugar globes but it takes time to spread. The
has happened must be recovered from the site. The mission signal can be jammed to protect the allied fleets from the
can be used as a dark premonition to “The Legacy of the influence of the darkness. An allied fleet automatically
Founders” (page 154) or as a later mission to emphasize Overruns (phase 2.4) their First Horizon enemies in one
the dangers of the hashara swarms (page 156). battle. Players choose which fleet and when.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

SCENARIOS Aysha Dari-Akheem looks out across the temple city of Lotus
toward the spaceport below. The humble dwellings of the
pilgrims and the city’s temples lie empty.
“Tarek, look. Even the grazing desdemodu have leaving the desert to win the Third Horizon for
abandoned us. Dabaran is now a planet enslaved Ardha and the Emperor.
by the Serafs. Our ships will depart for the stars to
rain death and destruction over our Zenithian and WAR HAS BEGUN and the PCs look for allies beyond
Firstcome brothers and sisters. You and I remain the known systems to turn the tide and win
unmoved by their commanding words – our mystic’s back their Horizon. The legends have long
disease dooms us to watch our people’s demise.” spoken of friends in exile and the mysterious
Beyond the ancient spires of the temple city, grav whereabouts of the Janhagir fleet. Time has
projectors blacken the granite of the spaceport and come to make war for the future of the Third
the sky is filled with the collected fleets of Dabaran Horizon.

SCENARIO:

THE FIFTH SYSTEM

The aging clan leader draws a crooked finger along rumors persist about their exile being voluntary.
the lines on the star map, eyes red from the opor The time has come for the PCs to find the Moguls
mists and lips wet from cheap wine. Black rings and form a new alliance for the future.
cover the skin in the tradition of the Moguls – one
for every family who chose exile in the Third Horizon. y PC INCENTIVES
“Altai, Ordana, Zhau and Sivas. The pillars The PCs might either get involved in the search for
supporting the temple of our new civilization. The Rima, the mystic guru, through dreams from the
way in and the way out. Riches beyond our wildest Machine Icon or through a patron or ally within
dreams. This is where our new world was truly born, one of the other factions. The Draconites, Ahlam’s
removed from the oppressive regimes of the old Temple and the Astûrban have all heard rumors
horizons. We are the moguls, destined to lead the through their agents about the closed fifth system
way into the future and to protect our paradise at and the nomads’ star keys believed to activate a
the center of the temple – the Quadrant’s beating dead portal somewhere in the Quadrant of the
heart: Shinda.” Pillar. Depending on which factions the PCs have
had dealings with in the past, the representatives
OVERVIEW reaching out to them can vary.
The Machine Icon and the martyr warriors the When you decide who this character will be,
PCs met on Sadaal spoke about the need for new consider NPCs the heroes rescued at the end
alliances. The oracle of the nomads, the exiled of The Last Cyclade as well as older contacts.
Santulan who renounced the Second Horizon, The person should also be able to provide the
has joined forces with the Third Horizon. The PCs with information about the Nadir Flotilla’s
Janhagir fleet is missing, but despite intense imminent attack and the blockades in Aiwaz
Zenithian propaganda during The Last Cyclade, and Algebar. Stress the growing concern for the

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 The Horizon Wars

spreading mystic mutinies that lead to deserters heading for

the new fleet gathering at Xene.

y ALTAI AND KHORSABAD DREAMS OF THE QUADRANT

Altai is the gateway to the Quadrant of the Pillar and home When our children left our home,
to several mighty lords, merchant houses and corsair clans
they found new ones under the roof of the
with their roots among the first nomad swarms to arrive
from the Second Horizon. The Quadrant of the Pillar has seen Quadrant.
large civilizations rise and fall many times since the systems Built empires.
were colonized and old grudges die hard here. If it wasn’t
Our children grew up and grew old.
for the Alabaster Council, the governing body of the corsair
fortress Khorsabad on the dwarf planet of Marakanda, the Together, they shelter the heart of the
different clans in the Quadrant would be openly at war with Quadrant.
each other. The emerald green domes, bunkers and spires Seek the elders to find the key.
of Khorsabad tower above the ruins from the civil war that
The Moguls are the way in, the way to Rima.
reduced the city state of Marakanda to ashes. Bright light
from the star filters in through the thick domes and bathes
the city below in a green glow that only trained eyes can THE MACHINE ICON
handle properly. Newcomers are therefore easy to spot as
they often cover their eyes with glasses or visors.
Khorsabad is a wild city where corsairs, free traders and
birr-laden merchants trade in everything from ore and natural
gas to slaves and fine art. The city has one of the Quadrant’s
finest shipyards and is brimming with workshops and machine
halls ready to service or butcher a salvaged wreck. Skippers
with enough money can find both illegal weapon systems THE BLACK SECTOR
and other shady ship modules here.
The city has about 85,000 residents and around 10,000 visitors Khorsabad orbits at 6 AU from the star but before
at any one time. The Alabaster Guard keeps the peace, but reaching it, all new arrivals must first pass
visitors without acknowledged social standing, a respectable through the asteroid cloud that separates the
lineage or a personal invitation from one of the clans of the portals from much of the rest of the system. The
Alabaster Council should make their own security arrangements. cloud contains an ancient defense system left
Bodyguards can be hired in the spaceport, but who knows if behind by the first colonists. Torpedo rooms,
their loyalty has already been bought by someone else? stasis chambers full of waiting personnel, fight-
er ships and devastating warheads lie hidden in
y SIVAS countless crevices throughout the cloud. The
Sivas is a neglected corner system in the Quadrant of the way through the asteroids is usually the Yamuna
Pillar. Traders and colonists rarely visit and the few, barren or Tang Gol route and passage will cost you
worlds found there are hardly worth the efforts to colonize dearly unless you have been personally invited
by the expansionists in what used to be the Colonial Agency. by one of the council families.
The only frequent visitors to the system are corsair patrols
from the larger clans or the Moguls’ Janhagir fleet. The Kala
gas giant is about to fall into the star which threatens to
collapse the portal fields and isolate the system completely

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

STAR SYSTEM ALTAI

the star
altai imanon altai zanjire elajh
portal portal
to sivas to ordana
3 AU 6 AU 7.5 AU 20 AU

5 AD 6.5 AU 10 AU 32 AU

portal portal the black marakanda baatar maraabra

to kua to awadhi sector

within the near future. The fall of Kala has affected the orbit larger nomad clans in other systems have put people
of the other planets in such a way that they today are even to death merely for mentioning its name. Adventurous
more hostile than they used to be. captains looking for the mythical system out in the dark-
The lonely, rocky planet of Sivas is rumored to contain ness go missing under strange circumstances. Aging
a wealthy vein of mineable bauxite but the weapons of the drunks can recount the stories of Mogul crews sworn
Moguls protect it from exploitation. Sivas’ moon, Karast, is to keeping the heart of the Quadrant a secret from the
home to the system’s largest population. The ten families rest of the Horizon.
rumored to have been the system’s original settlers still remain,
governing the moon through a patriarchal brotherhood known y THE ORDER OF RIMA
as the Sowers. They worship only three Icons: the Judge, the The rumors are indeed true. Shinda contains a remnant of
Lady of Tears and the Faceless and find them represented the original settlers’ holy temple city, Ghûl-Sian, located
in Sivas by its three ice planets Nurija, Gamhija and Comija, on the system’s single planet, a moon wandering the dying
a trinity on the far reaches of the system. The Sowers and star. It’s believed that many of the great nomad leaders and
the recently arrived Lotus Brothers rule the planet with an rulers of past civilizations were taken to Shinda aboard the
iron fist and have banned all forms of calendars. The Lotus Moguls’ burial ships. Their final resting place is rumored to
Brothers determine the date and time of year by intermittent be a mausoleum referred to by nomad elders as the Valley
decrees but most farmers secretly measure the sun’s height of the Lotus.
above the horizon to know when to reap and sow anew. Around the fertile lowlands and their ceremonial stone
formations, lotus fields and ever-blooming cherry trees are
y SHINDA several smaller pagodas and round huts. These belong to
Behind one of Sivas’ seemingly dead portals, the fifth the ascetics and acolytes formerly known as the Keepers but
system of the Quadrant of the Pillar can be found. It’s who changed their name to the Order of Rima about forty
never spoken of and both the Alabaster Council and the cycles before the arrival of the Zenith.

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 The Horizon Wars

STAR SYSTEM SIVAS

the star loulan
sivas kala station nurija comija

4 AU 33 AU 51 AU

karast
6 AU 11 AU 41 AU

portal portal sivas yovani gamhija

to altai to zhau

y THE FOUR WHO ARE ONE must begin by making their voices heard among the nomads
The Order of Rima is a secret society that protects the legacy to attract the attention of someone who understands the
and history of the nomads. They found their long-awaited importance of allowing them to visit Rima.
prophet in Rima en-Aldaan, the Santulan who left her body
in the Second Horizon to give herself to the families of MAJOR EVENTS
the long-since exiled nomads. Her fragmented mind now The events in this scenario begin with the search for a way into
inhabits four mystic gurus and bestows eternal wisdom on the fifth system and end with the PCs finding the Janhagir
the sworn-in nomad elders who seek her advice. The four fleet and Rima in the lost temple city in Shinda. Most of the
ascetics carrying Rima are regarded as one entity and their complications happen either early or when the PCs return to
collected knowledge passes into a new acolyte when one known space again (see Minor events, page 138).
of them dies. Only the most prestigious nomad clans are
allowed to send their family members as acolytes to the y THE MOGUL DESCENDANT
order. Serving as a vessel for Rima is considered the highest To begin with, the PCs need to find someone who knows
honor possible for a member of the order. the way into Shinda. They might already have a suitable
contact who can put in a good word for them (requires a
THE MISSION talent connected to a nomad faction), or they can ask around
The PCs are tasked with finding the enlightened mystic by testing CULTURE . A Firstcome PC gets a −1 to the roll, a
rumored to be somewhere in the Quadrant of the Pillar. This Zenithian −2 and a nomad PC gets a +1. A successful roll
person’s powers are apparently strong enough to resist the gives them a name and location:
Emissaries and liberate the mystics from slavery. The rumors ◆ Arban Ghôl-Bataar: The ninety-three year old captain
about the guru contain many warnings and those who go of the Ravan Bataar family ship and former clan elder of
looking for the fifth system of the Quadrant of the Pillar the Bataari swarm until he was replaced by his daughter
might become targets for more than just threats. The PCs Dureena (who is herself already seventy). Arban is in good

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

health but has always had a soft spot for opor and the Mogul descendant in the cantina is difficult and requires a
potent Altaian chewing tobacco known as Khar. MANIPULATION test. The outcome of the roll determines how
◆ Param’s Cantina: You can place the cantina anywhere much money the answers will cost them, from 50 birr (critical
in the Quadrant of the Pillar – on a busy portal station, success) to 500 (failed roll).
among the Khorsabad chai houses and gambling halls or When the PCs eventually find the former clan leader in a
in a colony run by one of the wealthier clans. One level dark corner, they can engage him in a slurred conversation:
below the commotion of the street, a velvet drapery ◆ Exploitation: He talks at length about the Zenithian exploita-
separates the outside world from Param Nadiv’s infamous tion of the Quadrant and about how the Mogul fleet used
cantina. Scarred veterans and new arrivals crowd around to be the Horizon’s only hope during the Long Night after
the gambling tables and spend long nights hunched over the Portal Wars. The fleet’s star seers were the only ones
the engraved game boards. Pillows and rugs cover the who could master the volatile portals and maintain at least
floor and birr or precious metals change hands in the dim some semblance of trade and communication.
lights from hand blown glass spheres filled with sugar ◆ Silence: Because he is sworn to never reveal the secrets of
globes and syrupy water. the Janhagir fleet, he needs to become heavily drugged in
order to speak about it. Moreover, as he starts to divulge
A failed roll might give the PCs the location but not the name information to the PCs, it obviously gets harder for him to
and gives you as the GM a good opportunity to use the “A breath; he looks sick or even suffering from an intensifying
Warning” event (page 138). Asking around about an aging psychosis (see the Talent Swarm Oath, page 131).

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 The Horizon Wars

TABLE 20: NPCS IN THE MOGUL DESCENDANT

STRENGTH AGILITY WITS EMPATHY HP MP REP SKILLS GEAR
Arban Ghôl-Bataar 3 2 2 5 5 7 6 Command 4, Reliquary (bones from
(retired skipper) Culture 4, the founders of the
Manipulation 3, Bataari swarm), pocket
Melee Combat 3 watch, 3 doses khar, staff
(expandable)
Talents: Zero-G Training,
Bless, Swarm Oath
(page 131)
Param Nadivs 4 3 2 3 7 5 4 Manipulation 4, Shock stick, grape rifle,
(cantina owner) Melee Combat 4, tag (500 birr)
Ranged Combat 3, Talents: Defensive
Culture 2

◆ The Heart: If properly motivated – for example if the PCs ◆ Earth: Sustenance, stability and beginnings.
agree to gamble with him or if they buy him expensive ◆ Water: Life’s origin, the catalyst, pliability and change.
drinks or drugs – he becomes loose-lipped and mentions ◆ Air: Rebirth, traveling, starting a family and new perspectives.
the heart of the Quadrant: the system no one may name. ◆ Light: Intellectual enlightenment, taking a stand, spiritual
◆ Oathbound: He will try to intimidate the PCs with stories purpose and initiative.
about how only death awaits those who seek the fifth system
and its treasures. Only they who have sworn their lives and The PCs’ ship computer or a tag left near the bowls contains
names to the Janhagir fleet may pass through the portals a set of coordinates and a message with distinct dialectal
without being consumed by the dark between the stars. features from the nomads’ trade language (see box):
◆ The Keymasters: If they ask him for the star keys or if he ◆ The PCs have no right to visit the heart of the Quadrant.
knows the way into Shinda, he shakes his head. He is no longer ◆ They must become part of the blood and community of
entrusted with a key, but the PCs have now been noticed the nomads.
asking around. The keymasters have eyes and ears everywhere. ◆ They should fill the bowls with their proper contents and
then go to the enclosed coordinates.
After that, he has become so intoxicated that it’s hard to
follow what he’s saying anymore. The PCs leave him to his In Firstcome faith, the contents of the prayer bowls determine what
wine and his memories. foundation they represent. See next Event for more information.
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory)
y PILLARS OF THE ELEMENTS
The PCs’ quest for Rima and the fifth system has made y THE OXYGEN OASIS
someone take notice of them, either because of their talk The coordinates designate a small cluster of asteroids in Sivas
with the drunk swarm elder or thanks to them using other slowly falling into the star. They are currently almost in the
contacts. When they return to their ship, they find four empty corona, on the edges of the portal fields.
bowls there, beautifully carved with old Miran patterns. ◆ The echo: The PCs’ sensors read a faint echo coming off
A CULTURE test reveals the bowls as the “pillars” of the one of the asteroids. It used to be an oxygen oasis, like the
nomads’ belief system. The four vessels represent the four ones scattered along the routes in the Reach.
spiritual transformations or elements that can be found both ◆ The bunker: The oasis is a Portal War bunker holding
in the faith of the Santulans and in many Firstcome cultures oxygen reservoirs and basic survival gear. A docking hatch
(see Emissary Lost, page 46). The patterns and glyphs on the connects to an airlock and the inner chamber. Everything
sides of the bowls hint at their meanings: is done manually with knobs and levers.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

◆ The Chamber: In the main chamber, someone has drawn y SWARM OATH
four circles on the floor where the PCs are meant to The objects the PCs must place inside the bowl can be iden-
place their ritual bowls. An old woman lies in stasis in tified using CULTURE , by asking around (MANIPULATION) or by
an alcove in the far wall. Her skin is covered in black testing DATA DJINN using a large enough data base:
tattoos and glyphs. ◆ Earth: Actual earth or some form of grain (couscous or
◆ The Bowls: When the bowls are placed inside the circles, wheat).
a bio scanner in the ceiling suddenly activates, its lasers ◆ Water: Clear water or wine (some cultures use flavored tea)
reading the contents of the offerings. ◆ Air: Incense or nothing but a single feather or leaf.
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory) ◆ Light: A lit wax candle, or burning coals or peat.

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 The Horizon Wars

TRAVELING BLOOD
If the bowls are filled with the right substance or object, the
bio scanner confirms this – the lights in the room go out “We see you searching for something not
and the stasis unit powers up, becoming the only source of yours to find. The heart of the Quadrant
light, illuminating microbes growing in complex patterns
can only be shared with one already part of
over the chamber’s walls and ceiling.
its bloodstream. You are prophets – but of
◆ The Guru: The stasis unit holds a nomad guru. She has exaltation, or extermination? Fill the bowls
the ability to read the minds of the PCs and to make them and prepare to prove your worth. We will be
stick to their words. When she wakes she emerges from
the stasis unit, sits down by the bowls, and looks at each
waiting.”
of the PCs before starting to write on a tabula.
◆ The Proposition: Her text and symbols are not difficult CALLING THE PROPHETS, UNKNOWN NOMAD
to understand. The PCs must take an oath to join the
Janhagir fleet and the Moguls’ honorable mission to keep
and protect the peoples and the heart of the Quadrant.
She mixes a little from each of the four bowls they brought
into a fifth, adding some liquid and dried leaves. If they
take the oath, she gestures at them to drink from the fifth NEW TALENT: SWARM OATH
bowl to start the ritual.
◆ Poison (0–2 dp): The mixture is a strength 5, non-lethal You have gone through the Aresh-Aman ritual,
poison attack (no timed mortality on failed resistance “the Journey of Life,” and are now sworn to the
rolls). The poison deals damage to Empathy+MP. Use the Mogul swarms. The black tattoos that cover your
poisoning rules from the Coriolis core rulebook or the rules hands show your devotion in rows of rings and
extensions on page 129 of The Last Cyclade. For Zenithian glyphs.
PCs, add one automatic success to the poison attack roll. ◆ You get a +2 to Reputation when dealing with
The effects are powerful hallucinations – basement corridors, other nomads and will be met with respect
dark woods and derelict spacecraft; echoing breaths; damp, by the corsairs of the Rimward Reach, the
clammy heat followed by fever chills and stiffness. For 2 Quadrant of the Pillar and Odacon.
DP, the PCs also suffer hallucinations reminding them of ◆ You may now purchase advanced tech in the
their Problem. abovementioned systems, and the costs of
◆ Fight the Dark (2–3 dp): If you want to put your players service and new ship modules is reduced by
through some combat, you can spend additional DP to 10% for each crew member with Swarm Oath
create a shared hallucination of an arena where they have (down to half price).
to fight a darkmorph (for example one or more darkbound, ◆ Once per calendar triad, the talent can be
or even stronger creatures). If any of them become broken, used to save your life as Firstcome or nomads
they’re all pulled out of the vision and dropped into the unexpectedly come to your rescue (GM has
next part of the dream sequence. If you spent 2 DP to final say). Reset cooldown at each of the three
trigger the combat, the PCs regain all HP they lost during major holidays.
the fight when they awaken but no MP. If you spent 3 DP, ◆ If you actively damage the nomad cause or
they recover nothing – during their thrashing around while reveal a faction secret, you suffer a psychotic
hallucinating, they hurt themselves for real. break equivalent to a strength 5 poison attack
◆ Tattoos: The PCs suddenly see themselves squatting before (for 1 DP). The attack damages Empathy+MP
the old woman and feel overcome with elation and joy. and is lethal (weeks) unless you find a way to
Cinnamon and citrus incense fills the room. Jolts of pain atone for your crimes.

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and pleasure shoot up their arms as the nomad elder slowly in all its glory, the exiled Mogul fleet that left the Second
hand pokes black tattoos onto their fingers and hands. Horizon all those years ago. Another AU farther out, the
Black rings and mysterious glyphs now cover their hands. moon of Shinda still defies the hunger of the system’s star.
When she’s done, the old woman takes a large swig from Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory)
a flask and spits a clear spirit over her work, the alcohol
burning the bleeding fingers. y MEETING THE SWARM
◆ Oathbound: PCs who undergo the ritual are now bound to A smaller swarm of ships approaches the PCs’ pod. They’re
protect Rima and the secrets of Shinda. They feel strangely taken aboard and the hatch opens. In the small hangar, ten
compelled to honor their word and may spend 2 XP to nomads greet the PCs with their weapons drawn. When they
purchase the Swarm Oath talent (see box), either immediately see the tattoos on the hands of the visitors, the captain of the
or later. Regardless of getting the talent or not, they now ship steps forward, introducing herself as Dia Goharshûd. A
have one additional Problem (see the talent description). CULTURE test reveals her as the niece of Abyeia Goharshûd,
the former spokesperson for the Nomad Federation (whom
CHOSEN: When the ritual is over, the PCs – still in something the PCs might have rescued at the end of The Last Cyclade).
of a dream state – are led down into the basement of the oasis, Regardless of their past, the crew know who the PCs are,
through microbe reserves and machine rooms to an escape but if they have betrayed the nomads in the past, they are
pod. The pod contains enough stasis beds for all of them and treated more like prisoners than as guests.
the last thing they see before the hatch closes is the intense Dia invites the PCs to join her for a meal and a discussion
light of the star as the pod is shot into the nearby portal field. about why and how they have come to Shinda:
◆ She says that Nasreddin of Arjjat, a prophet in the Ordana-B
REFUSAL: If any of them choose not to participate in the ritual, system, has foretold their arrival – “Moguls not by birth
they are considered unworthy to visit the fifth system which shall visit the Four who are One.”
might mean you’ll have to split the group and have them play ◆ Dia tells them that the Mogul elders and the Janhagir fleet
different scenes. PCs who stay behind on their ship will see generals chose to leave the Third Horizon to seek the advice
their friends in the escape pod disappearing into the portal. of the oracle Rima.
Cost: Varies (Mandatory) ◆ The Zenithians’ constant attacks on the rights and freedoms
of the nomads have made their leaders question whether
y WELCOME TO SHINDA they should remain in the Third Horizon at all. Many within
The PCs come out of stasis on the other side of the portal. The the fleet instead think that they should leave the cluster and
systems of the ancient escape pod provide little information let their Kahin star seers guide them toward new Horizons.
as to where they have ended up. A DATA DJINN test reveals that
the entry vector and jump coordinates appear to have been ◆ Scrutinized (1–2 dp): During dinner, a visiting captain, Ishvat
wiped from the computer right after the jump and the logs are Shaharzad, questions the legitimacy of the PCs’ quest (at the
clean except for the thaw-out command sent to the stasis pods. cost of 1 DP). If they haven’t previously been sympathetic
Initially, the sensors pick up nothing but static, but then, toward the nomad cause, this scene can be used to fill them
the dusty screen begins filling up with echoes. A fleet of many in on how bad the Firstcome and nomads have suffered
hundreds of ships seems to be orbiting a small moon, the under the Colonial Agency and the militaristic expansion
only planet in the system that hasn’t been absorbed by the of the Zenithians into the Quadrant of the Pillar. Captain
dying star. They see signatures they recognize: the Moguls’ Ishvat also questions why outsiders should be allowed to
enormous flagship, the Vaharwala; the three battleships set foot on holy Shinda when his family hasn’t yet been
Bhartena, Ghôl-Sarbh and Magratûrk; and the council ships of awarded the same honor.
the larger swarms together with armed clan vessels, retrofitted The PCs can calm him down using MANIPULATION or
destroyers, freighters and shuttles in a wide belt about half COMMAND, but a critical success is required to completely
an AU from the portal field. This is the lost Janhagir fleet win his trust. CULTURE may be tested before the roll to award

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 The Horizon Wars

cultural insights and bonus dice (one per 6 rolled). At the actions in the past mean large parts of the fleet join them
cost of 2 DP, the argument quickly spirals out of control automatically (Strength 5).
and guns are drawn, giving the rolls a −2. If fighting breaks ◆ Meeting the Council (1 dp): Convincing the council captains
out, it’s broken up by the rest of the crew after one turn. can either be handled as a MANIPULATION roll or as a dialogue
After dinner, the PCs are shown their cabins and instructed scene. The outcome of the scene determines the strength
to rest up before their trip to Shinda. of the fleets that join. Even failed negotiations will lead to
Cost: 0, 1–2 DP (Mandatory) some captains joining the PCs (see Table 22).
Cost: 1 MP
y THE MOGUL COUNCIL
If the PCs are scrutinized by captain Ishvat Shaharzad (see y THE TEMPLE CITY OF SHINDA
above) or if they haven’t been supportive of the nomads during Captain Goharshûd’s vessel lands on Shinda. The PCs are
previous parts of the campaign, they might not be taken to disarmed and taken to the Ghûl-Sian temple city. Pagodas and
the oracle right away. Instead, they may either have to speak round stone houses surround the elevated landing platforms of
to the Mogul council via holo link from captain Goharshûd’s the small spaceport. Thick vegetation covers the ground and the
bridge or in a face to face meeting in a temple hall onboard area is full of monks and ascetics in patterned, deep red robes.
one of the Janhagir flagships. Their heads are shaved and they wear tattoos similar to the PCs’.
Whether or not the PCs have to persuade the nomads ◆ The Lowlands: The PCs are led down long stone stairs
to join the war effort is for you to decide – perhaps their onto a paved footpath past the lotus fields and the rock

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

TABLE 21: NPCS IN MEETING THE SWARM

STRENGTH AGILITY WITS EMPATHY HP MP REP SKILLS GEAR

Dia Goharshûd 2 4 3 4 6 7 6 Command 4, Talisman (the Lady),

Culture 4, Vulcan cricket, flight-
Dexterity 4, suit, dura sword
Manipulation 3, Talents: Exo
Melee Combat 3, Specialist, Swarm
Pilot 3, Oath (page 131)
Ranged Combat 3
Ishvat Shaharzad 4 3 2 3 7 5 6 Melee Combat 5, Talisman (the
(typical leader) Command 4, Messenger),
Culture 3, chameleon suit,
Manipulation 2, mercurium sword,
Technology 2 stun glove, battle exo
Talents: Zero-G Training,
Swarm Oath (page 131)

columns of the sacred burial site. The columns are made up

of intricately decorated urns stacked in tall piles, illustrating
the bloodlines of the nomads clans. The lowlands are also
home to irrigation canals and enormous cherry trees. A
thick carpet of leaves dampens the sound of their footsteps
as they approach the temple.
TABLE 22: THE SIZE OF THE JANHAGIR FLEET ◆ The temple: A group of round buildings on the other side
DICE ROLL STRENGTH OF THE FLEET of the valley has been covered in floral patterns in gleaming
FLEET REINFORCEMENTS gold. The temple rising above the lower buildings glows
(no sixes) 3 0 in the starlight. Rima acolytes guard the temple wearing
Failure
segmented shell armor and carrying long rifles and dura
(one six) Limited 4 0
swords. Their tattooed necks and hands show that they
Success
have forsaken their families to serve the Four who are
(two sixes) 4 1
Success One. Inside an antechamber with a huge lotus mosaic on
(three sixes) 6 1 the ceiling, the PCs must leave their belongings and wash
Critical Success themselves in cold spring water from a basin in the wall.
They are given robes with embroidered vines scrolling
around them and silk wrappings to cover their hair with.
They are now “under the lotus” and allowed inside the
sanctum where no violence may ever take place.

y THE FOUR WHO ARE ONE

The walls of the main chamber are covered in mosaics panels
made from painted mother-of-pearl, each depicting a person
– nomad PCs or a successful CULTURE test can identify the
distinct clothes on the mosaics as the clan patterns of the
most esteemed families. The people in the panels are the

1 34
 The Horizon Wars

TABLE 23: NPCS IN THE TEMPLE CITY OF SHINDA

STRENGTH AGILITY WITS EMPATHY HP MP REP SKILLS GEAR

Acolytes of 4 3 3 5 7 8 7 Melee Combat 5, Long rifle, dura sword, shell

Rima Dexterity 4, armor (armor rating 4, light
Ranged Combat 4, armor with ablative pads)
Infiltration 2, Talent: One mystical power
Observation 4,
Mystic Powers 5

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

original swarm leaders who chose exile from the Second

THE CHILDREN OF URNI Horizon. The floor in the center of the room has been lowered
and covered with rugs and pillows, making the edges of the
“You honor me with your visit, beloved sibling.
center circle a natural place to sit.
Urni, you were the last to support my wish to ◆ Rima the Oracle: In the middle of the circle, lit from above
wander the stars and meet our children, but by light coming through frosted panels in the ceiling, sit
four old ascetics, all with shaved heads and tattoos covering
now, despite everything, I see we may not be as
their bodies. The sinewy muscles in their bare chests hint
different of opinion after all…” at rigorous physical training and their ebony skin identifies
them as nomads. They wear simple dhoti pants and sit
ORACLE RIMA, SHINDA cross-legged on the floor.
As the PCs approach, the Four who are One open their
eyes and gesture in perfect synchronicity at them to sit
down. When they speak, their voices merge in complete
harmony, their different ages, genders and timbres making
ANCIENT STRUGGLES up a collective voice that almost doesn’t sound human:
• If the PCs merged with the Machine Icon, Rima speaks
“My name is Rima en-Aldaan. You have
directly to Urni.
traveled far and seen much. Your world is but • They explain that the Third Horizon has become a
a battlefield where history makes war over battleground for two ancient ideologies fighting for
domination. The people here mean nothing to the
ideological supremacy: in what way shall the
Old Horizons.
people be governed?” • Rima explains that they chose exile after seeing too
many of the Santulans’ people leave the Second Horizon.
ORACLE RIMA, SHINDA • The Third Horizon must be left alone in the hands of its
original colonists. They deserve their own shot at greatness.
• Rima let their mind wander across piece by piece, each
part finding a willing host among the nomads. Finally,
their last fragment came into the Third Horizon to stay.
• They are opposed to the Santulans’ accelerated creation
THE FIRES OF THE PORTAL WARS of mystics to use as foot soldiers. The false Emissaries
“After we set fire to your Horizon to stop must be stopped.
◆ The Conversation: The PCs may now speak with Rima
Terra from taking over, I saw no hope for our and ask for their help. The former Santulan can provide
doctrine anymore. If our children – the swarms aid in a number of ways by answering their questions and
who used to be the pulse and heartbeat of the recommending actions:
• The First Horizon’s intentions are to incorporate the
Second Horizon – had left us, who were we to
Third Horizon into their nihilistic reign of terror.
force them back in line?” As long as the people don’t threaten the Emperor’s
authority, they will be left alone to live lives free from
ORACLE RIMA, SHINDA rules or laws. Nothing but turning on the Empire is
forbidden – the whims and lusts of the individual
dictate everything else. This will be a world of conflict
and terrible cruelty.

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 The Horizon Wars

• The Second Horizon wishes to be revered as the Icons they

claim to be. Principles and rules will dictate everyone’s
lives. The Santulans will rule by decree and as they please.
Obedience and piety will be required, motivated by false
promises of potential elevation to Santulan status.
• The Emissaries’ hold over the mystics is practically
complete and unbreakable as long as the Santulans THE STAR WANDERER
still inhabit physical bodies in the Third Horizon. While “I rode the solar winds through nebulae
the possibility of convincing them to relinquish control
and quasars in search of the pulse of my lost
of course exists, it’s more likely that they will refuse to
admit any faults or accept surrender and that the PCs children. I was set free a fragment at a time,
will have to destroy them. The Santulans have organized never to return, until eventually my cage was
a powerful defense and stopping them will require both empty and my children welcomed me home in
courage and cooperation.
• Rima can join the PCs either by merging with them their new world.”
or by having their host bodies travel along with the
group. If Rima accompanies the PCs, they can weaken ORACLE RIMA, SHINDA
the Emissaries’ defenses and make it easier to reach
their base above Xene.
• If the negotiations with the Mogul council (see above)
didn’t go too well, Rima can help convince more captains
to join (counts as one extra 6 on the roll).

When the PCs feel finished with the meeting and have struck
a deal for the cooperation of the oracle, it’s time to travel
back into known space. If they are injured or in need of rest,
FALSE EMISSARIES
they may spend one night in the temple city and be healed “I know that my brothers and sisters have
by the powers of Rima or by their devoted ascetics. During enslaved some of your Horizon’s people. They
the night, one or more PCs may dream of how the war is
wage their never-ending war against Terra at
going (War Turn 1, see below).
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory) the expense of your families. They have control
over their portal into this world and rule in the
y REENTRY light of the gas giant. What do you seek? Aid?
The PCs leave Shinda aboard captain Goharshûd’s ship. The
leaders and generals they have convinced to join the war effort Wisdom? Action?”
are already waiting by the portal field – enormous battleships
and armed clan ships representing several swarms stand ORACLE RIMA, SHINDA
ready to follow them into battle. Describe the scene and the
atmosphere before they go into stasis. The captain proposes
a toast before the jump and hopes the leaders of generations
past will bless their quest with wisdom and fortitude.
After re-entering known space, you can either add a couple
more events or consider the mission completed. See below.
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory)

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

MINOR EVENTS need the most. If they are let onboard, see below. If the PCs
The minor events occur mostly as the PCs return to known are suspicious of their intentions and choose to run away or
space again. Use them to add flavour or danger to this part attack instead, the corsairs will try to disable their reactor using
of the scenario. a data pulse (EP damage) and then board the ship. They will
threaten to launch an ion torpedo unless let onboard.
y A WARNING If the corsairs make it onboard, they demand a “customs
As they look for someone with information about the fifth fee” to allow the PCs to keep traveling. Negotiating with the
system, the PCs attract unwanted attention. One of the more corsair captain is an opposed MANIPULATION test which may
prominent nomad clans has paid a group of down-on-their- lead to combat if the roll goes poorly. The corsairs demand
luck stevedores and deckhands to teach the PCs a lesson. The payment in the form of food, gear, weapons, exos, drugs,
attackers outnumber the PCs by two and you can use either medicine or spare parts. They appear nervous and actually
the Shipworker stats (2 DP) or the Soldier stats (3 DP) from look malnourished. Their gear and their ship look to be in
page 343 of the Coriolis core rulebook. Alternatively, you can bad shape.
use the Mob Combat rules from The Last Cylade (page 220), The PCs might hear children crying in the background when
in which case the attackers are joined by more angry nomads. they are first hailed by the corsairs. The ship is actually a small
The PCs are lured into the trap by an elderly, scarred man family ship with the starving families of the crew onboard.
claiming to know more about what they seek. He asks to Cost: 2 DP
meet them in an alley, an abandoned engine room or some
other remote, dark place. As the PCs arrive, they may test y RESONANCE: FIRST BLOOD
OBSERVATION to spot the ambush (if they roll two or more As the PCs sleep, they dream of a starry night lit by explosions.
6s). When they attack, one of the stevedores roars that the Screams and commands echo in the dark. It sounds like a
PCs should not look for what doesn’t belong to them. If a ship crew. Before using this event, you should have played
PC suffers a critical injury or becomes broken, the attackers through War Turn 1 to have an outcome to present in the
back off, repeating their warning as they retreat. dream. The fate of the blockades in Algebar and Aiwaz as
Cost: 2–3 DP they were attacked by the Nadir Flotilla and the fleets of the
First Horizon will be revealed as the PCs sleep:
y BOARDERS! ◆ Retreat: “They’ve broken through! We’ve lost the second
Travel in the Quadrant of the Pillar is dangerous business. A fleet. Retreat!”
corsair vessel (page 202) demands a trade of food and medicine ◆ Victory: “Their waves are thinning. No more portal entries
for spare parts. You can tailor their offer to whatever the PCs on the sensors. They are retreating!”

TABLE 24: NPCS IN BOARDERS!

STRENGTH AGILITY WITS EMPATHY HP MP REP SKILLS GEAR
Corsair 3 4 3 4 7 7 4 Manipulation 4, Talisman (the Lady), Vulcan car-
captain Ranged Combat 4, bine, dura knife, tag (150 birr), field
Command 3, ration, light armor
Culture 3, Talents: Intimidating, Combat
Melee Combat 3, Veteran
Observation 3
Corsair 4 3 4 2 9 6 3 (Pilot, Technology Prayer beads, Vulcan carbine, power
crew or Data Djinn 4) glove (engineer only), protective
Melee Combat 4, mask, tag (50 birr), light armor
Dexterity 3, Talents: Tough
Force 3,
Ranged Combat 3

1 38
 The Horizon Wars

If you rolled a combat event during the War Turn, include its The mystic mutinies are increasing and the Emissaries’
effects in the dream, as well as any unforeseen twists and control over the mystic population soon threatens even
turns – a mutiny, a portal mishap etc. Let them experience a the portal stations as the nomad star seers start to feel
mystic crew attacking a butterfly ship in Hamura by ramming the pull of the Quiet Zone around Xene. Courier ships at
it and sacrificing themselves. the portal station await further orders – it’s up to the PCs
Cost: 0 DP how they want to use the Janhagir fleet and what mission
to undertake next.
y FANATICS
As the PCs return to their ship, they discover they aren’t y OUTCOME
alone. A small nomad crew from Altai has boarded their ◆ Without Rima: If Rima didn’t accompany the PCs, they
ship in their absence (if any of them stayed behind, they can either sacrif ice large portions of the Janhagir
should be given a chance to defend themselves from the f leet to assault Xene anyway (see “The Ghosts of
corsairs, of course). If they had passengers onboard, these Xene” below) or hold back for the time being. News
are taken hostage and ransomed for them giving up Rima. soon reaches them about a mystic in Odacon who
The boarders claim to be from the Walad swarm, destined appears immune to the song of the Emissaries (see
for a paradise beyond the Horizon through the Four who “Harmony”, page 120).
are One, according to an ancient prophecy. Their birthright ◆ Nomad Assistance: The strength of the Janhagir fleet
to the secret of Shinda was taken from them after they fell determines whether or not it’s best used to back up other
from grace during Marakanda’s golden age for choosing fleets or if it’s strong enough to hold its own against the
not to fight together with their siblings in the Portal Wars. First and Second Horizon.
Use the stats from the “Boarders!” event above (page 138). ◆ Recruiting Martyrs: If the PCs wish to attack Xene straight
If you want to focus the event on space combat, the fanatics away, without the assistance of Rima or the Odaconian
instead claim that Rima is a Second Horizon agent that cannot mystic, and if they only managed to sway a small part of the
be allowed into the Third Horizon and attack the PCs’ vessel. Janhagir to join, you might need to introduce a couple of
Their ship counts as a nomad family ship (page 201). scenes of your own where the PCs travel to Aiwaz or Zalos
Cost: 2 DP to negotiate with the Order or Mira for aid. Alternatively,
they could travel to Djachroum and meet the Aqbar to
ENDING persuade him to give them the support of the Purple Guard
The PCs leave Sivas and the Quadrant and receive news from – at the cost of weakening the defenses on the Dabaran
the nearest portal station about how the war is progressing. front, however.

TABLE 25: METAGAME SHIFTS

OUTCOME CONSEQUENCES
Rima accompanies the PCs See the “The Deadly Resonance Weapon” box on page 141. Preparatory prayer in a chapel now affects
two skills instead of one.
The Janhagir fleet joins the The Mogul fleet becomes available to the Third Horizon war effort. The PCs choose which front to send
alliance it to (see “The Mogul Council”, page 133).
Regardless of outcome “The Ghosts of Xene” is unlocked. Use a mini mission such as “The Blood of the Zenith” or “Harmony”
as an alternative, stressing the importance of the PCs’ choice of tactics.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

SCENARIO:

THE GHOSTS OF XENE

The azure family ship of the Gar’amshi clan. Generations of neer Legion cruisers gather further in, nearest to FS-7 and
children have run and played in its corridors ever since the swarm Xene itself. Smaller torpedo ships and civilian vessels are
left the Second Horizon to find a new home among the stars. instead sent to Hamura to sacrifice themselves in suicide
Dust now covers the residential modules. A chorus in somber attacks against the First Horizon fleets by ramming them
prayer echoes from the dimly lit bridge. All but the pilot and the as living torpedoes. The portal to Taoan is under constant
sensor operator joins in: bombardment to keep it unstable, making even the passage
“Karob-mu-Qad, our home is your home. Kama-mu-Qad, of the butterfly ships unsafe.
through your dance we cross behind the veil. Hane-mu-Qad, in
your shadow we see the true face of the dark. Hukim-mu-Qad, y THE LEGION
with your blade we vanquish our enemies.” The Judge Emissary brought to the Legion’s secret base on the
Then, the reactor is pushed to its limits and the ship shoots Yrind asteroid in the Kandah cloud during The Last Cyclade has
into the Hamura star. Something flickers into view – a butterfly returned victorious to Xene as commander of the Legion’s lost
ship – followed by a collision and a bright flash of light. Shahrazad flagship, the Adulaaza and Shaheresh battleships
and a flotilla of torpedo ships. Once the space around Xene
OVERVIEW had been secured, the other Emissaries were summoned
The collapse of the Monolith and the wave of destruction along with their followers (see the epilogue of Emissary Lost).
following the end of The Last Cyclade marked the beginning
of the Emissaries assuming full control of the mystics, their y STATION FS-7
secret weapon. Since then, more and more mystics have Foundation Station 7 used to be a relatively inconsequential
amassed at Xene, forced to give their lives as living ammunition weather post and admin hub for the mining colonies on the
in the war between the Old Horizon. moons of Xene. When the so-called Jarouma pattern was
discovered on the gas giant, the faction’s scientists deployed
y PC INCENTIVES a network of arrays on grav projectors around the gas giant to
The Emissaries’ control over the mystics of the Third Horizon reshape its energy patterns based on the hexagonal, cage-like
increases with every passing segment. The probes and courier shape of the Izar Net veil. The experiment was successful,
ships that bring the news through the cluster all report the but not in the way the Foundation had hoped. A bridge was
same thing – mutinies take place throughout all the large formed to the Second Horizon, strong enough to let the
fleets and the defectors travel to Kua on their way to the Quiet Santulans transport their minds into the scientists working on
Zone by Xene, stealing everything from small supply ships to the experiment. The four surviving Emissaries now live on the
large warships. The metagame rules reflect this by treating station, guarded by a group of twenty ex-Legionnaires formerly
the Third Horizon fleets as Overrun (page 114). Unless the known as the Chau’kedaar, “the Watchers” (page 147). The
PCs already have a plan, they will be contacted by a courier squadron is under the command of Tehira Markoon, one of the
from the front asking for their help. Choose a surname for the nominees for a Council seat in the finale of The Last Cyclade.
courier captain Saara depending on her origins: Haroum (Mira),
Al-Faisal (Zalos), Yrides (the Zenithians) or Ergûd (the nomads). THE MISSION
The PCs must break the Emissaries’ control over the mystics.
y THE QUIET ZONE To do this, they need to make it through the Quiet Zone, past
The devout puppets of the Emissaries congregate around the defenses and all the way to Xene. The assault will be bloody
the Quiet Zone of Xene. The largest of the commandeered and they will see their allies annihilated, one ship at a time.
warships watch the perimeter of the sector while the muti- If they use one of their allied fleets as backup, don’t use the

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 The Horizon Wars

THE MOTH AND THE FLAME THE DEADLY RESONANCE WEAPON

The birthplace of the Song and the Emissaries. Ships coming within 3 AU of Xene get their sensors
The prayer tower calling its pilgrims home, disabled, making navigation much more difficult (−3 to
PILOT). Once per watch, the ship suffers 1D6 HP damage
denied their free will.
without armor rolls, plus one critical damage (Coriolis
Brother turns on brother. core rulebook, page 172). A quick, speed 4 ship such as
Sister turns on sister. a fighter or torpedo ship can make it through the Quiet

Slaves in complete obedience, Zone in three watches but a regular, speed 2 freighter
would need six watches for the journey, thus suffering
drawn to the light of the gas giant,
damage six times. If anyone still makes it through alive,
burning with devotion. a flotilla of ex-Legionnaires awaits them at Xene, ready
to defend their new masters.
THE MACHINE ICON

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

THE PRICE OF THE GIFT

regular rules for the resonance weapon – see the “Breaking
through” box instead. As they are fighting the ex-Legionnaires
Mystics who steel themselves against the reso- at Xene, they can choose between various tactics:
nance weapon and the powers of the Emissaries ◆ Request an audience with the Emissaries and negotiate for
become twisted and corrupted by dark memes the independence of the Third Horizon. If the negotiations
equivalent to a critical injury. If Rima or Fahti fail, they may be forced to destroy the station instead.
accompanies the charge through the Zone, roll ◆ Destroying the station by getting onboard and sabotaging
one die for each of them on the Critical Injuries the reactor, hopefully also damaging the Emissaries enough
table on page 96 of the Coriolis core rulebook to force the Santulans to leave their hosts.
and read the 61–66 results. Measure the loss of
consciousness in days instead of hours and the MAJOR EVENTS
healing time in weeks instead of days. The different stages of the scenario include the journey
through the Quiet Zone and the heavy losses suffered there,
as well as the arrival to the station itself where the PCs either
try to negotiate with the Emissaries or blow up their seat of
power. The minor events contain various other situations that
might arise on their way to or from the station.

y THROUGH THE ZONE

The Quiet Zone stretches 3 AU in all directions around
Xene. When the PCs’ ship and their fleet enter the Zone,
their sensors give out and the reactors begin overcharging.
Communications within the fleet become broken up and full
of crackling static. Use the events below to flavor the journey
and turn up the pressure:
DESTROYING FS-7 ◆ Sensors Collapse (1 DP): The sensors go offline and the
There is plenty of room for the PCs to be clever within intercoms stop working. A DATA DJINN test is required to
the framework of the mission. Even if the Legion recalibrate them. Failing the roll leads to a −1 to all sensor
ships are there to protect the station from incom- rolls (such as weapon locks and navigation) until the ship
ing attacks and shield it from both cannon fire and has been serviced.
torpedoes, creativity and luck might still enable the ◆ Reactor Spike (1 DP): The reactor suddenly loses power
PCs to attack FS-7 from space. If they think of a way, and the ship’s systems start to malfunction. A TECHNOLOGY
let them do so – you can still have them encounter test stabilizes the reactor again but a failed roll costs 1 EP
the Judge Emissary during “The Executioner” (page and gives the engineer a −1 to all rolls relating to energy
150) after it flees the station onto the ship of either distribution or overloading the reactor.
the PCs or one of their allies. ◆ Critical Load (2 DP): The reactor is about to suffer a melt-
down. A TECHNOLOGY or DATA DJINN test is required to
stabilize it. Failing the TECHNOLOGY test leads to 3 points
of HP damage to the ship. Failing the DATA DJINN test leads
to 1 point of EP damage. This damage cannot be repaired
until the ship has been serviced.
◆ Forced Betrayal (2–3 DP): The Emissaries try to hamper
the PCs’ attack by having their assassins, the Dakin, enter
the minds of the crew of one of the ships in the fleet. For

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 The Horizon Wars

2 DP, the captain and parts of the crew of another ship BREAKING THROUGH
are taken over and they ram their ship into one of their
allies, destroying both. For 1 additional DP, debris from To break through the defenses around Xene, the
the crash is hurled toward the PCs’ ship and they must PCs will need the help of one or more of the Third
either avoid it (PILOT) or shoot it down (RANGED COMBAT). Horizon’s fleets. The defenses count as a blockade
Unless someone onboard first spots the incoming threat (1 point of damage to Strength) in addition to the ef-
using DATA DJINN, both rolls are at −2. fects of the resonance weapon (4 points of damage to
◆ Assassination Attempt (2 DP): The Dakin attempt to puppet Strength). This means that the attacking fleet must
someone onboard the PCs’ ship to be able to attack Rima or begin at Strength 5 or higher.
Fahti. Seepage 21 for the Dakin’s puppeteering powers. If Rima (see “The Fifth System”, page 124) or
The target can be a PC but in such a case, remember she Fahti (see “Harmony”, page 120) joins the attack,
gets a bonus from the Machine Icon (see page 45). Rima the effects of the resonance weapon are lowered
and Fahti are in a deep trance when the attack begins and from 4 to 2 points of damage. If both Rima and Fahti
have 6 HP each. If they become broken, they suffer a critical have joined, they cancel out the extra damage caused
injury and if they lose consciousness, their dampening of by the resonance weapon (but not the damage suf-
the resonance weapon stops and it immediately deals more fered by attacking the blockade).
damage to the assisting fleet (see “Breaking Through” to
the right).
◆ Asteroid Shower (3 DP): Asteroids and space junk rain over
the attacking fleet. The PCs might be able to detect the
incoming projectiles using their sensors in time to warn the
rest of the fleet by testing DATA DJINN. Failing the roll leads
to 1 point of damage to the assisting fleet and a disabled,
non-required module on the PCs’ ship. Rolling one 6 leads
to 1 point of damage for the fleet but no damage to the
PCs’ ship. Two 6s leads to the destruction of a minor ship
in the fleet but no Strength loss and three or more 6s DESTROYING THE STATION
means everyone makes it through alright.
◆ Shock and Awe: Without spending DP, you can have the The Emissaries’ regenerative powers make
resonance weapon destroy ships in the fleet just to give them almost impossible to defeat in combat.
the PCs an indication of its enormous power. The sensors If the PCs want to force them to surrender and
go offline after which the reactor overcharges and destroys leave, they can make their way to the engine
the ship, or damages it so severely that it can no longer room and manipulate the reactor to explode.
continue the attack and has to turn back. The PCs learn The way there should contain guards and other
what’s going on over the shaky fleet coms. obstacles, and when they get there, they will
◆ Omens (0–1 DP): The Emissaries try to scare the PCs by either need a suitable bomb (TECHNOLOGY −1) to
projecting nightmares and visions into their heads – they place inside the protective dura beams and ED
see their loved ones dying or feel overcome with doubt fields, or a way into the reactor to sabotage it
and grief. At the cost of 1 DP, all affected characters suffer (TECHNOLOGY −2). As the reactor and the grav-
3 points of stress, reduced by 1 for each 6 rolled on a iton projector are exploding, the fleeing PCs
MYSTIC POWERS test. might have to roll DEXTERITY tests in a weight-
If the fleet assisting the PCs is destroyed before they less vacuum. If you then wish for a final en-
reach the station, you can have the resonance weapon counter with the Emissaries, use the event “The
target the PCs’ ship as well (see “The Deadly Resonance Executioner” on page 150.

143
WAKE OF THE ICONS

FOUNDATION STATION 7

U: SECTOR 11 (BARRACKS)
V: SECTOR 19 (VISITOR’S DOCK)
W: SECTOR 18 (DOCK, SHUTTLE)
X: SECTOR 17 (DOCK, INTERCEPTOR)
Y: SECTOR 31 (THE EMISSARIES)
Z: SECTOR 27 (DATA CORE)

1 3

4 1

1
6 6

6 5

1
U
1: THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR 1
7
2: SENSOR ARRAY 5
3: RESEARCH SECTORS
4: ADMIN X
V
5: SECURITY HUB
5 W
6: DOCKING PLATFORMS
7: ENGINE ROOM

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 The Horizon Wars

4×4 meters

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

Weapon”, page 141). As the GM, you decide how many requires DEXTERITY tests. Attaching one’s exo to the elevator
watches (attack rolls) they still have to go. rig in the corridor allows for transportation to any sector
Cost: Varies (see list) along the shaft, but interrupting the elevator once it is in
motion is a Slow action.
y THE BATTLE OF XENE 2. Sensor Array: One end of the central corridor leads through
When the fleet makes it through the Quiet Zone and reaches an airlock to a rig of antennas making up the station’s
the gas giant, they are met by the battleships formerly sensors. The array scans both the atmosphere of Xene
belonging to the Legion. The battle begins immediately, below as well as the surrounding space. If the array is
acc cannons firing and torpedoes launching on both sides. disabled by a well-placed shot (2 HP, −1 to hit) as the PCs
The station is protected by fighter and torpedo ships ready are approaching from space, the guards onboard can no
to sacrifice themselves to stop incoming torpedoes. The longer see their arrival.
captains of the ships allied with the PCs engage the defenders 3. Research Sectors: Three independent sectors, each
to buy the heroes time to make it onto the station. Depending containing a main corridor extending from the station’s
on how much of a warship they have, choose if the PCs are central shaft through an airlock. The sectors contain a
pursued by fighters, torpedo ships or both. Their maneuvering research room, a data hub, a workshop and residential
to get to the station takes two turns (or four, if you spend 2 modules with kitchens, a gym and coffin-style cabins. The
DP) starting with the defenders meeting them head on and sectors were originally used to keep different groups of
then taking up the chase. The stats for the defending Legion researchers isolated from each other so the main security
fighter and torpedo ships can be found on pages 197–198. officer could control them more easily. Sector 31 is now
When the PCs reach the station, they can either try to stay home to the Emissaries (see “Meeting the Icons” below)
hidden or send a message to the Emissaries via the station’s and sectors 32 and 33 are used by the Algolans and a group
coms, asking to negotiate. from the Children of the Song. A Seeker mystic commands
Cost: 0, 2 DP the Children (see the NPCs list above). The Algolans aren’t
mystics and can therefore be convinced to renounce the
y THROUGH THE STATION Emissaries by winning an opposed MANIPULATION test (in
Onboard FS-7, the PCs are free to roam around its corri- which the Algolans get a +2, however).
dors and sections. However, the base is defended by twenty 4. Admin: The administration area is all but deserted. The
ex-Legionnaires, ten indoctrinated pilgrims and a handful dark rooms contain inert djinn systems, data cores, waiting
of Algolan rebels. rooms and offices. A main corridor runs through the circle
The PCs can either attempt to dock their ship at the secu- and small observation windows allow for a view of the
rity hub or spacewalk over to the station in exos. Docking sickly greenish yellow atmosphere of Xene. A patrol of
while in active combat carries a penalty of −2 to PILOT. If the ex-Legionnaires sometimes passes through, but the doors
docking roll fails, they must undertake the spacewalk. This are otherwise locked and the only residents are the dead
is a DEXTERITY test, but as soon as the first person has made plants, the powered-down monitors and scattered pieces
it, they can attach a guide wire, giving the people walking of forgotten Zenithian art.
behind a +2 to their rolls. Regardless of whether they dock 5. Security Hub: The module contains two small interrogation
or spacewalk, opening the airlock from the outside requires rooms, a couple of cells, a small assembly hall and two
a successful TECHNOLOGY, DATA DJINN (−1) or FORCE (−2) test. residential units where the barracks and the weapons lockers
Failure leads to 2 points of stress for the active character and are located (sectors 21 and 22). There are several access
an ambush has been prepared inside (see below). points here between the hub, the central corridor and the
1. The Central Corridor: The sectors of the station rotate eight docking platforms along the curvature of the hull.
around a central axis. At the heart of the central axis, a 6. Docking Platforms: Eight small hangars and docking
low-gravity corridor runs the length of the station. Fighting platforms accessed via the security hub. Ten fighters (in
or performing quick movement in the central corridors pairs) and two atmospheric shuttles occupy seven of the

1 46
 The Horizon Wars

TABLE 26: NPCS IN THROUGH THE STATION

STRENGTH AGILITY WITS EMPATHY HP MP REP SKILLS GEAR

Ex-Legionnaire 3 4 3 2 7 5 3 Infiltration 5, Thermal carbine, combat suit

Melee Combat 5, (armor 6), sensor smoke gre-
Observation 3, nade, advanced scope
Ranged Combat 3, Talent: Nine Lives or
Science 3, Executioner
Manipulation 2
Pilgrim 3 3 2 3 6 5 3 Melee Combat 3, Blunt instrument (equivalent
Culture 2, of baton) or knife, rations,
Dexterity 2 Judge talisman
Algolan rebel 3 3 2 3 6 5 4 Manipulation 3, Dura axe or dura knife, Vulcan
Melee Combat 3, pistol, light armor
Observation 3,
Ranged Combat 3,
Infiltration 2
Mystic leader 3 2 4 4 5 8 4 Mystic Powers 5, Legion carbine Dayal-3,
Observation 3, armavest (armor 3), incense,
Ranged Combat 3, Second Horizon prayer book
Manipulation 2, Talents: Regenerate or Stop
Technology 2 (Table 09, page 46)
Mystic, the 2 3 3 4 5 7 2 Infiltration 2, Blunt instrument (equivalent
Children of the Melee Combat 2, of baton) or sawed-off grape
Song Mystic Powers 2, rifle, prayer bowl
Ranged Combat 1 Talents: One mystical power

platforms, leaving the last one empty. It’s large enough you. Each failed attempt to shut down the station’s defenses
to fit a Class II ship inside the hangar or accommodate an and surveillance systems reduces the DP costs below by 1
externally docked Class III. (even down to 0).
7. Engine Room: The station’s reactor and protruding grav ◆ Ambush (1–4 DP): Armed enemies have staged an ambush,
projectors are protected behind a thick duralite frame and outnumbering the PCs by two. They are pilgrims (1 DP),
a series of ED fields. The central corridor doesn’t reach all Algolans (2 DP) or ex-Legionnaires (3 DP). For 1 additional
the way to the engine room, requiring a spacewalk between DP, they initiate the ambush with a stun grenade.
the reinforced airlock (FORCE −2, 15 HP) at the bottom of ◆ Patrol (0–1 DP): The PCs have been spotted and a pair of
the corridor and the engine and life support modules. ex-Legionnaires are dispatched to investigate. Depending on
This close to the projectors, gravity is unpredictable and how noisy the PCs are, they might either hear or be heard by
dangerous, fluctuating between 0 and extremely high the approaching enemies (opposed highest OBSERVATION vs
levels. All actions relating to movement and physical activity lowest DEXTERITY). You choose who rolls for what, depending
carry a −1 penalty here, including simply holding onto on the situation.
something. The PCs can find several dead crew members ◆ Vacuum (3 DP): Suddenly, several bulkhead doors close
here who fled into the vacuum of the engine room when and a red light switches on. PCs with a TECHNOLOGY level
the Emissaries arrived. Despite them carrying emergency of at least 2 understand that the section they’re in is about
transmitters, help never came. to suffer explosive decompression. Shortly thereafter,
a nearby airlock opens and the PCs must roll not to be
When the PCs move about onboard FS-7, what obstacles, sucked out into space. See the Explosive decompression
locked doors and enemy patrols they encounter is up to rules in Emissary Lost, page 57.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

FIGHTING AN ICON
◆ Locked Section: The way forward is blocked. The hatch
barring the way has no manual controls, only an electronic
Hotheaded PCs might try to defeat the DNA lock. It can be opened using explosives (8 HP), brute
Emissaries in combat. Use the Judge Emissary’s force (FORCE −2) or a DATA DJINN test at −1. A failed roll sets
stats from page 150 (“The Executioner”) for off an alarm and guards are dispatched (see above).
all four Santulans, or prepare individual stats ◆ Watched: The section is monitored by cameras and
for them using the rules found in Emissary Lost, heat vision alarms. Spotting the security measures is an
pages 189–194. The powers of the Machine Icon OBSERVATION roll after which a PC can either guide the
makes it possible to fight the Emissaries but it group through the area’s blind spots (DEXTERITY) or disable
definitely won’t be easy – make sure the players the system (DATA DJINN). Failure leads to guards showing
understand this. up (see above).
◆ Automated Defenses (1–2 DP): The section has automated
defense systems that, if triggered, will make the trip across
the base much more difficult. The section is wholly or partially
fitted with systems that release a cloud of toxic chemicals,
extreme heat from the overcharged atmospheric systems
or freezing fire suppression gas. The chemicals count as
smoke grenades with a strength of 4 (Wits+HP) unless the
PCs have some form of protective mask. A SURVIVAL test
allows a PC to find safe passage through the cold or the heat
for the whole group. A failed roll leads to either an extreme
cold attack equivalent of an ice storm (The Last Cylade,
FRIENDS page 37) or a Fire 2 attack (Coriolis core rulebook, page 97).
“Friends. We have come to stay. We are the Cost: Varies (see list)
answer and the Emissaries of your new future.
y MEETING THE ICONS
We are the light of peace, beyond the darkness
Research sector 31 used to be home to the scientists whose
at our doorstep…” bodies the Santulans commandeered as they entered through
the Xenian resonance bridge. Since then, the sector has been
THE JUDGE EMISSARY, HUKIM-MU-QAD refurbished with thick rugs, small prayer towers and clay
sculptures of the Icons. Cinnamon, cedarwood and citrus
incense fills the corridors with a thick haze. Two pilgrims, two
former Legionnaires and one of the Algolans can be found here,
praying. Clay bowls line the main corridor and the door to the
research room, containing the chamber of the Emissaries, is
surrounded by offerings of fruit, vegetables and nuts.
◆ A Humble Welcome: When the PCs arrive – regardless of if
they fought their way here or came in peace – the devotees
rise from their prayers and welcome them warmly. They ask
the group to leave their weapons in the corridor and then
enter the Emissaries’ chamber and speak with the living Icons
under the lotus. Their presence inside has been requested.
◆ The Emissaries: Research stations, desks and computer
panels have been pushed up against the walls to clear out the

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 The Horizon Wars

middle of the room. Rugs and rows of candles lead up to a

huge panoramic window overlooking the yellow glow of Xene.
In the back of the room, on a low dais from which the Jarouma
pattern used to be monitored, the four Emissaries wait in silence.
They wear full, ceremonial suits of armor, seemingly of
Legion origin, but are also draped in shawls, capes and
talismans that appear more Miran. Their bodies and faces
are completely hidden behind glyph-covered plates and
visors. The air seems to shimmer around them and the PARTING AS FOES
hairs on the PCs’ arms stand on end. They feel as if a great
weight bears down on them and hear a faint whooshing, or
“The people can never lead for the benefit of all.
the echoes of a song, urging them to take a knee and give Your ambitions are disorganized, egocentric
their minds to the Icons before them. Have them roll for and emotional. Go now and let us work. You
terror (The Last Cyclade, page 31) if you want to emphasize
are under the lotus and free to leave the station
the gravity of the situation further. The Judge Emissary,
Hukim-mu-Qad, wearing copper red armor covered in but beware if we ever lay eyes on you again!”
spindly glyphs steps forward and raises a hand in greeting.
The conversation that then follows is purely telepathic. THE JUDGE EMISSARY, HUKIM-MU-QAD
Below is a list of important points to include in the scene.
• The Enemy: The Emissaries want to destroy the First
Horizon and return the Third Horizon to the ways of
the Symmetry.
• New Portals: The Santulans envision a future where the
Second and Third Horizon are joined again, through the
portal in Menkar-B, Menkib. The fields there are long
since dead as the system was hit hard during the Portal
Wars. During the Long Night, the Circle of Seekers
began constructing a sensor cage around the planet of
Izar in the Eanu system – today known as the Izar Net
veil – based on ancient research about the Portal Builders THE JUDGE’S GLYPHS
to try and re-open a way into the Third Horizon.
• The Resonance Fields: Neither the Izar Net nor the exper- A limited success on a CULTURE test can reveal to
iments of the Foundation to reproduce the Xene pattern the PCs that the glyphs on the Judge Emissary’s
will lead to the creation of new portals, however. Only armor can be interpreted as a Zalosian hymn
minds can travel across the stars using these methods but to the Martyr. A critical success identifies the
the Santulans wish to refine these technologies and create origins of the language as much older, howev-
permanent portals for physical travel after the wars are won. er. The glyphs mention martyrdom and speak
• Governance: The Santulans lead by religious decree but of how the original Emissaries who first led
claim to listen to their subjects. Their wisdom shapes the humanity out among the stars sacrificed them-
Horizons and makes everyone’s lives better: wealth and selves to open up the Horizons. How this was
progress for all as long as people understand their place done is unclear, though. Much seems to indicate
in the societal pyramid. They expect absolute obedience that the glyphs are talking about the Portal
but only because this will allow them to give people what Builders.
they really need – whether they realize it or not.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

• Purpose: For the good of the many, the few must suffer y THE EXECUTIONER
– such is the natural order. But as long as a person lives, If the PCs choose a violent approach to the mission and anger
she has a right to safety and a purpose. the Judge Emissary enough, it will confront them either as they
• Maturity: Mankind as a whole will never be ready to are leaving the station or – if they blew up the station – back at
govern themselves. Only the chosen, the elevated, dare to their own ship. The Judge Emissary’s mind leaves its host body
look upon the future with open eyes. The Third Horizon and migrates into a suitable NPC near the PCs. The new host
cannot be left to its own devices – it must follow the collapses into a violent fit on the floor until they suddenly and
path laid out by the Santulans. gracefully rise in a single, fluid motion. Their eyes roll back
• The Portal Builders: The Santulans’ ultimate deities are the into their head and they turn straight toward the PCs. Decide
Portal Builders and they regard themselves as Icons destined if this prompts a terror roll or not (The Last Cyclade, page 31).
to care for the legacy of their gods. Through reaching a state The Judge Emissary is very difficult to kill. The PCs might
of intellectual and spiritual nirvana, the Santulans, too, have defeat the host body for a turn or two but it regenerates
become like gods – gods for the human race. almost immediately. Their only real chance of destroying the
• The Horizon Wars: They want the PCs to convince the creature is by venting it out into space, perhaps through an
allied fleets of the Third Horizon to abandon their selfish airlock or inside a torpedo aimed for Xene below, or the vast
doctrines of protecting their home worlds and instead dark between the stars. Who knows when or if the Judge will
travel through Taoan and sacrifice themselves in a glorious return to exact revenge in the future…
assault on the unholy and corrupted world intelligence The Machine Icon or Rima might assist the PCs in the fight by
calling itself the Eternal Emperor. This will guarantee intervening in a moment when the Judge Emissary is weakened,
future generations a world free from darkness. pinning or trapping it to buy the heroes some time. For a truly
◆ Negotiations: Let the PCs reason with the Emissaries dramatic finale, you could have the Machine Icon sacrifice
and try to bargain for their futures. They might attempt itself to destroy the Judge Emissary. This will strip the PCs of
to convince the Santulans to leave them alone but this the powers they developed after merging with Urni, however.
should be a very difficult feat to accomplish. The Second Cost: 3 DP
Horizon feels a strong sense of ownership and parental
responsibility over their exiled children and doesn’t want to HUKIM-MU-QAD, THE JUDGE EMISSARY
let them go a second time. Buying the cluster some more
time will be easier. The PCs might for example bargain for The former mystic guru Ladei Menin-Ghôrshad of Menkib was ele-
ten or so years of self-determination before the Santulans vated to Santulan status after having served as an admiral in several
return to stake their claim again. of the Second Horizon’s major battles with the Eternal Emperor.
How the scene ends is up to you. If the PCs fail, they Ladei became part of the strategic fleet command and has a very
might anger the Emissaries and be told to leave. If militaristic worldview. They consider the Janhagir fleet traitors and
so, they are allowed to retreat from the station under actively promote the doctrine of Santulan control over all of man-
threats of death if they ever interfere with the plans of kind’s expansion out into the universe.
the Santulans again.
Cost: 0 DP CHARACTERISTICS: Maintains a combat-ready stance when speak-

ing, arms slightly raised in front of them, sometimes making fists.

MINOR EVENTS When thinking something over, their rasping exhales almost sound
After the PCs have confronted the Emissaries, you can like growls.
choose to end the scenario with them leaving the station.
Emphasize the massive sacrifices made to enable them ATTRIBUTES:
STRENGTH 3, AGILITY 5, WITS 6, EMPATHY 5
to carry out the mission. Alternatively, they have angered
HIT POINTS: 12
the Judge Emissary in such a way that the scenario ends in
MIND POINTS: 12
lethal combat instead.

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 The Horizon Wars

REPUTATION: 10
(attacks and/or powers) to spend on its current activation.
SKILLS: Mystic Powers 10, Culture 8, Science 8, Manipulation 6, ◆ SHIELD PROJECTOR BELT (3 DP): Projects a powerful force field
Observation 6, Command 5, Survival 5, Melee Combat 4, Ranged
Combat 4, Dexterity 2 (armor 5) that protects against all forms of damage, including
ACTIONS: Two activations per turn, different initiatives with a +1, meson. The field also grants the wearer of the belt a +1 to FORCE
3 AP each and DEXTERITY. Lasts for two turns.
TALENTS: Recreate (levels I through III), Control (levels I and II), ◆ COMBAT MEDITATION (1–3 DP): If the Judge Emissary drops to 0 RP,
Contaminate (levels I through IV)
they lose their temper altogether and channel power from the dark
RESONANCE POINTS: 15 (see Resonance Points box)
instead. In the coming turn, each full activation (3 AP) spent on
MANIA: Blood lust
harnessing new power restores as many RP as 6s rolled on a MYSTIC
GEAR: Ornate armasuit (armor 6), Portal Builder talismans, 5 heal-
POWERS roll. You must spend at least 1 DP to activate the power, but
ing scarabs (attached to armor), shield projector belt (artifact, see
below), hand fan. (Gear only if the encountered onboard FS-7) may spend up to 3 DP (each extra DP grants a +2 to the rolls).

BANISHED: When the Judge Emissary has depleted their RP, it will
◆ POWERS: Uses Resonance Points, see Table 27. use whatever weapons are at its disposal while trying to draw new
◆ BLOOD LUST (2 DP): Twisted and corrupted by the dark, the power from the dark (see Combat Meditation above). At 0 RP, it’s
Emissary is sometimes overcome with hate and a desire for death. very vulnerable – the Machine Icon or a PC trained in exorcisms
At the cost of 2 DP, the first time the Judge Emissary drops below 5 may try to perform a banishing. If it drops to 0 HP or MP while being
HP and the first time the Regenerate power is used, the blood lust out of RP, the Santulan’s mind is forced out of its current host body
awakens and grants the Emissary 3 extra AP for offensive actions and the PCs win the fight.

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TABLE 27: THE JUDGE EMISSARY’S POWERS

POWER DESCRIPTION
RECREATE I: Test MYSTIC POWERS instead of MEDICURGY when treating the mystic's own injuries. May test even if broken, but at
REGENERATION −2.
RECREATE II: Test MYSTIC POWERS at +2 instead of MEDICURGY when treating any form of injury, on anyone within Short range.
SOOTHING TOUCH
RECREATE III: SCULPT The cells are instantaneously recreated. 10 HP and 4 SP are restored, one critical injury of your choice is healed
and the Judge Emissary gains a natural armor rating of 4 for four hours (may be combined with armor, doesn’t
stack if the power is activated multiple times).
CONTROL I: The Judge Emissary can stop another character from performing a minor action, such as looking over their shoul-
STOP der, opening a door or checking a sensor monitor. May not be used in combat.
CONTROL II: As a Reaction, the Judge Emissary can prevent someone within line of sight from performing an action or attack.
PREVENT Roll an opposed MYSTIC POWERS. Each of the Emissary’s winning 6s reduces the target’s remaining AP by 1. Bonus
6s may be spent on also inflicting an initiative penalty (-2 per 6 until end of combat).
CONTAMINATE I-IV See box

ENDING
The PCs leave Xene and the Quiet Zone is no more. No
matter the outcome of their meeting with the Emissaries,
the actions of the PCs will carry serious consequences. Even RESONANCE POINTS
if they successfully negotiated for the Third Horizon’s inde-
pendence, the Santulans will still work in secret to undermine Resonance Points (RP) are used instead of DP
the cluster’s attempts at self-governance to legitimize and when activating resonance powers. Each ac-
justify their claim to power. If the negotiations failed or the tivation of a power costs RP equivalent to the
scenario ended violently, other major changes occur. power level.
◆ A resonance mystic may pool up to (Empathy
y OUTCOME + MYSTIC POWERS) RP.
◆ An Independent Horizon: The Santulans demand control ◆ The mystic may only activate power levels I
over the Sadaal Route and promise to close the Errai portals through III.
to keep the First Horizon from penetrating deeper into ◆ When critically successful, the activation of
the cluster. They leave Xene and move their fleet to Errai the power is raised by one level (thus making
but maintain their hold over the mystic fleet in Hamura a critically successful level III activation the
(page 192) to make sure the Imperial forces can’t reach only way to reach level IV).
Kua through Taoan. They stop their aggressive recruitment, ◆ The equivalent of a prayer reroll costs 2 RP.
however, and the mystic mutinies cease. ◆ The mystic restores RP through meditation.
◆ A Little More Time: The Emissaries leave Xene and their Test MYSTIC POWERS once per four hours of
host bodies (who die or collapse into a deep coma). They then meditation – each 6 rolled restores 1 RP.
lead a small part of the mystic fleet to Hamura to keep the ◆ On all other skill tests where bonus 6s are
First Horizon at bay for a while longer (Table 28). After that, rolled but not spent, they may be turned into
they will leave the Third Horizon to whatever fate awaits it. RP instead (one 6 = 1 RP).
◆ The Emissaries are Destroyed: The PCs destroy the station
and the Emissaries. The Santulans attempt to launch a
counter-attack against Taoan but are unable to maintain their
control over the mystics (Table 28). The defenses in Hamura
break down and the First Horizon can now attack Kua.

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 The Horizon Wars

RESONANCE POWERS: CONTAMINATE (I-IV)

The Santulans rule the Second Horizon through a rigorous become bonus dice for the subjects of the Santulan to use
doctrine and wide-reaching influence, but the journey of when they carry out its orders. All enemies in sight suffer
the Emissaries through the resonance bridge has twisted 1 point of stress per 6 rolled. The victims of the MP loss
their minds and corrupted their powers. The Contaminate may test Empathy or MYSTIC POWERS to lower or negate the
power is a direct result of this. stress. Each 6 rolled reduces the MP loss by 1 point.
Contaminate (I): WARP – Roll MYSTIC POWERS instead Contaminate (II): CORRUPT – Dark memes take hold of the
of COMMAND to lead your allies (see COMMAND rules in the victim’s mind and body. Roll an opposed MYSTIC POWERS. Each
Coriolis core rulebook, chapters 3, 5 and 7). All 6s rolled of the Emissary’s winning 6s grants a +1 to the roll below:

D6 CORRUPTION
1–5 The victim hesitates and loses 1 AP on its coming activation.
6 The victim hesitates and loses 2 AP on its coming activation.
7–8 The victim turns her weapon on herself. She may forgo her activation and suffer 2 points of stress to stop herself from self-harm-
ing for one turn. If she chooses not to stop herself, she attacks with a +3 (may only test armor if full body). If she suffers any
damage, becomes broken (damage/stress) or disarmed, the corruption is broken. The effects may also be dispelled using
COMMAND.
9 The victim attacks her nearest ally until either she or her target becomes broken. A successful COMMAND test at -3 may cancel the
influence of the corruption.
10+ Same as above, but the victim also suffers a Mania (Coriolis core rulebook, page 337) that may be activated by the GM as a
Problem.

Contaminate (III): SHRED – All enemies within line of sight Contaminate (IV): CONTAMINATE – Matter and darkness
and Short range are barraged by a rain of dark tears opening fuse together. The range of the attack (see above) is now
in the air around them like two-dimensional shreds of dark- Long and no longer requires line of sight. In addition to
ness (strength 6 attack, CRIT 2). Those who suffer damage the damage and burning, the dark tears also start to affect
from the attack are enveloped by the dark tears that burn the bio code of their victims as the area is flooded with
like white phosphorus. In the coming turn, they also suffer radiation (1 point of radiation per turn, see Coriolis core
a strength 3 fire attack (D6 turns). Enemy movement within rulebook, page 99). The power remains active as long as
range of the power and in the same turn requires DEXTERITY the user concentrates.
tests at −2 to avoid a new attack and potential fire damage.

TABLE 28: METAGAME CHANGES

OUTCOME CONSEQUENCE
The Santulans are given the Sadaal The Third Horizon fleets no longer count as Overrun (page 114).
Route, retain their host bodies and The lines in Hamura hold against the Vestal invasion from Taoan for the remainder of the
agree to defend the Third Horizon war.
The Santulans voluntarily relin- The Third Horizon fleets no longer count as Overrun (page 114) and the players may distrib-
quish control of their host bodies ute 3 points worth of extra Reinforcements between their fleets’ home systems (even fleets
with depleted Reinforcements).
The liberated mystics gradually leave Hamura and the defenses there are weakened. The
First Horizon fleet in Taoan may attack Hamura after the next War Turn.
The Santulans’ host bodies are The Third Horizon fleets no longer count as Overrun (page 114) and the players may distrib-
destroyed ute 5 points worth of extra Reinforcements between their fleets’ home systems (even fleets
with depleted Reinforcements).
The liberated mystics leave Hamura and the defenses there are swept away. The First
Horizon fleet in Taoan may attack Hamura during the next War Turn.
Regardless of outcome Unlock a mini mission of your choice. Play one or two mini missions before starting The
Legacy of the Founders.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

SCENARIO:

THE LEGACY OF THE FOUNDERS

Shamsa Yimon is waiting in the cantina of the mining colony, of a flute and a talisman from the days of the Founders,
trying to keep his hands from shaking as he grips his mug of made from the bones of the first leaders.
tabak-infused chai. An ordinary-looking man comes over and
sits down, wearing a plain shawl around his head. His scarred y THE FOUNDER RELICS
neck and sinewy arms are covered in spindly glyph tattoos. The society of the Founders was started some four hundred
“Mister Yimon. My masters accept your demands. Djachroum cycles ago by the two original matriarchs, Mustira-Sama and
will be yours and you are free to restore your clan’s status in the Mustira-Muhit – “The Rulers of the Sky and the Sea.” Sama is
Reach by toppling the unjust rule of the Akbar. In return, you will buried in the Twin Station and several relics were fashioned
give us access to the forbidden parts of the station. And should from her bones, among them a flute, meant to be played
you ever choose to go against us, the wrath of the Serafs will along the song routes. It was supposed to be passed down
be terrible. The last thing you’ll see before your families perish the generations from one leader to the next but has been
in our purging fires will be great, shimmering wings blotting forgotten – today it lies locked away in the darkness of the
out the sun.” Twin Station. Muhit was buried in the second home of the
Founders, the Natifa asteroid, whose name lives on only in
OVERVIEW legend as the ion storms of the Kandah devoured it long ago.
The return of the Janhagir fleet and the attack on Xene has Not even the most daring of prospectors has been able to get
strengthened the Third Horizon’s defenses but the Vestals to it since. The lost Ahilar nomad swarm had a Muhit relic
have already planned ahead. They are getting ready to activate in their possession, a Judge talisman carved from her spine,
the sugar globes and release death and destruction upon the but this has fallen into the hands of the Nazareem’s Sacrifice.
Horizon through the awakening of the hashara swarms that
will kill or corrupt everything in their path. THE MISSION
Agents from the decimated Nazareem’s Sacrifice are sent The First Horizon has brokered a deal with the Yimon pros-
to Djachroum in the Rimward Reach to find the key that pector clan to overthrow Akbar Rakiv Fatiman and bring
activates the mythical Armada of the Firstcome deep in the down the independent station of Djachroum. By creating
Kandah cloud. More information on Djachroum can be found chaos on the station, the agents of the Nazareem’s Sacrifice
on page 54. The hatching of the sugar globes may lead can sneak into the otherwise locked second half of it and
to no reinforcements for the Third Horizon during this War steal the biocode needed to take control of the Armada of
Turn (see page 166). the Firstcome. Additionally, they want to take out the Purple
Guard and end their protection of the Kua system.
y THE ARMADA
The greatest mystery of the Mouth of Kandah is the fleet y PC INCENTIVES
of abandoned ships left behind by the Founders after they The PCs hear disturbing reports about the hatching of the
suddenly disappeared – the Armada of the Firstcome. sugar globes (and might even witness it firsthand if you play
The armada can be found near the Djerid asteroid cluster the “The Hatching” event (below) or the A Ravenous Dark mini
containing the most intact Founder ruins, Mining Station mission, page 123). Several large battleships and important
13. Both the Foundation and Akbar Fatiman have sent hubs in the Third Horizon are swept up in a panicked frenzy
research expeditions to the station and their findings seem as the dark swarms attack. The hashara kill or corrupt using
to conclude that its data cores are locked behind a bio dark memes and afflictions and command the enslaved
cipher. The cipher can’t be unlocked until the biocode of swarmbound to hunt down any survivors.
the original leaders is restored to the computer systems. The news of these events is followed by reports from
The missing cipher sequences have survived in the forms factionary agents about the Yimon prospector clan challenging

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 The Horizon Wars

the Akbar for control of Djachroum from their home base on alter the scenario a bit depending on when and where the
the Nexus asteroid. The agents have been informed about an PCs catch up with the agents. Make sure to be well-prepared
imminent coup onboard the station, threatening the power and read-up on the various events.
balance in the whole system. The PCs and a small squadron
of warships from whichever faction the PCs are most closely y THE HATCHING
allied with must travel to Djachroum and try to stop the coup. The scenario might find the PCs in a number of locations –
Mystic PCs might experience premonitions and see visions praying in their chapel, asleep in their bunks, relaxing in a
of the coup makers and instead learn of it this way. cantina or space station oporia, in an important fleet meeting
onboard an allied ship, in secretive dealings with a former
MAJOR EVENTS patron, etcetera. Wherever they are, the soft glow of a couple
The PCs arrive to a station in turmoil and must try to rescue of sugar globes illuminates the scene, their fragrant, syrupy
the Akbar and then catch up to the Nazareem agents rushing water scenting the room. The artifacts have been considered
to unlock the Armada of the Firstcome. You might need to collector’s items and symbols of wealth for as long as anyone

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can remember. If you want to, the Machine Icon may try to
warn the PCs that something bad is about to happen.
Suddenly, mystic PCs feel an icy pain and hear a sharp, shrill
note that drowns out all other sounds. A feeling of elated
love and immeasurable hate overflows them. The episode
POWER IN THE DARKNESS reminds them of what they felt when faced with their first
Vestal during The Last Cylade or during their more recent
Far from the squabbling of the factions
visit to Sadaal. The light from the sugar globes intensifies,
lie the ruins of greatness past. they absorb the water they’re in and swell up. After a couple
An armada among the stars, of seconds, they suddenly go out, the last of their dying
bound to the bones of the Founders, light showing shadowy movement inside them. Darkness
comes ripping through tears in thin air above the vats and is
strong enough to tip the scales. sucked into the globes. Something groans, cracks – hatches.
Under the wings of the butterfly, Soft membranes harden into shells that break apart and
in the shadows of the night, swirl around in the water inside the vats. A second later,
something black emerges – first it looks like oil, then like
ancient enemies walk, unseen,
insects, hundreds – thousands – of insects. They rapidly fill
seeking the forgotten key. the vats and bowls, overflow and fall onto the floor and the
tables. Tiny legs and wings unfold, and they begin to move.
THE MACHINE ICON Dark forms swarm together, seemingly bending light around
them. They create strange heat shimmers in the air, distorting
everything around them as they start to attack.
At the cost of 1 DP, a small swarm hatches. For 2 DP, it’s a
large one. The swarms get two turns of free power activations,
after that the powers cost DP as per the list in the description.
The hatching doesn’t begin simultaneously all over the Third
SWARMBOUND, CORRUPTED HUMAN
Horizon – it will take a couple of weeks for the chaos to spread.
The Vestals relentlessly activate their secret weapon and lay
A swarmbound person awakens enslaved by the waste to station after station, world after world.
hashara. She retains her original attribute scores Cost: 1–2 DP
but gets 5 additional HP and is now immune to
stress and stun weapons. She gets a natural HASHARA SWARM, DARKMORPHS
armor rating of 3 and fights with a newfound
frenzy in close combat (MELEE COMBAT +4). Her The hashara are a biological weapon lying dormant inside the
accuracy becomes slightly reduced (RANGED sugar globes. Until activated, they are nothing more than cells and
COMBAT −1). She can no longer be manipulated genomes in liquid form, ready to take shape. If given sugar water,
but can still handle weapons and basic tools. The their metabolism grows and the globe can grow somewhat in size.
swarmbound are slaves to the Vestals but will The excess energy produced is given off as light and a slight warmth.
hunt and kill mystics unless given other orders.
They become susceptible to the dark between APPEARANCE: When the dark from between the stars seeps into

the stars and may use one random power from a sugar globe, the cells inside activate and merge. This leads to
the list below per turn for 1 DP. the hatching of insects that are each about the size of a thumbnail,
resembling ancient Ardhan trilobites. The size of the globe deter-
mines the overall size of the swarm. The shells of the hashara are

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 The Horizon Wars

impossibly black, almost as if light bends around and past them, its target and cover it over. The attack roll is a DEXTERITY test
which makes them all but invisible when they move, appearing (armor may be tested) and the swarm tries to get underneath
more like a heat shimmer in the air than as actual insects. Spotting the victim’s clothes. If it manages to inflict damage, see
a moving swarm requires an OBSERVATION test at −1 for a big swarm below.
and at −2 for a small one. When the swarm attacks, it becomes HUGE SWARM – Moves 10 meters per AP, covers up to ten victims
gruesomely visible, however, covering the victim in a black, within Short range
slow-moving, crawling cocoon. LARGE SWARM – Moves 10 meters per AP, covers up to three vic-
tims within Close range
CHARACTERISTICS: The creatures attempt to gather in larger and SMALL SWARM – Moves 5 meter per AP, covers one victim within
larger swarms and primarily target and kill mystics. Non-mystics Close range
caught in the way of a swarm are instead often changed and ◆ CAUSTIC COCOON (1 DP): Only mystic targets. The hashara try to
twisted by dark memes. get in underneath the victim’s armor and clothes. The attack is a
Slow action.
ATTRIBUTES: DAMAGE – The attack is equivalent to a strength 5 fire attack
STRENGTH 3, AGILITY 5
each turn (no armor rolls, Coriolis core rulebook page 97). Also
HIT POINTS: 26 (huge swarm), 16 (large swarm), 6 (small swarm)
inflicts 1 point of stress.
SKILLS: Mystic Powers 6, Dexterity 5, Observation 5, Infiltration 3
BROKEN – If the victim becomes broken, she also suffers a critical
ACTIVATIONS: 2 (huge swarm, 3 AP each), 1 (large or small
swarm, 3 AP) injury. If the swarm continues attacking in the following turn,
the victim suffers another critical injury from the 61–66 entries
WEAPONS: Only spend DP when the swarms attack PCs, not
others. on the Critical Injuries table (roll one die). After that, the swarm
leaves its victim to die and moves on.
DEFENSE – Fire, extreme heat or cold or vacuum for two turns
◆ DARK WAVE: As a Slow action, the swarm can try to stay hidden can force the swarm to release its victim, as can beating it in an
(INFILTRATION vs OBSERVATION) and then fall upon or lunge at opposed MYSTIC POWERS test.

TABLE 29: SWARMBOUND POWERS (1 DP)

D6 POWER DESCRIPTION
1 From within Targets all within Close range. Opposed MYSTIC POWERS roll. Targets who fail see and feel black worms burst
from tears opening in their skin. The hallucination inflicts 1 point of stress, plus 1 additional point for each of the
swarmbound’s winning 6s.
2 Blink The creature phases through portal space in the blink of an eye, disappearing and then reappearing somewhere
within twenty meters. If someone else occupies the space the swarmbound reappears in, the movement counts
as a strength 5 attack (INIT +1, damage 2, CRIT 2). The attack strength may be lowered by the target successfully
testing OBSERVATION (-1 to attack strength per 6 rolled).
3 Blinding The creature radiates blinding light and heat, becoming overwhelmingly beautiful to all within ten meters. Those
affected must pass an OBSERVATION test (1 AP) before each action requiring eyesight during their coming turn.
Visors and hi-tech filters may protect against the light.
4 Coral skin A shell of porous coral forms on the creature’s skin. It counts as ablative pads (-3 to next damage from next hit).
5 Dark Black spikes of coral and nightmarish malformations of bone grow out to cover the creature’s skin. It then attempts
embrace to body slam its victim. Attack using MELEE COMBAT (damage 2, CRIT 2), target tests DEXTERITY instead of armor.
6 Swarm birth The creature is devoured from within and births a new hashara swarm. The thick stench of decay is overwhelming.
Roll a D6: 1–3 small swarm, 4–5 large swarm, 6 huge swarm.

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◆ DARK CORRUPTION (1 DP): Only non-mystic targets. The dark the caller and ask about the Akbar or the Horizon Council,
wave envelops and twists its target as a Slow action. Like above, they are informed that the Council was evacuated but that
the swarms tries to get in underneath armor and clothes. the Akbar is trapped in the Governor’s Palace in the heart
DAMAGE – 1 point of stress per attack. of the station (see map on page 161). Hashara swarms
BROKEN – If broken by stress, the corruption begins. have attacked the Purple Guard and the inhabited parts
CORRUPTION – As a Slow action, the swarm tries to beat the victim of the station. People are flooding to the spaceport in a
in an opposed MYSTIC POWERS vs FORCE or SURVIVAL roll. If the swarm blind panic. Meanwhile, the Yimon putschists engage the
wins by two 6s, the victim suffers a mania (Coriolis core rulebook remaining Purple Guard in firefights in the streets. If the
337 or The Last Cyclade page 69). If the swarm wins by three or more PCs find a Purple Guard, she can tell them that the Akbar
6s, the victim is struck by a powerful fever and loses consciousness. is trapped in the main hall of the palace together with his
Unless treated with MEDICURGY at −2 within four hours of the attack, bodyguard, but that the Yimon are advancing, seemingly
the victim awakens as a swarmbound slave (page 156). unaffected by the spawn of the sugar globes. You can either
DEFENSE – As above, but the swarm’s priority will always be use some of the events below as the PCs make their way to
mystics, meaning that if a mystic character is within Long range the palace or make up your own:
of the swarm, it will release its non-mystic victim and instead Cost: Varies (see table)
move toward the mystic (see box).
y FATIMAN DETHRONED

TYPICAL SWARMBOUND
The PCs reach the palace and are about to enter the council
hall when the ceiling suddenly caves in. Among the rubble and
ATTRIBUTES: debris, they eventually find Akbar Fatiman (page 160), several
STRENGTH 3, AGILITY 4, WITS 3, EMPATHY 4 of his dead bodyguards and perhaps also another member of
HIT POINTS: 12 the Horizon Council. The Akbar is wounded but alive (critical
SKILLS: Melee Combat 7, Mystic Powers 6, Dexterity 3, injuries 32 “Broken Arm”, 35 “Gouged Eye” and 53 “Bleeding
Observation 2, Ranged Combat 1
Gut”). At the cost of 1 DP, he is unconscious from his stomach
wound and requires treatment using MEDICURGY before he can
speak. The wounds aren’t primarily from the cave-in, however,
y THE FALL OF THE FREE STATION but look to be from a dura knife. He can tell the PCs that:
As the PCs arrive on Djachroum, both the station itself and ◆ Two people entered the palace.
the surrounding space is in complete chaos. A cry for help ◆ One of them was thin and gangly, with pale skin and androg-
comes over the radio. If the PCs identify themselves to ynous features. Their black eyes seemed to pierce his soul.

TABLE 30: NPCS IN THE FALL OF THE FREE STATION

STRENGTH AGILITY WITS EMPATHY HP DP REP SKILLS GEAR
Yimon 3 3 3 2 7 5 4 Dexterity 4, Vulcan pistol, dura axe, light
putschist Melee Combat 3, armor (armor 4)
Observation 2,
Ranged Combat 2
Djachroum 3 4 3 2 7 5 6 Melee Combat 4, Acc carbine, heavy armor (armor
Purple Guard Ranged Combat 4, 6), personal communicator
Dexterity 3,
Manipulation 3,
Observation 3,
Infiltration 2

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 The Horizon Wars

TABLE 31: EVENTS ON DJACHROUM

D6 EVENT DESCRIPTION
1 SWARM! The PCs reach a calmer alley or corridor. Empty vessels along the walls and small shell pieces on the ground
tell them sugar globes probably used to illuminate the area. Now, all that’s left is the soft flutter of the swarm’s
wings as they attack. For 0 DP, it’s a small swarm, for 2 DP it’s a large one and at the cost of 3 DP, the PCs are
attacked by a huge swarm.
2 FIREFIGHT Yimon putschists are fighting their way toward the Governor’s Palace to capture or kill Akbar Fatiman. They
are either already in the Cave of Bridges, at the palace gates or nearby. Two groups are pinned down, exchang-
ing fire from behind makeshift barricades, street corners and sheds. The PCs can choose to intervene or take
advantage of the situation to divert attention from their entering the palace from a different direction. The
coup-makers are setting up a grenade launcher, however…
3 REFUGEES A family with three children spring at the PCs. They are residents of Djachroum with nowhere to run – can the
PCs help them find safe shelter or bring them onboard their ship?
4 HASHARA BURNS A badly burned resident or Purple Guard pleads for the PCs’ help. A successful MEDICURGY test at -1 is required
to stabilize the injuries. If the PCs succeed, the patient tells them how to fight off the swarms.
5 SWARMBOUND People come running out of a cantina in fear, chased by one (0 DP) or three (2 DP) swarmbound. If the PCs draw
attention to themselves, the swarmbound attack them instead but if they ignore the situation, they see the
darkmorphs catch up to the fleeing civilians and start tearing them apart.
6 EXECUTION Yimon putschists (page 158) have captured a handful of Purple Guards and forced them to their knees in the
street, hands behind their heads. The leader of the group, Amshar Yimon, is aggressive and feels pressured to
shoot the prisoners. The fact that the Guard captain, Narid Karoum, heckles them as cowardly traitors doesn’t
make things better. The PCs can either ignore the situation (in which case it will very likely lead to the summary
execution of the Purple Guards) or intervene and negotiate.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

◆ The other had a more ordinary appearance.

◆ They were surrounded by hashara swarms flying and TIME UNITS (TU)
crawling around them but without touching them.
◆ The pale one was a mystic and made Fatiman’s bodyguards The Nazareem agents are heading to the Twin
turn on each other. Then it was as if an invisible hand Station and the forbidden parts of Djachroum.
gripped him and he couldn’t move or resist as the second If they make it inside and out before the PCs
person walked up to him and cut out a bionic chip from catch up, they will be able to escape unharmed.
inside his arm and took out one of his eyes. Measure the chase in Time Units, TU, rather
◆ The person with the knife had scar patterns in the shapes than minutes and hours to keep things flowing.
of strange glyphs on their forearms. The cultists need 7 TU to complete their task
A CULTURE test at −1 or MYSTIC POWERS at −3 can inform (as they’re already at Eskalom’s rift) and the
the PCs that the duo is likely a Nazareem leader and an PCs start one step behind (at the Governor’s
acolyte, both under Vestal protection. Palace). The steps below detail what the
◆ The Key: The biochip taken from the Akbar’s arm unlocks Nazareem need to do:
the forbidden Twin Station and the old Founder ruins. 1. Exit the Governor’s Palace and the Cave of
Deep down, below the life support systems and the Bridges (PCs begin here)
tireless work of the operators, lies a chamber full of 2. Cross Eskalom’s rift (cultists begin here)
old relics and a research facility used to analyze the 3. Set the hashara swarms on the operators of
Founder archive retrieved from Mining Station 13. the Twin Station
In its data cores, a partial bio cipher was discovered 4. Destroy the security systems and reach the
that somehow appears to relate to the Armada of the vault
Firstcome. The cipher sequence looks to fit with bio 5. Find the relics and secure the armada key
code extracted from an old Founder relic but the process 6. Exit through a side tunnel to the surface of the
is incomplete. asteroid
The PCs must now make a choice between chasing 7. Power up their courier ship
after the Nazareem agents or staying behind to protect 8. Leave the station (see “The Fate of the
the Akbar. He is still in mortal danger as the coup-makers Armada”, page 166)
are about to break through into the palace. You choose
how likely he is to be killed if the PCs decide to leave (see The PCs can try to catch up to the cultists. Each
Outcomes, page 166). sector in the “The Twin Station” event below
Cost: 0, 1 DP involves one key dice roll that determines how

RAKIV FATIMAN
fast the PCs are going. Let them know how well
they do in the tests determines how fast they

ATTRIBUTES: can travel. You can also let them know that
STRENGTH 3, AGILITY 2, WITS 4, EMPATHY 4 they’re only one sector behind the Nazareem.
HIT POINTS: 5 Naturally, you can always disregard the rules
MIND POINTS: 8 and have the PCs catch up in a sector of your
REPUTATION: 8 choice, regardless of dice rolls.
SKILLS: Culture 5, Manipulation 5, Command 4, Dexterity 3, ◆ FAILURE: 2 TU
Melee Combat 3, Science 3, Ranged Combat 2 ◆ SUCCESS (ONE OR TWO 6S): 1 TU
GEAR: Talisman (the Lady), fine clothing, healing scarab, per- ◆ CRITICAL SUCCESS (THREE+ 6S): 0 TU
sonal communicator, mercurium sword

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y THE TWIN STATION 0. Fatiman’s Well-being: The PCs are 1 TU behind the cultists
A lot can happen along the way as the PCs chase after the when the chase begins but might lose additional time
cultists. Each sector contains one important die roll or event before making it across Eskalom’s rift.
for the PCs to overcome. Depending on how well they perform, • +1 TU: Failing the MEDICURGY roll when waking up the
the time it takes them to make it through the different sectors Akbar (if he's knocked out) costs 1 TU. A successful roll
varies (see “Time Units” box). Here and there, they see evidence is free.
of hashara swarms having accompanied the Nazareem. If the • +2 TU: Making sure the Akbar and any straggling Council
PCs intercept and defeat the cultists before they reach the members are safe costs 2 TU. This could for example be
relics chamber (see below), the areas further in have yet to be done by taking them back to the PCs’ ship for evacuation.
reached by the darkmorph and the PCs might instead meet The TU expenditure also includes making it to Eskalom’s
the reclusive, fine-limbed operators living in the tunnels of rift after the rescuees are safe.
the Twin Station. In this case, some extra improvisation will • Flying to Eskalom’s rift won’t be quicker than walking
be required but you should nonetheless acquaint yourself because of the time it will take them to power up the
with the sector descriptions before you begin. ship and depart.

THE TWIN STATION

1: THE SECTOR OF
5 6 THE LADY OF TEARS
2: ESKALOM’S RIFT
3: THE ENGINE HALLS
4: THE HOME OF THE FOUNDERS
4 5: THE VAULT
150 meters 6: THE SIDE EXIT
THE TWIN
STATION

DJACHROUM

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

1. The Sector of the Lady of Tears: The PCs must exit the flee. The operators were swarmed by the darkmorphs
palace and the Cave of Bridges, make it through the fleeing and killed but some defended themselves with thermal
masses, the swarming hashara and the trigger-happy cutters or cooling units. Dead hashara swirl around the
putschists. They might try to maneuver around and avoid bodies like soot.
a fight or choose to fight their way through the Yimon • Hashara (1 DP): At the cost of 1 DP, swarmbound opera-
coupists head on. tors attack the PCs (see stats on page 158). The attackers
• Combat: Five turns of combat or less counts as a quick are one fewer than the PCs but if combat lasts for more
fight and won’t cost the PCs any TU, but any more than than five turns, it still costs them 1 TU.
that will cost them 1 TU. If any of them become broken • The Survivor: The PCs might come upon a wounded
or pass out from a critical injury, getting out of the sector operator in need of help. The person’s strange physi-
costs them a total of 2 TU. ognomy gives the treating PC a −1 to MEDICURGY. If they
• Stealth: Sneaking out undetected requires an INFILTRATION stop to help, the outcome of the roll may cost additional
test at −2. Another character may assist by testing TU (see the Time Units box above).
OBSERVATION or MANIPULATION (to scout/ask for directions) 4. The Home of the Founders: On the other side of the
and award bonus dice to the INFILTRATION test for each 6 winding engine halls, the PCs reach the heart of the Twin
rolled. A failed attempt at sneaking out might still keep Station’s forbidden sector. The airlock leading inside has
them out of combat but the escape will instead cost 2 TU. already been opened.
2. Eskalom’s Rift: Beyond the Tear and the other inhabited • The Architecture: The Founders’ residential halls are
sectors, a network of dura beams keeps the dug-out asteroid built in a brutalist, geometrical style. The lines and inter-
together. The deep cut through the middle of the asteroid secting cubes in the walls look like they shift or pulse
can only be crossed via an old steel bridge connecting the when observed closely, almost as if they’re breathing.
forbidden sector to the open areas. TECHNOLOGY or SCIENCE reveals them as machinery rather
• Space Walk: Crossing the bridge in low G requires the than wall panels – heating grids, oxygen processors,
PCs to get exos. Basic exo suits can be found in nearby energy couplings, dry irrigation channels and hydroponic
workshops or stevedore halls. The leading PC must pass a beds. Glyphs and other strange patterns light up faintly
DEXTERITY test at −1 to guide the rest of the group across when a surface is touched, revealed by DATA DJINN to
the girders to the airlock on the other side (which has indicate holo screens built into the machinery for some
already been opened by the Nazareem). unknown purpose.
3. The Engine Halls: The halls beyond the airlock are full of • Dark Harvest: The tidal wave of darkness has swept
pipes, cables and ancient computers. The area looks more through here as well, leaving corroded, almost burned
like an anthill than a space station. The caretakers of this areas in its wake. The PCs soon find wrecked thermal
ancient machinery, the operators (see box), get around by machineguns and stun weapons shot to pieces or ripped
climbing on grips in the walls and by hooking their exos from their wall mounts.
onto rail systems in the ceilings. • Active Defenses: If the PCs reach this area before the
• Finding the Way: Navigating through the engine halls in Nazareem, the weapon systems are still active and will
low G is difficult. One PC must test either TECHNOLOGY or attack unless the PCs are carrying Fatiman’s biochip. Use
SCIENCE to lead the way, the outcome of the roll affecting the stats for thermal machinegun and stun gun from
how much time they need to make it through. As the the Coriolis core rulebook. Each weapon platform has
PCs aren’t native to low G environments, they get a −1 either 6 HP (thermal) or 3 HP (stun). Scale the strength
to all mobility actions. of the defenses to match your group but give a wary PC
• Dark Harvest: The pipes and panels look almost burned the opportunity to spot the weapons using OBSERVATION
from the dark swarms and it’s not long before the PCs or RANGED COMBAT and figure out how they work.
come upon the hasharas’ victims floating in the tunnel • The Airlock: Having crossed the residential areas, the PCs
or squeezed in-between pipes in desperate attempts to reach an airlock controlled by ancient locks and biometric

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scanners. Getting through requires a successful DATA DJINN and the air is stale. Alcoves repeat around the eight facets
or TECHNOLOGY test, or some form of explosive (satchel in the wall, each covered by a membrane of black obsidian.
charge or grenade). If the PCs have already defeated the • The Lights: The walls glow faintly, something SCIENCE
Nazareem, they might be carrying the Akbar’s biochip, can reveal to be the result of luminescent microbes living
in which case they automatically score a critical success off the rock in the walls.
on their attempt to open the door (0 TU). • Radiation (1 DP): At the cost of 1 DP, the PCs feel heavy
5. The Vault: The vault of the Founders is an octagonal chamber and nauseous as they enter. Their suit sensors warn of
with a semi-translucent calcite pillar in the middle, cloudy high doses of radiation in the room (Strong Radiation,
and glass-like. The walls and ceilings are covered in frost Coriolis core rulebook page 99).

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• Fatiman’s Laboratory: Analysis gear, sensors and lab ALKAZU, NAZAREEM GRAND MASTER
equipment have all been set up around the room by
the Akbar’s engineers. DATA DJINN can tell the PCs that Alkazu Eb-Shûdaar used to be the arch herat of the Nazareem’s
part of the bio cipher they need has been stored on the Sacrifice’s fortress on Rusah in Odacon a century before the Portal
mobile lab’s emerald disc. Several of the alcoves in the War. He is a descendant of the nomad swarms but gave himself
walls have been emptied and the black mineral has been to U’Haya after having been rescued by the Serafs during a failed
drilled apart. portal jump in Taoan.
• The Relic: The key to the Armada of the Firstcome is
stored in the biocode in the flute and amulet crafted FOLLOWERS: Alkazu went into hibernation deep in the Miran jun-

from the bones of the Founder matriarchs. The flute gles. A cult of loyal settlers grew around him and sacrifices kept
can be found in the vault inside a locked vacuum box of the cadaver clock ticking in his honor. Two of his devotees are
hardened duralite, unless the Nazareem got here before with him on the mission to Djachroum – Alam Masheed and Tarek
the PCs and stole it. If the PCs perform no advanced U’gava (see “Loyalist” below). The PCs might encounter Alam in
actions in the vault, the encounter costs 0 TU. the Twin Station.
6. The Side Exit: The side corridor used by the cultists begins
at a second airlock in the vault and leads through winding APPEARANCE: Sacrificial killings have kept Alkazu alive over

tunnels through the mysterious home of the Founders. the centuries and his thin body is still strong even if the dark
The area is unnervingly quiet and desolate. years have made him as pale as milk. The corrupting forces
• Through the Tunnels: If the PCs aren’t in a rush, traveling of the cadaver clock cause his chapped skin to flake like old
the tunnels is easy and costs 1 TU. If they need to parchment.
move faster, one of them must lead the way by passing
DEXTERITY at −1 due to the low gravity. An OBSERVATION CHARACTERISTICS: Moves his hands slowly and deliberately

test by another character can aid the guide (+1 per in the air when speaking, as if playing an unseen musical
rolled 6). instrument.
• Ambush (1–2 DP): If the PCs are right behind the
Nazareem, the cultists may choose to try and ambush ATTRIBUTES:
STRENGTH 3, AGILITY 5, WITS 4, EMPATHY 5
the pursuers. For 1 DP, the ambush consists of a large
HIT POINTS: 10
hashara swarm and at the cost of 2 DP, it’s both a large
MIND POINTS: 9
swarm and the cultists themselves. Use this event if
REPUTATION: 8
you want to end the chase before the Nazareem reach
SKILLS: Culture 10, Command 8, Mystic Powers 8, Manipulation 7,
their ship. Dexterity 6, Observation 5, Force 4, Medicurgy 4, Melee Combat
• The Exit: The PCs eventually reach a corridor containing 4, Ranged Combat 3, Science 3, Technology 3
twenty-something airlocks that only appear to open from TALENTS: Heart of the Beast, Kinetic Absorption, Gaze of
the inside – possibly a station of long-since ejected escape Madness, Bladestorm, Swarmsong

pods. The Nazareem’s ship is docked on the surface of ARMOR: 5 (see Kinetic Absorption below)

the asteroid outside the airlocks. GEAR: Thermal pistol, exo, dura knife, Judge bone amulet, bone
flute and bio cipher emerald disc (if retrieved from the vault)
• Hard Choices: If the Nazareem manage to flee, the
PCs must decide if they want to chase after them into
the Mouth of Kandah or if they should turn around and ◆ HEART OF THE BEAST: Altered biocode. +2 HP, immune to stress
leave the station, with or without the wounded Akbar but not stun weapons (The Last Cylade, page 113).
(see Outcomes, page 166). If they have acquired the ◆ KINETIC ABSORPTION: Bionic scale armor reduces damage taken
biocode key, they may now proceed to the Armada of from first hit every turn by 2 (The Last Cyclade, page 166).
the Firstcome if they like. ◆ GAZE OF MADNESS(1 DP): Roll an opposed MYSTIC POWERS against
Cost: Varies (see description) one target within Short range. If Alkazu wins, the target suffers a

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 The Horizon Wars

THE OPERATORS

The operators are gangly, androgynous hu-

manites with long limbs, heavily bio sculpted for a
life in low G in the ancient engine halls of the Twin
Station. They are sculpted from birth in labs that
resemble the ones used to produce the humanites
that first colonized the Horizons. They live their
lives in the narrow, anthill-esque tunnels of the
mania (Coriolis core rulebook, page 337) plus 1 point of stress for engine halls, wearing light, copper red exos
each winning 6. If the target becomes broken by the MP loss, the (Talents: Exo Specialist). Their biological and lin-
mania becomes permanent. guistic origins can be traced to Uharu whose origi-
◆ BLADESTORM (1 DP): The grand master uses all his AP and nal settlers were relatives of the operators.
may attack up to five times within Short range using a melee The operators are agile and move almost
weapon. The attack rolls use DEXTERITY. Each attack must noiselessly through the tunnels (Agility 5,
succeed for the bladestorm to continue. If the attacks deal DEXTERITY 4, FORCE 1). They are so indoctri-
no damage at all, the grand master instead suffers 2 points of nated and focused on their tasks and purpose
either damage or stress. (Wits 4, DATA DJINN 5, TECHNOLOGY 5) that
◆ SWARMSONG (1–2 DP): The grand master can call upon and com- they hardly even notice visitors. Violence or
mand a hashara swarm (page 156). For 1 DP, a small swarm is an opposed MANIPULATION (+1) vs (Empathy 3,
summoned and for 2 DP, a large one. The swarm arrives after D6 MANIPULATION 3) is required to make them stop
turns unless already nearby. and answer questions.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

LOYALIST
and registered as the armada’s new commander. Then, the
airlock door opens out into space again.
ATTRIBUTES: If the initial DATA DJINN test fails, the armada launches two
STRENGTH 2, AGILITY 3, WITS 4, EMPATHY 4 antimatter torpedoes against the PCs’ ship.
HIT POINTS: 5 Cost: 0 DP
MIND POINTS: 8

REPUTATION: 4 ENDING
SKILLS: Culture 4, Infiltration 4, Manipulation 4, Technology 4, The PCs leave Djachroum and their actions determine how
Data Djinn 3, Observation 3, Pilot 3, Dexterity 2, Melee Combat 2, the mission ends. If they have failed, part or all of the Rimward
Science 2
Reach will fall into enemy hands and the defense of Kua will
GEAR: Armasuit (armor 3), Vulcan pistol, Beast talisman (+1 to
any one roll), thermal cutter, advanced tools, modulation mask be severely crippled. Their actions might also lead to a new
TALENTS: Third Eye, Judge of Character fleet under the control of the Third Horizon alliance or to the
rising of the Reach’s corsairs under their Akbar in an attempt
to reconquer Djachroum and purge it of the forces of evil.

y THE SUGAR GLOBES

y THE FATE OF THE ARMADA If this is the first scenario in which the sugar globes activate
Depending on how the chase through the Twin Station has and hatch, you may decide that no Third Horizon fleet gets
gone, the situation may look vastly different: the reinforcements they called for during this War Turn.
◆ The PCs might be chasing the Nazareem through space Alternatively, rolling on the table below can determine how
(use stats and plans for Birbasil’s Dream, page 66) which much, if any, reinforcements arrive. Roll once for each allied
may lead to space combat and boarding attempts (if the fleet who called for reinforcements in the previous War
PCs wish to get their hands on the key). Alternatively, the Turn. The hatching of the hashara spreads death and chaos
PCs might try to blow up the cultists’ ship to make sure throughout the cluster.
no one can assume control of the armada. To make the
chase and the combat more varied, use the ion storms y OUTCOMES
on page 57. ◆ Successful Coup: The Yimon coup – aided by the Syndicate
◆ The PCs might already have defeated the Nazareem and and the First Horizon – is successful and the body of Akbar
found both relics, giving them the option to decipher Rakiv Fatiman is vented out of an airlock. Parts of the
the biocode key. For 2 DP, more agents may be hunting Purple Guard join the new rulers and bring back order to
them and for 3 DP, they might even have to out-maneuver the station. Djachroum and the Rimward Reach assumes
a butterfly ship (page 196). As above, use the Kandah a neutral position in the war and the Kua system is no
ion storms to add flavor to the scene. longer under corsair protection.
◆ The Akbar Reinstated: The ruler of Djachroum survives
When the PCs reach the defensive perimeter of the armada and returns to Djachroum with a fleet of loyal soldiers.
(at least 2 combat units away), the cipher key can be prepared They retake the station and drive the Yimon clan from
and transmitted using DATA DJINN . If the roll succeeds, the the Reach. The hashara swarms are rooted out and
armada’s response (interpreted using CULTURE at +1) is to the fleets of the Reach continue to protect Kua from
ask for a meeting with the new commander. An airlock on enemy attacks.
one of the ships is activated for docking and a safe approach ◆ The Armada Awakens: If either side managed to activate
corridor is set up through the armada’s defenses. The actual the Armada of the Firstcome, huge numbers of ships now
entry into the ship requires a spacewalk. After having walked move through Kandah’s darkness. If the Nazareem won the
across the hull of the ancient ship and entered the airlock, the armada, an attack on Kua is imminent. If the PCs control
doors close and lock and the character's biocode is scanned the fleet, they decide which front to send it to.

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 The Horizon Wars

THE ARMADA AWAKENS

Unless the PCs claim the Armada of the Firstcome for the Third
Horizon, they witness the Nazareem doing it for the Eternal
Emperor from either the bridge of their ship or Mining Station 13.
If the PCs chose not to pursue the cultists, you can still tell them
about the activation of the armada to herald the coming threat:
“The ion storms of the Kandah cloud are reflected in the
sculpted hulls of the battleships. Row upon row, dormant death
waiting in the most inhospitable region of the Reach, a ceme-
tery meant to guard the legacy of the Founders for all eternity.
Suddenly, the ships come online, one by one lighting their anti-
matter projectors. Armor sheets slide across the hulls to expose
airlocks and torpedo batteries. Inside, the stasis units thaw out
the crew – biosculpted constructs from a lost civilization. No
outsiders are let onboard but the ships will obey the keybearer,
the person who unlocked the cipher and brought them back to life
– their new commander.”

TABLE 32: THE HATCHING OF THE SUGAR GLOBES

D6 EFFECTS ON REINFORCEMENTS
1–3 The fleet receives the reinforcements they called for.
4 The fleet gets Strength +1 and Reinforcements -1.
5 The fleet receives no new units but must lower their
Reinforcements score by 1.
6 No new units arrive, Reinforcements is lowered by 1 and the
next fleet to roll on this table gets a +1 to their roll.

TABLE 33: METAGAME CHANGES

OUTCOME CONSEQUENCE
The Akbar is killed and the Djachroum is taken over by the Yimon
coup successful clan who swear allegiance to the First
Horizon. The fleets of the Purple Guard
keeps out of the war and remains in the
Reach.
The PCs fail to stop the The armada belongs to the First Horizon
Nazareem from activat- invaders and attacks Kua in the coming
ing the Armada of the War Turn.
Firstcome
The PCs activate the The PCs now control the armada and
Armada of the Firstcome decide where to send it. Its starting
position is Kua.
Regardless of outcome Unlock a mini mission of your choice, for
example A Ravenous Dark. Keep playing
mini missions until War Turn 6 or 7 after
which you prepare The Battle for the
Horizon.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

SCENARIO:

THE BATTLE FOR THE HORIZON

Through the portal fields in Taoan, beyond the corrupting forces y THE MONASTERY FORTRESS
and dimensional streams of the dark between the stars, the fleets The Amshaar monastery fortress can be found in Zalos
of the Eternal Emperor are waiting. In the ash belts that used to and is the home of the war cult of the Cold Flame, led by
be the moons of Ainios, glittering cruisers and swarms of butterfly grand master Samesh Alim. Deep inside the fortress lies
ships lie ready for when the bridge stabilizes. Smaller formations the Naar-Abayda monastery cruiser, constructed around the
of ships jump through, their loyal crews risking certain death in the devastating weapon that burned Rusah and ended the Portal
Void as they hope to reach the fronts in the distant Third Horizon. Wars in Odacon. For the ship to be activated, the fortress
On the surface of Ainios, below the ash and the fleets, a Monolith must be destroyed – it has been constructed as a shield for
towers over a tempestuous ocean. It has been caged in dura steel and the weapon until it fulfills its destiny: to cut off the Third
covered in glyph alloys to keep it from reacting against the centuries Horizon from her enemies forever.
worth of dark corruption built up to feed the Emperor’s power to
change, warp and conquer the Horizons. The children of Ardha y THE SPIDERS OF INDRA
must be brought back to their home – and to their rightful ruler. The PCs will be given an old emerald disc from the days
of Zalos’ first settlement. It contains the code needed to
OVERVIEW awaken the Spiders of Indra, an ancient defense system lying
The First Horizon is pushing on toward Kua and there is no dormant in Zalosian space. The Spiders are biomechanical
way to defeat them without taking out their way into the Third constructs that consume all matter they come into contact
Horizon. A war council is convened together with the PCs to with – something more than one reckless skipper has come
determine the fate of the Horizon. The bridge between the to learn all too well. In the days of old, the Spiders led the
Horizons can be severed by destroying either the Monolith followers of grand master Indra Ab-Shamoush, the original
in Kua or the one on Ainios in the First Horizon (see below) prophet, through the portals from the Second Horizon and
as it will collapse the nearby portals. Then again, not many into the protection of the Martyr’s crown in Zalos. The Spiders
weapons are capable of destroying a Monolith… of Indra can move through portals and surprise attack waiting
enemies. Without them, the losses will be horrific.
y THE DRACONITE AGENTS
Few people in the Third Horizon have caught as much as a glimpse y THE ENTROPY OF PORTAL SPACE
of the First Horizon. In the vast darkness of the Void, however, the The network of portals throughout the Horizons spans enor-
warrior monks of the Draconite faction have gathered forgotten mous distances and maps out the interstellar civilizations
technology and mythical artifacts and used the to capture and of the Portal Builders and their successors. The life that
interrogate the agents of the Emperor. From the minds of their exists in normal space and the raw, dimensional chaos of the
prisoners, they have extracted information about the coming dark between the portals are constantly struggling, feeding
darkness and formed a plan. From enslaved mystic gurus, the the corruption referred to by most as “the darkness” – the
Draconites learned that the source of the Emperor’s power is the madness and entropy ruling the black between the universe’s
bound Monoliths, and that the nearest one can be found in the tiny pockets of light.
Ainios system on the other side of the portal from Taoan. Ancient
glyphs found in Portal Builder ruins indicate that the destruction y THE MONOLITH NETWORK
of a Monolith would result in the complete collapse of all nearby Whole cultures were corrupted and fell before the Portal
portals. It would appear that this has never been attempted before, Builders created the Monoliths – a huge network of levelers,
however. The prime objective of the Draconites is to liberate the or lightning rods, designed to clear up corruption from the
Third Horizon from outside influence, preferably without placing surrounding systems by attracting and burning it away.
themselves in the political limelight.

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y THE CAGED MONOLITH

The Third Horizon only contains two Monoliths but there are
several others in nearby systems severed at the end of the
Portal Wars. The nearest one can be found in the First Horizon
system of Ainios, one jump from Taoan. The corrupting forces
of the dark between the stars have been tamed by the Eternal
Emperor and are used to fuel the Vestals’ manipulations. The
reality warping powers wielded by the First Horizon require
a dampening of the Monoliths to work and a steel cage has
therefore been constructed around the one in Ainios, made
from unknown alloys that cancel out its reactive, leveling
behavior. Centuries of corruption have built up inside the
Ainios Monolith and if sprung from its cage, its discharge
risks destroying what’s left of the system.

THE MISSION
The remaining alliance admirals are discussing what looks
like a hopeless situation. It has become clear that the fleets of
the Eternal Emperor can’t be defeated through conventional
warfare. The texts from long since dead heroes of the Portal
Wars all agree – the only way to stop the invasion is to attack
the enemy in Kua and then once and for all sever the links
between the Horizons.

y THE ROAD TO VICTORY

Draconite agents have brought information about the Ainios
Monolith to the Third Horizon’s war council (see below). The
PCs are tasked with luring parts of the First Horizon’s fleets
into an ambush by the Amshaar fortress in Zalos. Then, they
will awaken the purging fires of the Naar-Abayda monastery
cruiser and the ancient Spiders of Indra and lead the charge
on one of the Monoliths.

MAJOR EVENTS
The campaign ends over a series of events where the PCs’
choices lead the way. The scenario begins with the war council
before the final battle after which the PCs act as bait to draw
the enemy fleets away from Kua and into Zalos. During the
ambush, the hidden weapons inside the Amshaar fortress
are awakened. The alliance then brings all of their fleets into
the final battle for Kua and the PCs must choose between
space combat or a boarding attempt. Their objective is to
get the Naar-Abayda to its final destination – the Monolith
in either Kua or Ainios.

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MASS DEATH IN AINIOS y THE WAR COUNCIL

After intense fighting, many of the allied factions are about to
Attacking the Monolith in Ainios will lead fall apart and some may already have lost their home worlds
to the destruction of thousands of Imperial to the invaders. Choose a system near Kua still under Third
troops (mainly humanites and Vestals) but Horizon control (but not Zalos). A battered fleet of flagships
the system also contains several inhabited and torpedo ships gathers for a final war council and the
planets and huge hubs of industry. Hence, the leaders and admirals meet onboard the portal station. Soldiers
discharge from the Monolith won’t only destroy from the participating factions line the halls and have taken
the Imperial fleet but also lead to the deaths over all local businesses, making the station into more of an
of almost fifteen billion people. It’s up to you army garrison than a trading post.
whether to inform your players about this or not. If the PCs managed to rescue the delegates during The Tenth
Icon (page 49), the survivors may also be represented at
the war council. Choose six to eight factionary representatives
best suited to your campaign either from the list below or
from your own gallery of NPCs. Use the delegates marked
with asterisks (*) for the default makeup.
The Council convenes in a chamber packed with holo
THE PURPOSE OF THE MONOLITHS screens and armed guards. The sometimes hotly debated
items on the agenda are:
NPCs close to the PCs – Foundation scientists, ◆ Summary: An overview of the current state of the fleets
Draconites or perhaps grand master Alim – may entrust and which systems have fallen. The war so far.
them with information and theories about the purpose ◆ Reinforcements: It has become clear that the First Horizon
of the Monoliths, the struggle between life and entropy appears to have endless reinforcements out of Dabaran
and rumors about the Emperor’s power source (see the and Taoan. New ships arrive or are produced behind
headers “The Entropy of Portal Space”, “The Monolith the fronts.
Network” and “The Caged Monolith”). ◆ United Front: The allied fleets must give up on protecting
their different home worlds and instead gather their forces
for a joint attack to push back the invaders.
◆ The Portals: Several of the attendees warn that this won’t
be enough and either Eran Sidonna (the Foundation),
Mandragor Ho (the Draconites), Samesh Alim (the Order),
THE MARTYRS OF THE CIRCLE
Azir Chabaun (the Order) or an NPC of your own says
The circle shall close. that there is only one option left – destroying the portals
Under the Crown of the Martyr, between the enemy and the Third Horizon.
◆ More Time: The enemy is so deep into the core systems
in the heart of Amshaar,
that an ambush or a trap of some kind must be arranged
the cleansing fire awakens. to buy the alliance more time to gather for the final assault.
Indra’s dark guides the spark ◆ The Bait: A character close to the PCs – for example Samesh
toward our enemy’s pyre. Alim or Mandragor Ho – proposes to bait parts of the
Imperial forces into Zalos and lure them into an ambush.
Lit by the flames, the Chosen,
They then turn toward the PCs and the room falls silent.
the last and first Martyrs. The Third Horizon needs the bait to be valuable enough
that the First Horizon would risk their fleets to destroy
THE MARTYRS, IRIA URAHUK’S DECREES it: the PCs.

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 The Horizon Wars

TABLE 34: LEADERS OF THE WAR COUNCIL

NAME DESCRIPTION
Khaleem Hydarnes* The Martyr Council, the Order of the Pariah, former delegate
Mata Amri The Church of the Icons, former delegate
Sandar Artabazus Corsair akbar at the Alabaster Council, the Nomad Federation, former delegate
Ana Din Eusidia Neo-Zenithian lobbyist, former delegate
Samesh Alim* Grand master and member of the Martyr Council
Azir Chabaun New grand master if Samesh Alim has died
Sadhi Bat-Erden Aishan’s Emporium, Draconite (present if Mandragor Ho is unavailable)
Mandragor Ho* Lord Zazû of the Draconites, former patron
Faida Din Hrama* Captain of the Asarita flagship, Zenithian, former patron
Eran Sidonna Chief scientist of the Foundation’s astronics division, Zenithian
Dinad Abarren-Quassar* Council member on Djachroum, Zenithian
Azin Ghorashûd* Janhagir admiral, the Nomad Federation
Fawzi Adani Edelaat* Corsair captain in the Purple Guard
Jarouma Had Peleter Former chief explorator for the Foundation, Zenithian

◆ Guarantees: Both the Draconites and the Order ensure

the PCs that their remaining fleets will protect them and
that they are strong enough to do serious damage to the
First Horizon. The Order mentions the ancient weapon
they keep in their home system and the prophecies that
say it will awaken once war returns to the cluster. The PCs TRUE PROPHETS OF THE MARTYR
only have to name what they need and it will be theirs – a
faster ship, new mods, a larger crew – there’s nothing the The crew of the Naar-Abayda follows the true
mission isn’t worth. prophets of the Martyr – the PCs. This gives
them full control of the choice of target but
Let the PCs come up with a strategy for how to get the First they don’t have to choose until after they have
Horizon fleets to chase after them. COMMAND or MANIPULATION gauged the opposition. Make sure they under-
could give them hints about their enemies and help them form stand that whoever leaves the Third Horizon
a plan. If they roll well, answer their questions or present them through the portal to Ainios is very unlikely to
with a plan you’ve already thought of – a blitz torpedo attack come back.
against a high-value target somewhere to attract attention,
leaking information about their whereabouts to First Horizon
agents or perhaps the location of a butterfly ship or naval base
they can take out to provoke retaliation by the Vestals. If Zalos
has already fallen, they will have little use for strategy – they
will only have to jump in and make sure they are spotted…
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory)

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y DESPERATE TIMES
As the PCs get ready to depart, they’re given some additional
information, likely by Samesh Alim or one of the Draconites
(but any other NPC trusted by the heroes works fine). The
REFUSAL
person takes them aside and stresses how dire the situation
has become – the Third Horizon will fall to the dark unless
If the PCs refuse to act as bait to lure the First drastic measures are taken:
Horizon toward Amshaar, it will alter but not ◆ The Monoliths: Portal field research by the Foundation
ruin the mission. The Imperial blockade in Kua or the Draconites has determined that no conventional
will be too powerful for the Naar-Abayda cruiser weaponry in the Third Horizon is strong enough to collapse a
to break through to get to the Hamura portals, portal. However, a forceful enough attack against a Monolith
forcing the alliance to attack the Kuan Monolith can lead to the destruction of all nearby portals.
and break apart the Third Horizon. If the PCs are ◆ The Target: Old lore and intel from the Draconites’ network
hesitant to accept the mission to act as bait, the of informants (see Overview above) indicates that the Ainios
war council members will make it clear that their system in the First Horizon contains a Monolith and that
chances of even cutting off Kua are slim unless it is linked via a portal with Taoan.
the enemy’s forces are divided. By not luring ◆ The Choice: Later, the PCs will be forced to choose between
away the Imperial fleets into Zalos, the PCs risk sending the fleet to attack either Kua or Ainios.
allowing the Emperor to win the war altogether. ◆ The Weapon: Zalos is the key to victory. The PCs are
instructed to lead the forces of the First Horizon to the
Amshaar fortress, the home base of grand master Alim,
and to the forgotten artifact weapons known as the Spiders
of Indra. The PCs are then given what looks like a carved
crystal amulet wrapped in velvet. It turns out to be an
ancient emerald disk from the Belit-Sheri scroll ship holding
a cipher they must beam out to activate the Spiders as they
approach Amshaar.

REACHING AMSHA AR If Samesh Alim himself was the one who gave them the
information, he will offer to accompany them to Amshaar
When they finally reach Amshaar, the PCs and their (The Last Cyclade, page 90). If he’s still alive but not present
ship might be in bad shape. As they will be taken at the war council, he might instead be waiting for them at
onboard the fortress before the final battle, this the fortress already. Later on, the PCs will come to learn that
doesn’t mean they’re doomed. If things really take a choosing to attack Ainios is likely to be a suicide run. After
turn and they’re forced to abandon their ship, courier learning this, they must make the final decision about how
ships from an allied fleet will come and rescue them. to end the war.
Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory)

y BAIT
The PCs can requisition upgrades to the ship they have or
demand a new, faster one. Whatever plan they come up with
for the attack will be sanctioned by the war council – it’s up to
them to decide how they will try to agitate and provoke the
Vestals into pursuing them into the trap. If their plan involves

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 The Horizon Wars

an attack against the Imperial fleets to attract attention, play way through only a small blockade of ships before finding
out a short scene where they fire a torpedo or deploy mines a couple of days of safety while the enemy scrambles to
before they jump into Zalos. intercept. If Zalos is still free, the enemy jumps in right
If the First Horizon fleets are already present in Zalos, behind the PCs but the defending Order ships slow the
the PCs must break through their blockade. This will most pursuers down. Keep the PCs on high alert, their pursuers
likely require some help from one of the allied fleets such always just out of firing range. Introduce one or more of
as the Draconites or perhaps the Armada of the Firstcome. the events below to flavor the journey to Amshaar.
Use ship stats from pages 199–200).
◆ The System: Karrmerruk is the moon of Benagia, 3 AU • Torpedo (2 DP): The PCs encounter a First Horizon
from the star. Farther out is an asteroid belt at 6 AU and torpedo ship that attempts to establish a lock on them
the main world, Zalos, orbiting at 8 AU. The Amshaar to fire a fractal torpedo. The sensor operator (DATA DJINN)
fortress is even farther out, located at 18 AU from the star. and the gunner (RANGED COMBAT) must work together to
◆ The Signal: When the PCs arrive in the system, they should neutralize the incoming threat.
start broadcasting the cipher signal meant to awaken the • Butterfly Ship (3 DP): A butterfly ship is pursuing them
Spiders of Indra. This will of course make it easier for the and they are forced to perform evasive maneuvers using
enemy to track them through the system but the Spiders PILOT or roll TECHNOLOGY to spend all their EP on boosting
might intervene on their behalf even before they reach the their grav projectors to stay away from their hunter.
fortress (see the bullet “The Spider” below). • Minefield (2 DP): The First Horizon has mined the sector
◆ The Chase: The vast emptiness of space means a blockading and the PCs must try to navigate through the field safely.
fleet can’t be everywhere all the time. If the First Horizon • Losses (0–2 DP): The PCs are shielded by an accompa-
has already invaded Zalos, the PCs might have to force their nying fleet but see their protectors go down, one by one.

THE STAR SYSTEM ZALOS (A)

portal portal
to mira to aiwaz karrmerruk zalos

8 AU

3 AU 6 AU 18 AU

the star zalos benagia the asteroid belt the fortress monastery
of amshaar

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

NEW RULE: SLEEP DEPRIVATION

For 2 DP, debris from a destroyed ally is hurled straight
The PCs should be on such high alert that they at them, forcing them to take evasive maneuvers at −2.
don’t dare sleep and resort to taking drugs The sensor operator may test DATA DJINN and negate
to stay alert. For each three days without the penalty if successful. If their ship is hit, it suffers 3
sleep, they must test Wits, SURVIVAL or MYSTIC points of HP damage.
POWERS . On failure, they suffer 2 points of stress • Atrocities of War (1 DP): The enemy battleships are
that can’t be recovered until they pass the next bombarding Zalos or Karrmerruk from orbit. The PCs
test after another three days or sleep for at least can take a detour to attack the ships and spare civilian
eight, uninterrupted hours. Stimulants give a casualties but this reduces the cost of one of the events
+3 to the roll but for each test, roll a die – on a above by 2 DP.
6, the PC has developed an addiction and must • The Spider (0 DP): The PCs are in a tough spot but the
consume her new drug of choice once every few signal they’re beaming out does its job and the cipher
days or suffer withdrawal (−1 to all rolls during
one watch, activated using DP like a Problem).

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 The Horizon Wars

activates one of Indra’s Spiders. A cluster of shifting, medicurgs stand ready to treat their wounds as needed.
asymmetrical monochrome specks unfolds to form long, The ship is on high alert and engaged in active combat with
spindly legs and glittering shields. It phases in and out the invaders as it tries to break through their siege. The
of portal space as it moves (like the battleships of the Spiders surround it and tear incoming torpedoes and ships
First Horizon) and envelops the enemy ship in a torrent to pieces. The cruiser soon reaches the bulk of the enemy
of rending arms within a matter of seconds. The hull fleet in Zalos (which you can locate as you like – in the
is cut open and appears to be burned away by a bright asteroid belt, around Zalos or near the star over Benagia).
light. Only twisted debris remains when the Spider is ◆ The Lance: The PCs are summoned to the bridge by grand
done. The weapon then folds back up and accompanies master Alim (or his successor Azir Chabaun). They are to
the PCs on their journey. More Spiders join along the witness the rebirth of the Lance of the Martyr. The grand
way. Although powerful, the constructs aren’t impervious master speaks of the enemy’s failed manipulations and
and you can demonstrate this by describing how a fractal futile stealth technology – nothing can save them now,
torpedo rips one of them apart to make sure the PCs the cleansing fires of the Martyr will burn away the dark
don’t feel too safe and sure of victory. between the stars (see quote).
Cost: Varies (see list) The gun crews sit before ancient control panels and after
the grand master gives the order, one of them activates the
y THE FALL AND REBIRTH OF AMSHAAR weapon’s firing sequence. Crackling static electricity and
The Amshaar fortress station has a wide orbit around the a blinding light fills the bridge and the air becomes heavy.
Zalosian sun. It’s a relic from the Portal Wars that few but the The Lance firing shuts down the screens and controls for
followers of the Cold Flame have ever been allowed to visit. a moment and a blade of flames rips through the system.
As the PCs begin their approach, they discover the fortress All worlds within 3 AU burn and ships evaporate within
surrounded by torpedoes and acc fire. The enemy has either seconds. Then, everything goes quiet.
followed the PCs all the way here or already mounted a siege ◆ The Lance’s Might: After firing, the grand master tells
on the station. the PCs that the weapon’s remaining charge has been
◆ The Fortress: The martyr warriors onboard the station depleted but that this was only a small demonstration of
greet the PCs reverently and say they’re ready to fulfill the weapon's full force. For the final discharge, it needs to
their destinies. The Spiders of Indra have converged around charge in the corona of the star in the system it will attack.
Amshaar and started tearing both the besieging fleet and Only this can make it powerful enough to have a chance
the fortress itself to shreds. The fall of the station appears of destroying a Monolith. The journey toward Kua, toward
unavoidable. Emphasize the desperation onboard when the final battle, begins.
people realize this, but the crew remain true to their oath ◆ Preparations: The PCs are well taken care of and can rest
and say that the fall of Amshaar signals the birth of their up a little as the Naar-Abayda makes the final leg of the
last hope. This is the end of days. journey to Kua. More and more of the remaining allied
◆ The Monastery Cruiser: As the station is finally ripped fleets join along the way. Just before they make the jump
apart, an enormous monastery cruiser bursts from deep from Aiwaz, the Janhagir fleet sends over a group of their
inside the collapsing ruins. The ancient battleship has been star seers, the Kahin, who are capable of calculating safe
constructed around a hollow lance painted in shimmering jump vectors even through unstable portals. If the PCs
glyphs. This is Naar-Abayda, the weapon that burned Rusah were unable to persuade the entire Janhagir fleet to join
and destroyed the Nazareem’s Sacrifice in Odacon, the them in Shinda, ten Kahin are sent over – otherwise, the
Cold Flame – the Lance of the Martyr. Moguls send over twenty. The grand master makes it clear
The PCs’ ship is brought onboard and they are invited up to the PCs that the crew are at their complete disposal as
to the bridge, a walk that takes them through the cruiser’s the Martyr’s Chosen, foretold by the prophets, and that
gigantic prayer halls and arcades. They are given roomy they will all follow them into death and beyond.
cabins onboard, each with its own stasis unit. Teams of Cost: 0 DP (Mandatory)

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

y THE BATTLE FOR THE HORIZON

The fleets of the Third Horizon gather to attack the Imperial
FORKED TONGUES fleet. If Kua has already fallen during the metagame, the
“Like snakes in the dirt they hide until it’s time blockade there is strong. If not, the warring fleets jump into
to strike. They think we can’t see through their the system right after one another. Torpedoes and acc salvos
rip through the dark as butterfly ships and torpedo ships fire
lies. Just because our sensors don’t pick them
on the Naar-Abayda. The Spiders of Indra unfold and begin
up doesn’t mean we don’t sense their presence.” tearing up enemy vessels that come too close.
◆ Survival: The monastery cruiser is one of the most heavily
THE GRAND MASTER, NA AR-ABAYDA armored warships in the Horizon (18 HP, Armor 12) and
covered in an alloy designed to temporarily survive even
the plasma of a star, as the ship charges the Lance in the
corona. The PCs’ mission becomes guiding the cruiser to
its final destination. Along the way, the cruiser may both
suffer damage and effect repairs.
◆ Events: Depending on the makeup of your group, the PCs’
THE LANCE OF THE MARTYR
participation in the Naar-Abayda’s final battle may vary. The
“At the end of days, we shall look outside of tables 35 to 40 give examples of what consequences their
time to vanquish our foes. We have the Lance actions may result in. Instead of ordinary combat turns,
of the Martyr, forged in the fires of Odacon the battle is divided into six segments, each comprising a
number of event suggestions.
and charged with the souls of burned
◆ Danger: As the GM, you choose how many of the events
heretics.” from each of the tables below you want to control yourself
and how many to offer up to the players. At the start of each
THE GRAND MASTER, NA AR-ABAYDA segment of the journey and during some of the events, the
cruiser risks suffering damage (see tables below).
• (!) As a general rule, half of the events played during a
journey segment should be marked Danger, indicated
by the exclamation point in the table entry. Play these
events in between the ones chosen by the players.
• (#) A bracketed number in the description of an event tells
THE FINAL VOYAGE you that it’s an event the players can choose to activate and
“Let us burn for the Horizon and together how many times they may do so. Let them know what events
travel to Kua to face the heralds of they can choose from and how many events they have time
for before the cruiser reaches the next segment of the journey.
darkness. May the glyphs on the ships of our
◆ The weapon: After arriving in Kua, the PCs are free to give the
descendants tell the future of our sacrifice!” order to begin firing. The cruiser will then lower itself into the
corona of the star and fire the Lance to cut the Dabaran Circle
THE GRAND MASTER, NA AR-ABAYDA off from the rest of the Horizon rather than pushing on to sever
the link between Taoan and Ainios instead. For the assault on
the Ainios Monolith to even be an option, however, at least one
of the PCs must lead the charge. The crew understands that it’s
a suicide mission but will follow the Chosen Ones.
Cost: See tables

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 The Horizon Wars

TABLE 35: SEGMENT 1: THE KUAN BLOCK ADE

NUMBER OF EVENTS: 1 (players’ choice)

DANGER (−5/0 HP): If the enemy is already present in Kua on entry, the cruiser suffers 5 points of damage. Otherwise, no damage.

EVENTS DESCRIPTION
STRATEGY (1) One PC may test COMMAND to strategically use sensor buoys and the Spiders of Indra to protect the cruiser. Each 6
rolled negates 1 point of damage suffered. Extra 6s after all damage has been negated may be given as bonus dice
to another PC action.
ENERGY SPIKE (1) The engineer PC can assist the engine room crew to hypercharge the antimatter projectors and speed up the
cruiser. On a successful TECHNOLOGY roll, one Danger event during Segment 2 may be ignored.

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TABLE 36: SEGMENT 2: THE BATTLE FOR KUA

NUMBER OF EVENTS: 2 Danger and 2 players’ choice if the enemy isn’t blockading Kua, 3 Danger and 3 players’ choice if they are.

DANGER (−1/-3 HP/EVENT): If the PCs carried out the bait mission earlier and diverted enemy forces into the ambush in Zalos, the
cruiser suffers only 1 point of damage per Danger event as the invaders are still reeling from their losses. If they didn’t do the
mission (or if they didn’t do it well enough), the cruiser instead suffers 3 points of damage per Danger event (no Armor rolls) in
addition to any other damages described below.

ACTIVATING THE LANCE: The PCs may order the cruiser into the corona after all the events have been resolved. Go to Table 40
“The Lance of the Martyr” if they choose to activate the weapon.
EVENTS DESCRIPTION
REPAIRS (3) The PCs may attempt to help with the repairs of the cruiser. Roll TECHNOLOGY. Limited success restores 1 HP, critical
success restores 3 HP. May be chosen up to three times.
PRAYER (2) The PCs may spend one event praying in the temple. Gives all PCs a +1 to all rolls for one skill of their choice for the
rest of the scenario, but as they are away praying, the ship suffers damage from continued attacks. Roll a die: 1–5) 3
points of damage, 6) No damage. May be chosen twice.
MEDICAL The PCs may seek medical aid if they have become broken or critically injured. They are treated by the medicurgs of
ATTENTION (1) the cruiser who restore D6 HP and all MP. All critical injuries count as treated and have their recovery times halved.
The PCs may treat each other’s wounds during an event, for example during a boarding, in which case this is
included in the event itself. All MP are restored on portal jumps.
THINKING One PC may test COMMAND to draw up new plans for the attack. A sensor analysis compiled by another PC may help
AHEAD (1) (DATA DJINN, each 6 rolled gives the strategist a +1 to their roll. Failing the roll gives the strategist a penalty of -1
instead.)
Each 6 rolled by the strategist translates to a bonus of +2 to a future roll by one of the other PCs.
FRANTIC The gunner PC can use her weapon station to protect the cruiser from incoming fire (RANGED COMBAT, treated as an
BARRAGE (3) armor roll against the Danger damage (-1/-3 HP) in this segment). If the sensor operator assists (DATA DJINN), each 6
rolled grants a +1 to the weapons roll. May be chosen up to three times.
TORPEDO Danger (0/-3/-5 HP): Enemy torpedo ships try to break through the defense barrages. The PCs have two turns to neu-
STRIKE (!) tralize two incoming torpedoes. If one of the torpedoes hits, the cruiser suffers 3 points of damage – if both hit, she
suffers 5 points (roll Armor once).
The PCs as crew: The captain may give orders once per turn (COMMAND), the engineer may distribute 1–3 EP (one
for each 6 rolled on a TECHNOLOGY test), the sensor operator may lock onto incoming targets (DATA DJINN) and the
gunner may fire (RANGED COMBAT). More than one PC may act as a gunner. Alternatively, they may choose to face the
attackers in small, two-people Order fighters (The
(The Last Cyclade,
Cyclade, page 32).
BROKEN Danger: The Lance has been damaged by enemy fire and the PCs may attempt to repair it using exos to climb out
LANCE (!) onto the hull of the damaged section (DEXTERITY, zero G). The repairs are a TECHNOLOGY roll with passive assist from
another PC with at least a skill level of 1 in SCIENCE (+2 dice) or RANGED COMBAT/TECHNOLOGY (+1 dice).
If the Lance isn’t repaired, it will need three events worth of charging time in the corona instead of one during
Segment 6 (Table 40).
SWARM Danger (0/-3 HP/turn): Wave upon wave of enemy fighter squadrons close in to cut up the cruiser’s armor using their
ATTACK (!) plasma weapons. The attack lasts for five turns or until the PCs have scored 8 points of damage on the attackers.
Each turn, the cruiser suffers (3 minus whatever amount of damage is dealt to the attackers by the PCs) points of
damage.
The PCs as crew: Take out as many attackers as possible. The captain may give orders once per turn (COMMAND),
the engineer may distribute 1–3 EP (one for each 6 rolled on a TECHNOLOGY test), the sensor operator may lock onto
incoming targets (DATA DJINN) and the gunner may fire (RANGED COMBAT). Alternatively, they may choose to face the
attackers in small, two-people Order fighters (The
(The Last Cyclade,
Cyclade, page 32).
BOARDERS IN THE Danger (0/-3/-5 HP): Boarding shuttles make it past the defenses and bore into the hull of the cruiser. Hadid
HANGARS (!) humanites (NPCs,page 97) fight their way toward the hangars to sabotage fighters and torpedo systems there.
Have the PCs face off against the boarders in a corridor. The attackers outnumber the PCs by two, but they may try
to set up an ambush. If more than half of the attackers make it past the PCs and into the hangars, the ship suffers 5
points of damage. If less than half make it past, the damage is only 3 points and if the PCs defeat all of their enemies,
the cruiser suffers no damage.

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 The Horizon Wars

TABLE 37: SEGMENT 3: THROUGH HAMURA

NUMBER OF EVENTS: 2 (players’ choice)

When the monastery cruiser crosses Hamura, only a handful of ships from the allied fleets accompany it as most of the Third
Horizon’s forces will be tied up in the fighting in Kua. The Naar-Abayda will jump through the unstable portal into Taoan alone.
The PCs have a little time for final preparations.
EVENTS DESCRIPTION
PREPARATIONS (1) The PCs may attempt to calculate a better jump vector (DATA DJINN). Each 6 rolled reduces the damage suf-
fered during the initial Danger of Segment 4 by 2 points (see below). A mystic PC may aid the calculations roll
by testing MYSTIC POWERS, rewarding one extra die per 6 rolled.
STASIS Jumping through unstable portal fields comes with higher risks of dark corruption. One PC may roll MEDICURGY to
CALIBRATIONS (1) program the stasis units with added safety protocols against corruption. Another PC may assist by rolling SCIENCE
or TECHNOLOGY at -1 and rewarding one extra die per 6 rolled. See the “Darkbound” event in Segment 4 below.
REPAIRS (2) See the “Repairs” event in Segment 2, Table 36 above.
PRAYER (2) See the “Prayer” event in Segment 2, Table 36 above. Maximum skill bonus is +2.
MEDICAL ATTENTION (1) See the “Medical Attention” event in Segment 2, Table 36 above.
REPAIR THE LANCE (1) The PCs get another chance to repair the Lance in their exos. See the “Broken Lance” event in Segment 2, Table
36 above.

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TABLE 38: SEGMENT 4: DARKNESS IN TAOAN

Number of events: 1 or 2 (at least one marked Danger – two if they have done (too) well so far)

Danger (−6 HP): The jump through the unstable portal between Taoan and Hamura leads to 6 points of damage. A well-calibrat-
ed jump can negate the damage (see “Preparations” in Table 37 above).

Sacrifices: Onboard the cruiser, a group of ten to twenty nomad star seers are in a deep trance. The players may choose to sac-
rifice them to reduce the damage suffered by the Naar-Abayda. Let the players determine how many points of HP loss they want
to negate and then roll a die for each point to determine how many stars seers die or become lost to the dark.
EVENTS DESCRIPTION
MUZHADJAR (!) Danger (-3/-6/-10 HP): The Vestals have filled the Taoan system with Muzhadjar (Coriolis core rulebook, page 324).
The beings may attack in two ways:
◆ SWARM: The creatures attack in a large swarm (10 HP against ship weapons). They reach the cruiser after three
turns and the PCs must try to defeat them before they do. Use the rules described under “Swarm Attack” in Table
36 above. For each of the Muzhadjar swarm’s remaining HP when it reaches the cruiser, the ship suffers 1 point of
damage (no Armor rolls).
◆ HULL LEECH: The cruiser has come too close to the creatures and two of them latch onto the hull. The PC must put on
exos and venture out onto the hull of the ship to fight them off. When brought down to half of their HP, the creatures
let go and fly away. If the PCs are forced to retreat before defeating both the Muzhadjar, the creatures do consider-
able damage before leaving on their own (3 points of damage for each surviving creature, no Armor rolls).
DARKBOUND (!) Danger (-1/-3 HP): Several crew members have been taken by the dark between the stars during the portal jump.
When the stasis units by the bridge open up again, corrupted darkbound slither out.
◆ STASIS CALIBRATIONS: If the PCs chose the “Stasis Calibrations” event from Table 37 above, they only encounter
three darkbound on the bridge, otherwise there are a total of five darkbound for them to deal with. If they defeat
the beings within five turns, morale onboard is raised and the martyr warriors manage to rid the rest of the
ship of the corrupted quickly enough to limit the damage suffered by the cruiser (1 point of damage). If the PCs
take longer, the crew panics and the darkbound run wild through the ship before eventually being hunted down
(cruiser suffers 3 points of damage).
PREPARATIONS The PCs may attempt to calculate a better jump vector (DATA DJINN -3). Each 6 rolled reduces the damage suffered
(1) during the initial Danger of Segment 5 by 2 points (see below). A mystic PC may aid the calculations roll by testing
MYSTIC POWERS at -1, rewarding one extra die per 6 rolled.
STASIS See the “Stasis Calibrations” event in Segment 3, Table 37 above.
CALIBRATIONS (1)
REPAIRS (1) See the “Repairs” event in Segment 2, Table 36 above.
PRAYER (1) See the “Prayer” event in Segment 2, Table 36 above. Maximum skill bonus is +2.
MEDICAL See the “Medical Attention” event in Segment 2, Table 36 above.
ATTENTION (1)

TABLE 39: SEGMENT 5: THE BATTLE OF AINIOS

NUMBER OF EVENTS: 0 (the cruiser begins its descent into the corona, see Table 40)

DANGER (−6 HP): Jumping through the officially dead portal field between Taoan and Ainios results in 6 points of damage. A
well-calibrated jump can negate the damage (see “Preparations” in Table 38 above).

SACRIFICES: See the rules for sacrificing star seers in Segment 4, Table 38 above.

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 The Horizon Wars

TABLE 40: SEGMENT 6: THE LANCE OF THE MARTYR

NUMBER OF EVENTS: 1 or 3 (all Danger)

The weapon will charge for one event (three events if damaged, see “Broken Lance”, Table 36 above). Each charging time event
reduces the cruiser’s Armor rating by 4 as the hull starts to disintegrate in the corona of the star. The cruiser needs at least 1 HP
to be able to complete its firing (see “Ending”, page 183).
EVENTS DESCRIPTION
DESPERATE ASSAULT (!) Danger (-2 HP/turn): The enemy sends fighters and torpedo ships in a final, desperate attack. The attack
lasts for three turns and may lead to up to 6 points of damage.
The PCs’ gunner (RANGED COMBAT) and sensor operator (assisting with DATA DJINN) may try to protect
the cruiser from the attacks. The gunner’s roll is treated as an Armor roll to reduce the damage suffered
by the ship once per turn. A critically successful roll breaks off the attack altogether.
MAYFLY (!) Danger (-6 HP): A butterfly ship performs a suicide attack by ramming the cruiser to stop it from firing. If
the ramming is successful, the cruiser suffers 6 points of damage (may test Armor).
It’s very difficult to spot the butterfly ship on the sensors, giving the sensor operator a −3 to DATA DJINN
to lock onto the target. The PCs’ gunner or gunners then have only one turn to score a critical success to
take out the ship (if multiple PCs act as gunners, they may pool their 6s).
FRACTAL RAIN (!) Danger (-12 HP): The Imperial battleships let loose a hail of fractal torpedoes against the cruiser. The PCs
have three turns to take out four incoming torpedoes. If the gunner scores a limited success, she shoots
down one torpedo – on a critical success, she takes out two. Each torpedo that hits the Naar-Abayda deals
3 points of damage (may test Armor).
The PCs as crew: The captain may give orders once per turn (COMMAND), the engineer may distrib-
ute 1–3 EP (one for each 6 rolled on a TECHNOLOGY test), the sensor operator may lock onto incoming
targets (DATA DJINN) and the gunner may fire (RANGED COMBAT). More than one PC may act as a gunner.
Alternatively, they may choose to face the attackers in small, two-people Order fighters (The
(The Last
Cyclade,, page 32).
Cyclade
BOARDERS ON THE BRIDGE (!) Danger (0/-3/-5 HP): Boarding shuttles make it past the defenses and bore into the hull of the cruiser.
Hadid humanites (NPCs, page 97) fight their way to the bridge to sabotage the Lance’s firing controls.
The PCs encounter the enemies on the bridge. The attackers outnumber the PCs by two and there is no
time to set up an ambush. If the attackers aren’t defeated, the firing controls are destroyed.
◆ MANUAL FIRING: If the controls are destroyed, the PCs’ last chance is to go into the reactor and trigger
the firing manually. See “Ending” below.
DARKBOUND (!) See the “Darkbound” event in Segment 4, Table 38 above.
THE TEAR (!) The First Horizon gathers its corrupting strength to open a tear into portal space and release the forces of
darkness. This is recommended as the final event you play before the weapon activates.
A creature similar to Ayaam’sha from Emissary Lost (page 183) breaks into the physical realm
inside the cruiser. It’s made up of strings of darkness bending around each other and interweaving to
form a three-dimensional being. Light bends and breaks around it as it grows from a one-dimensional
dot to quickly envelop the whole bridge. The PCs can either try to fight the creature or lure it into the
focus chamber where it will burn away as the Lance fires. The being will follow a single PC if she rolls
a critically successful MYSTIC POWERS test, or a majority of the PCs if they move together and pass a
MANIPULATION test.
◆ MANUAL FIRING: The PCs can go into the cruiser’s reactor and fire the Lance manually or lure the crea-
ture away from the bridge and use the firing controls there. See “Ending” below.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

1 82
 The Horizon Wars

ENDING
The PCs fight to keep the Naar-Abayda alive. fractures. After a last attempt to endure and remain, the
◆ Defeat: If the ship drops to 0 HP before the Lance fires, it’s failing Monolith discharges its harnessed darkness, breaking
destroyed and the PCs most likely perish with it. Alternatively, the planet’s surface to release torrents of fire and lava.
they may flee in an escape pod if you want to continue
adventuring in a lost Third Horizon. The Eternal Emperor y DEFEAT: A LOST HORIZON
is victorious. See the heading “Defeat: A Lost Horizon”. Red light fills the corridors. The projectors bleed antimatter
◆ The Lance: When the mega weapon is charged, it can be and implosions start caving in the ship. The hull breaks open
fired from the bridge by the crew unless a majority of them and lets the roaring darkness in. The old prophecies burn
have become darkbound – in this case, the PCs have to as glyph-covered debris is scattered through the night. The
complete the firing command themselves. The firing is a Naar-Abayda monastery cruiser’s last voyage ends in tragedy,
DATA DJINN test to calibrate the targeting sensors and lock as a promise unfulfilled. You burn for the Third Horizon but
onto the Monolith followed by a RANGED COMBAT test to history won’t remember your names – the Imperial conquest
fire. If either of the rolls fail, play one more event as the of your home worlds reduces you to anonymous casualties in
enemy is given a final chance to stop the PCs. If the firing the Eternal Emperor’s crusade for the glory of Ardha.
controls have been destroyed or the bridge is lost, the PCs A wave of light and lightning shoots into the darkness of
must fire manually from inside the engine room, in which space to challenge the Cold Flame. The star behind you erupts
case they roll TECHNOLOGY instead of RANGED COMBAT. in an ejection of plasma and a violent ion storm hits the cruiser.
◆ The Cold Flame: The Lance’s discharge and the collapsing The grand master turns to you to speak for the very last time…
of the portals will rip the cruiser apart. If the event takes
place in Kua, the PCs might decide or be urged by the y THE END: THE FALL OF AINIOS
grand master to depart the cruiser in a fast courier ship and “You truly are the children of the Martyr and the champions of the
jump out of the system before the shockwave hits. If the Third Horizon. It has been an honor to serve under you and a greater
end takes place in Ainios, their chances of making it back one yet to die by your side. The First Horizon is shut out for good and
through the highly unstable portal to the Third Horizon our kin finally awaken to a new dawn. We, the people, are finally the
become almost non-existent but you could decide to let captains of our own destinies and may chart a path to new Horizons.”
them try – perhaps they miraculously make it back home, Everything fades to white as the portals collapse and you
or disappear into the Void, living on only as legends. See become one with the stars. You live on as legends to inspire
the heading “Win: The Lance of the Martyr” and either
“The End: The Fall of Ainios” or “The End: The Fall of Kua”. y THE END: THE FALL OF KUA
“The Horizon must bleed for its new dawn but losing an arm is a
y WIN: THE LANCE OF THE MARTYR small price to pay for freedom. The time has come for you to leave
The cruiser shakes and you feel a great pressure over your us to meet our destiny. Your ship is ready. Return to what remains
temples. Your hearts race and a searing note, louder than of the Third Horizon and tell the people there of the heroes who fell
anything you’ve ever heard, threatens to break open your today, of our martyrdom and how we severed the serpent’s head, of
skulls. For an instant, the projectors go offline and you how good people held fast against the night. You shall be the prophets
float quietly through the carnage outside. Then, the Cold of this new dawn. May the ships of our descendants wear our story
Flame rips through the system, tongues of fire lashing out as a warning to those who will live to see the wars of tomorrow.”
against the enemy ships like the heads of a hydra. A spear of The cruiser shakes violently as you make your way down to the
devastation is thrust deep into the planet and the Monolith. waiting courier ship. You’re soon on your way through a burning
The ancient column, created by those who came before, system toward the portals. Before cold sleep takes you, you see
stands unaffected at first, regal and invulnerable. Then, a the followers of the Martyr perish in their own fire. As you slip
tiny crack forms and runs downward into a network of fine under and jump out, you dream of a new Horizon.

183
Epilogue
Nothing is forgotten,
as long as we remember.
Nothing is lost,
as long as we rebuild.
We fall,
and rise again.
Martyrs and idealists
become legends and dreams.
Dreams of the Horizon.

HOMAGE TO HORIZON, NEW CORIOLIS, C165

WAKE OF THE ICONS

INTRODUCTION The proxy wars are over – at least for now. The circle
has come to a close. The PCs have seen the arrival of the
Emissaries, the rise of the Nazareem’s Sacrifice and the
devastation of the Horizon Wars. Old alliances have been
broken and reforged. Whole factions are gone and the star
maps look very different now. The fleets are decimated and
those who stayed out of the war, or who at least backed down
at the right moment, are perhaps coming out on top. The age
of the Zenithians is over and a vacuum of power now exists,
waiting for someone new to fill it.
AFTER THE HORIZON WARS, the Third Horizon is once is rising for those who stay. The Church of the
again left alone. Seeing the true, treacherous faces Icons gather pilgrims once again and the temples
of the Emissaries has upturned the lives of many are full to the brim. Mira, the Order of the Pariah
of the previously devout. Some have had enough and the clans of Khorsabad start salvaging in the
and give up – beyond Zhau’s sister star, an unlikely wreckage belts and the furnaces of the smelteries
fleet from all over the Horizon is gathering, led burn with the flames of tomorrow. Old blueprints
by the Nomad star seers. Hoping to reclaim the are dusted off and soon, a familiar shape appears
lost systems of the Third Horizon, they leave their in the night sky – a place of diplomacy, commerce
homes behind for good. Meanwhile, a new hope and intrigue: the Coriolis space station.

AFTERMATH
The remaining forces of the Eternal Emperor systems of the Dabaran Circle are lost forever and
are destroyed but beyond the collapsed portals, New Coriolis is instead coming together above
the First Horizon is already planning for the the jungles and floating temple cities of Mira.
future. Enormous cruisers filled with sleeping
butterfly ships burn through the dark between THE FACTIONS
the stars to someday reach the Third Horizon The post-war map of the Third Horizon has been
again. The Santulans have either been ousted redrawn and the different civilizations are slowly
and returned to the home world or claimed a starting to rebuild. Trade and diplomacy becomes
piece of the Sadaal Route as payment for their more important than ever. Secret agents and political
help in the war. In the latter case, Errai is now a agitators position themselves to try and influence
closed system into which only Seeker gurus and the political landscape of the new era. Secret orga-
certain Children of the Song mystics are allowed nizations and dark pacts take shape in the shadows.
entry. Weakened fleets and armies leave room
for new rebellions and freedom fighters but y THE ORDER OF THE PARIAH
in all, nothing as dramatic as how the Imperial The followers of the Martyr made enormous
fleets were cut off happens. Kua is either still a sacrifices during the war and their home system
shining beacon in the dark, gathering the Third of Zalos has once again been ravaged. The
Horizon around a new space station, or the Zahedan rebels seize the opportunity to take

1 86
 Epilogue

THE THIRD HORIZON AFTER THE HORIZON WARS

RUMORS OF A
ODACON FOURTH HORIZON
TAR A ZUG
DZIBAN
ZHAU
THE MIR A N CHA IN
GHODAR ZIB
THE SADA AL
ROUTE SI VAS
ERR A I ORDANA
DAYBUL MIR A
THE QUADR ANT OF
Z ALOS THE PILL A R
SADA AL
MENK AR Z A L O SI A N CI V IL WA R ALTA I
A I WA Z
NAG AR KUA
W R E C K B E LT AWADHI
NHARMADA
Z AMUSA
ARGONNAS
ALGOL
CAPH
DI S TA N T S Y S T EM S OF THE ALGOL
THE SECOND HORIZON ROUTE

MARFIK
CL O SED P OR TA L T O EREQU
HAMUR A THE FIRS T HORIZON (K UA ) ANASPOR A YAS TAPOL

THE DABAR AN
CIRCLE AMEDO
EANU

TAOAN

A INIOS
ALGEBAR
CL O SED P OR TA L T O
T HE FIR S T HORIZON ( A INIO S) UHARU
R IGEL
MEL IK
DABAR AN

over Zalos-B after a segment of bloody fighting. The two y THE CHURCH OF THE ICONS
stars are now split between Martyr loyalists and “heretics”. The Miran fleets weren’t large even before the war and have
The Order’s ties to the Church of the Icons grow stronger as since then lost much of their strength. In the religious vacuum
joint construction efforts produce new shipyards above the after the unmasking of the false Emissaries, however, the
moon of Karrmerruk. Both factions’ fleets need rebuilding Church of the Icons grow even more, uniting the sundered
and they pay well for salvaged debris or weapon systems Horizon under a new, monotheist banner. All Icons are really
from any of the myriad of new ship cemeteries left behind just aspects of the One True Icon but the faith allows room for
by the war. Aiwaz becomes known as the first blood system ancestral worship and local variations which appeals to both
and free traders and hopeful artifact hunters soon invade nomads and previously faithless neo-Zenithians. The Church
its vast wreckage belt – something that attracts the eyes of grows and Mira’s ancient temple societies are revitalized as
both the Syndicate and of other, hidden shipyards. The City colossal pilgrim ships start arriving via Zalos at regular intervals.
of Foreigners grows and new domes open for business with
visitors who swear not to deny the Martyr’s importance in the y THE ZENITHIAN COALITION
Horizon Wars. The Judge is increasingly revered around the The exiled Zenithians and the expatriates have gone one of
Horizon and many societies now pray to a new aspect – the two ways, either to Amedo or to Algol. In Amedo, they rebuild
Protector. the dome city of Xhi and construct a new Dawn Palace for

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

the prominent families on one of the nearby moons. White are heard. Accusations of corruption and war crimes are soon
marble and salvage from Coriolis glow in the bright sunlight brought against the Federation by the Zenithian Coalition,
from the blue holo sky above. Alternatively, if the Dabaran however, proving that old prejudice dies hard.
Circle is lost and Kua closed, they instead go to the Algolan
metropolis of AYM, the mega-city formed by the three cities y THE DRACONITES
Akhandar-O-Sharif, Yasul and Merkate. Colonial governor The Draconites remain in the shadows, working toward
Abbaras Quam is removed, the Tanzim highlands are cleared some unknown goal through their hidden cells of warrior
of slavers and opor farmers and new terrace farms are founded monks, archivists and artifact tamers. Their bases remain
to feed coming generations in a massive new scheme for undiscovered in the more remote systems but rumors spread
Zenithian expansion. A new board of representatives from the that they have moved into Odacon and the ashes of Rusah
different clans is formed, chaired in tandem by the Yriedes to guard against future attempts by the agents of the enemy
and Abbaren-Quassar families. The Dawn Palace towers in to taint the system with their malice.
supreme splendor over the surrounding Akhander townships.
The founding families of the Syndicate, Birbasil and Nyala, LOST PEOPLES
are now considered traitors and their importance in Zenithian The losers of the war are the worlds chosen as theatres of
history is retconned out. The faction’s former members combat by the Old Horizons. Depending on how the PCs
become free traders, corsairs or smugglers, forbidden from ended the war, the situation for the systems below might
ever owning land or businesses again. vary radically.

y THE NEW LEGION y DABARAN

At the growing Aiwaz portal station and along the borders The desert home of the dars whose people and fleet were
to the Old Horizons, Legion patrols keep a strict vigil but enslaved by the Vestals is either lost forever (if Kua is closed)
are now painted with nomad clan patterns or covered in or has a long road to recovery ahead. There is talk about
Order glyphs. They are now the Third Horizon’s first line whether the surviving dars should pay reparations to the rest
of defence, funded by the Horizon Council and without any of the peoples of the Horizon. Previously wealthy oases and
ties to the other factions. The Legion is rebirthed as a truly desert towns are now partly destroyed or abandoned and the
Firstcome faction and their network of naval bases offer help surviving population are the young and the old, all scarred by
to the other factions with rebuilding their trade and military their ordeals. The survivors who evaded slavery instead carry
infrastructure – as long as they can pay, of course. Common the stigma of the mystic’s disease. The thing that saved them
people start referring to the New Legion as the junud-altair, from the Vestals’ siren song is what made them susceptible
the Merchant’s Guns, and there are soon rumors claiming to the lure of the Second Horizon Santulans. Fear that they
local groups within the faction have their own agendas: might one day fall back under the Symmetry’s control make
affiliated prospectors and colonists have been seen seeking them outcasts and many leave the planet to find a new life
fertile worlds out of sight of the other factions and brand among the stars with the Exile Fleet.
new ships with new family colors are sneaking back from
unknown errands in the asteroid belts beyond inhabited space. y SADAAL
The Sadaalian people adapted quickly to Santulan rule if that
y THE NOMAD FEDERATION was the outcome of your campaign as they are used to being
The families of Khorsabad and the Janhagir fleet command ruled with an iron fist. From Argonnas far beyond Menkib,
are the ones who lost the least in the war. The star seers the Second Horizon mystics divine the wills of the Icons
continue to operate the portal stations and the Quadrant of and act as the spiritual descendents of the Portal Builders,
the Pillar starts to grow in power. The swarms start acting demanding unwavering faith from their subjects. The Sadaal
as bulk hauler escort along the trade routes again and the Route becomes a growing religious hub and the new mystics
faction’s demands for representation in the Horizon Council flock to Errai to seek permission to train with the masters

1 88
 Epilogue

of the Circle of Seekers. A massive project to re-erect the

monolith in Menkar is begun in an effort to heal the Horizon YOUR HORIZON
of its dark wounds.
If the Sadaal Route didn’t fall in the hands of the Second Your Third Horizon will be heavily influenced by
Horizon, a new leader emerges: Bahman Char-Aremerat. the actions of the PCs throughout the campaign.
The tenth Icon, the once and future leader of the planet, has After the war, life returns to some kind of nor-
fallen and the population now rises from the ashes of the malcy and the short epilogue you’ve just read
old order to welcome a new day of cultural revitalization and can be used as a foundation for further scenari-
innovation. The Amesha Spenta are substituted for a council of os. For the PCs, normalcy probably means going
technocrats from Sadaalian civil society but remain the Icons back to a life of mercenary work, commerce or
incarnate in the opinions of most common people. The new secretive plotting: they may travel around and
order isn’t established without friction and a rebel alliance re-explore, make new factionary allies, stop
called the Eyes of Aremerat is formed, reportedly funded by attempts to sabotage the construction of New
the Amesha Spenta to reclaim their power. Coriolis, help civilians displaced by the war etc.
Will the Nazareem’s Sacrifice rise again, or will
NEW CORIOLIS the last of the Imperial fleets be hunted down?
The Zenithian efforts to salvage as much as possible from Are there butterfly ships still hiding in the shad-
the wreckage of Coriolis was hard but rewarding work. The ows, and how will the exiled Zenithians’ plans
station is rebuilt using the old blueprints to pay homage to for expansion affect the rest of the Horizon?
the glory of days gone by. If Kua wasn’t lost, the remains of
the original station are melted down and become the new
station’s skeleton and hull together with what’s left of the
Net. The rest of the needed materials are scavenged from
the wreckage belts left behind by the war. If Kua was lost,
however, most of the new station is built from wreckages or
from salvage kept in private Zenithian collections.
Eight long spokes – the Arms of the Icons – reach out
into space from the Ring, ready for bulk haulers and other
freighters too large for the space ports. FIRST HORIZON DOMINANCE
The new Core becomes a microcosm mirroring the rest of
the Horizon with a section for each of the different cultures: If the PCs failed in cutting off the fleets of the First
the Nomads get a neighborhood nearest to the outer hull and Horizon, they are most likely dead – but you can of
name it the Second Home; further in you reach the temples of course continue adventuring in a Third Horizon of
New Mira, the clutter of Little Algol just outside the Zenithian your own in which the Eternal Emperor was victorious
Arcade and finally the restored Mulukhad, the Little Horizon and the systems have fallen into chaos and lawless-
souks and the arts mecca of the Amphitheater. Encircling the ness. Universal moral is now dead, might makes
Core Plaza in the very middle lies the Zalosian Academy and right, slavery and dominance is not only legal but
hospital in Samaritan City and the Horizon Blocks with their encouraged and hedonism and exploration of the self
various institutes, news and media houses and archives. have become virtues – as long as they don’t threaten
Several floors of the Spire are constructed as parks or the agents or interests of the Emperor, of course.
cultivated for farming but maintain their status as a home
for the higher stratas. Not long after people start moving
in, however, the words of the Machine Icon begin appearing
in chalk and spray paint in back alleys and stevedore hubs.

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

y THE HORIZON COUNCIL THE EXILE FLEET

A new Council is convened even before the completion of During the first cycle after the end of the war, it becomes
New Coriolis in the Palace of the Martyrs in the Core. Two obvious that many people regardless of factionary ties are
candidates from each of the larger factions plus an observer unable to cope with the losses and changes they have expe-
from the Draconites form a Council of nine: rienced – either because they are stuck in old prejudices and
◆ The Church of the Icons (Mira) ways or because they soon see old hierarchies returning,
◆ The Order of the Pariah (Zalos) despite everything that has happened. The Third Horizon’s
◆ The Khorsabad Nomads and the Janhagir Fleet newfound hope is regarded as temporary and they believe
◆ The Zenithian Coalition (one Hegemonist and one neo-Zenithian) the old oppressors aren’t far away. The disillusioned are a
◆ The Draconites (Council speaker and observer) diverse group – mystics, exiled Zenithians, Syndicate members,
outcasts from Dabaran or Sadaal, Zalosians from war torn
y CALENDAR families or towns, humanites tired of living on a leash and
The completion of New Coriolis takes almost five years but even pilgrims who won’t bend the knee to the Church of the
after that, the Coriolis Cycle calendar isn’t re-instituted. After Icons – but they have a common dream and start for the
the war, people are reconnected with the importance of their distant Zhau-C star, more than 400 AU from the portals.
history and the older way of measuring time since the Portal The disparate fleet leave known space behind on a quest to
Wars is therefore kept. If Kua was lost, some (primarily Zenithian) rediscover lost civilizations and worlds and are never seen
populations will start referring to the new era as AK, “after Kua”. again in the Third Horizon…

1 90
 Appendix

SPACECRAFT
APPENDIX::

Below are stats for various new spacecraft you can use
during the Horizon Wars in addition to the lists found on
page 160 of the Coriolis core rulebook. An average crew will
have attribute and skill levels of 3. The fleets’ elite squad-
rons will have attribute and skill levels of 4. The stats in the
tables below include modifiers from Features.

y ORIGINS AND AESTHETICS Temple keeps its ships rounded and somewhat
◆ The Zenithians: The Consortium champions insectoid, often covered in floral motifs. The
function over form. Their steel gray research hulls are sometimes painted or adorned with
vessels and bulk haulers have hulls without orna- glittering scales.
mentation, instead covering their nakedness ◆ The Order of the Pariah: The base design
with sensor masts, exterior support beams and for the fleet of the Order of the Pariah is the
ceramic heat shields. The ships of the Foundation same round, insectoid shapes as Ahlam’s
are more advanced and therefore look the part Temple but the Order appears to build from
– white, streamlined vessels constructed from stone rather than metal. Spires and domes
new materials and modern, experimental tech. cover the larger ships, like ribs or swollen
The only soft shapes can be found in the fleet growths. Large glyphs are painted on the
of the Hegemony, its sleek hulls sporting lavish hulls in the frantic handwriting of a madman.
decorations and gold panels. The escort fighters are the only vessels in
◆ The Draconites: The exiled Zenithians another style – more modern and jagged
turned warrior monks have rediscovered in their shape, like winged, angular exos to
lost engineering from the days of the Portal refract and deflect sensor sweeps.
Wars. Their black ships with ceramic modules ◆ The Nomads: The battleships of the Janhagir
are covered in both glyphs in dead Third fleet are ancient shells covered in spiked blades
Horizon languages and the scrolling, floral and round shields, glowing with a greenish
patterns of the Firstcome. Curious modules luster. The rest of the fleet is a mix of converted
of unknown design and purpose hint at the clan ships and cannibalized warships from
faction’s discoveries far beyond mapped space past wars, their shapes jutting and multiform.
but in spite of this, the Draconites still keep Many different styles and eras meet in the
in their design the memory of Coriolis and nomad fleet, sometimes in the very same
the Zenith of old. vessel. The ships are often painted in glaring
◆ The Legion: With roots in the arms race colors that represent the clan or family living
around the Portal Wars, the mass produced aboard. Decorations like these, reminding of
warships of the Legion look a lot like bulk tropical fish, are of course regarded as vulgar
haulers. The dark dura beam ribs of the vessels and uncivilized by the Zenithians.
give them an austere look but recently, a ◆ Mira and Dabaran: The Miran design is the
more Zenithian look has made an entry into original style of Third Horizon shipbuilding,
the fleet and gold plated geometrical shields sleek and rounded shapes to remind of scarab
are becoming more common. beetles or mayflies but without garish adorn-
◆ Ahlam’s Temple: Drawing inspiration from ments. The Dabaran fleet looks much the
the original Firstcome settlers of Mira, the same, but in the dars’ quest for Hegemony

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

approval, they have started adding more gold panels to

their otherwise earthy color scheme.
◆ Ardha (the Vestals): White fishbone and seashell patterns
form flowing shapes that remind of the Hegemony. The NEW RULES: BREACH TORPEDOES

ships of the First Horizon are powered by the dark between

the stars itself, channeled through shimmering butterfly Breach torpedoes have Long range, damage 2, CRIT
wings or fins and scales covering the hull. Distorted light 3, Signature −1 and cost 7,500 birr. Instead of a con-
reflects off the ships like it would off mother of pearl. ventional warhead, they typically contain chemical
◆ The Second Horizon: The ships of the Symmetry are inspired agents or breach commandos in stasis ready to attack
by the animal kingdom and borrow their shapes from exotic the enemy craft from within. If the torpedo deals
aquatic life or colorful, intricately patterned beetles. The damage to its target, the contents activate. A torpe-
origins of the floral patterns and insectoid shapes of both do can contain up to eight fully equipped soldiers in
the Temple and Mira can be found here, as well as the stasis, up to sixteen smaller combat creatures such
vibrant colors of the nomad swarms. as nekatra in gel pods or a chemical or biological
payload. If the contents are living beings, the torpe-
y SHIP CLASSES do counts as Advanced tech. If fired on a planetary
◆ Class 0 (drones, probes, torpedoes): 1–3 meters target, only the sensor locking needs to succeed for
◆ Class I (fighters, breach torpedoes): 5–12 meters the contents to activate.
◆ Class II (shuttle, torpedo ship): 12–20 meters
◆ Class III (patrol ship, destroyer, warship): 35–150 meters
◆ Class IV (cruiser, heavy destroyer): 75–350 meters
◆ Class V (battleship, monastery cruiser, flagship): 800–1,400 meters

THE MYSTIC FLEET

The fleets under the Emissaries’ control are made up jump thanks to the meditating mystics onboard.
of two parts: ex-Legion battleships commandeered by Additionally, all crew positions count as having per-
the Judge Emissary in the Rimward Reach patrolling the formed preparatory prayer in a chapel, giving them a +2
Quiet Zone in Xene and various deserter crews from the to one prayer reroll per combat.)
other factionary fleets. The former Legion battleships ◆ MERCY OF THE ICONS(Feature: When the ship suffers a
are famous for their huge numbers of stormtroopers and critical hit, roll the dice twice and let the engineer on-
boarding parties ready to deploy via breach torpedoes. board choose the least harmful result.)
Use the battleships described below as well as ships from
the exiled Zenithian, Order and Nomad fleets to make up NEW FEATURES FOR THE EX-LEGION SHIPS:
the mystic fleet. Mutineer ships always have the Mystics ◆ ADVANCED BREACH TORPEDOES(Feature +10%: The
and Mercy of the Icons Features. Legion’s advanced boarding and landing torpedoes
are large enough to hold sixteen commandos or thirty
NEW FEATURES FOR THE MYSTIC FLEET: two combat creatures. See the Breach Torpedoes box.
◆ MYSTICS(Feature: +2 to COMMAND when determining Additionally, when they hit, the target may only roll half
Initiative and +2 to DATA DJINN when rolling to portal her Armor dice.)

1 92
 Appendix

SHAHRAZAD, FLAGSHIP (EX-LEGION)

DOCKYARDS: Nodash Dockyards, Odacon (pre-Portal Wars) MODULES: Docking station ×2, hangar ×3 (4 shuttles, 4 torpedo
(+4 weapon systems, EP +1) (retrofitted at Alhudu naval base, ships, 16 fighters), cabins (3×320 coffins for breach troops,
Kuan asteroid belt) (Armor +1, −1 module) 6×80 standard for crew, 1×20 suites for command), stasis hold
CLASS: V (length 1,400 meters) (5×320), escape pods (8×16, 128 people), chapel, medlab,
cargo hold (3×1,000 tons), mining station, service module,
EP: 8 workshop
HP: 15 WEAPONS: Meson cannon ×2, autocannon ×2, countermeasure
MANEUVERABILITY: −2 dispenser, torpedo room ×12 (36 breach torpedoes with sol-
diers or nekatra, 8 plasma torpedoes, 8 nuclear mines)
SIGNATURE: +3
FEATURES: Robust hull ×3 (HP +3), Arboretum, Advanced
ARMOR: 10
Countermeasures (RANGED COMBAT +1), Advanced Torpedoes (−1
SPEED: 1 to countermeasures and defensive barrage), Bonus Modules ×2 (10
modules), Advanced Breach Torpedoes, Mystics, Mercy of the Icons

ADULAAZA & SHAHERESH, TYPICAL BATTLESHIP (EX-LEGION)

DOCKYARDS: Thalus naval base, the Rimward Reach (Armor +4 MODULES: Docking station ×4, hangar ×2 (4 torpedo ships, 16
vs ion weapons) fighters), cabins (1×320 coffins for breach troops, 4×80 stan-
CLASS: V (length 1,000 meters) dard for crew), stasis hold (2×320), escape pods (8×16, 128
people), chapel, medlab, cargo hold (2×1,000 tons), service
EP: 7
module, salvage module, workshop ×2
HP: 14
WEAPONS: Meson cannon, autocannon ×3, countermeasure
MANEUVERABILITY: −2 dispenser, data pulse, data meme, torpedo room ×5 (8 breach
SIGNATURE: +3 torpedoes with soldiers or nekatra, 8 plasma torpedoes, 4 ion
torpedoes)
ARMOR: 9 (13 vs ion weapons)
FEATURES: ED Fields (bridge and standard cabins), Super
SPEED: 1 Sensors, Robust Hull ×2 (HP +2), Arboretum, Advanced Breach
Torpedoes, Mystics, Mercy of the Icons

THE NADIR FLOTILLA

The Nadir Flotilla is dominated by the heavy Eshim class than their siblings among the other factionary fleets of
destroyers and supporting squadrons of Dysil class torpe- the cluster. Their bone-white hulls with golden ablative
do ships. The Ilyo class fighters protecting the fleet from armor shields are covered in glyphs praising the origins of
torpedo strikes are among the fastest ships in the whole the Zenith. The Orizo-Jhadid flagship looks like the rest of
Third Horizon. The battleships are smaller and more sleek the battleships except for being completely golden.

ORIZO-JHADID, TYPICAL BATTLESHIP

DOCKYARDS: Daharab, Bahram (Class number of extra weapon MODULES: Docking station ×4, hangar ×4 (2×4 torpedo ships,
modules) 2×16 fighters), cabins (2×20 suites, 1×320 coffins), cargo hold
CLASS: V (length 950 meters) (3×1,000 tons), escape pods (32 pods, 160 people), medlab,
chapel, service module ×2, workshop, stasis hold (2×320 beds)
EP: 7
WEAPONS: Torpedo room (4×4 nuclear torpedoes, 2×8 ion
HP: 14 torpedoes), heavy acc cannon ×2, light acc cannon ×3, counter-
MANEUVERABILITY: −1 measure dispenser ×2
SIGNATURE: +3 FEATURES: Ablative Armor ×3 (−3 damage to three hits), Turbo
Projector (Maneuverability +1, Speed +1), Robust Hull ×2 (HP +2)
ARMOR: 9
SPEED: 2

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

ESHIM CLASS HEAVY DESTROYER

DOCKYARDS: Daharab, Bahram (Class number of extra weapon MODULES: Docking station, hangar ×2 (2×8 fighters), cargo
modules) hold (250 tons), cabins (1×80 coffins), stasis hold (2×80 beds),
CLASS: IV (length 250 meters) escape pods (4 pods, 20 people), medlab, service module,
workshop
EP: 6
WEAPONS: Acc cannon ×2, heavy acc cannon ×2, torpedo
HP: 9 room (2×4 ion torpedoes), autocannon ×2, countermeasure
MANEUVERABILITY: 0 dispenser
SIGNATURE: +2 FEATURES: Ablative Armor ×2 (−3 damage to two hits), Heavy
Armor ×2 (Armor +2), Turbo Projector (Maneuverability +1,
ARMOR: 9
Speed +1)
SPEED: 2

DYSIL CLASS TORPEDO SHIP

DOCKYARDS: Daharab, Bahram (Class number of extra weapon ARMOR: 5

modules)
SPEED: 4
CLASS: II (length 20 meters)
MODULES: Cabins (1×5 coffins), escape pods (1 pod, 5 people)
EP: 4
WEAPONS: Torpedo room (2×4 plasma torpedoes), ion missile,
HP: 4 autocannon
MANEUVERABILITY: +1 FEATURES: Advanced Weapon System ×2 (RANGED COMBAT +1,
SIGNATURE: −1 ion missile and autocannon)

ILYO CLASS FIGHTER

DOCKYARDS: Daharab, Bahram (Class number of extra weapon SIGNATURE: −2

modules)
ARMOR: 3
CLASS: I (length 8 meters)
SPEED: 6
EP: 3
WEAPONS: Data meme, light acc cannon, countermeasure dispenser
HP: 2
FEATURES: Ship System: Gunner and sensor operator (Attribute
MANEUVERABILITY: +4 3, Skill 3), Turbo Projector ×2 (Maneuverability +2, Speed +2),
Ejector

1 94
 Appendix

THE FIRST HORIZON

IMPERIAL CRUISER, BATTLESHIP

The shell armor of the enormous Imperial cruisers DOCKYARDS: Almushtari dockyards, Ardha (Portal field propul-
sion, Speed +2 and Signature −3)
shifts like oil as the ships flicker through the empti-
CLASS: V (length 1,100 meters)
ness, traveling through flash tears into portal space.
EP: 7
The rest of the First Horizon’s invasion fleet is made
HP: 15
up of smaller, insect-like ships that well from inside
the cruisers to swarm around them in the darkness. MANEUVERABILITY: −2

The hard, angular shells of the termite destroyers are SIGNATURE: −1

covered in spiky torpedo muzzles, the butterfly ships ARMOR: 12

glitter in the night and countless solar drones sur- SPEED: 3

round them as tiny dots of pulsing light. The remaining MODULES: Hangar (8× gunships/butterfly ships, 5×16 solar
drones), docking station ×2, meditation chamber (2×80 com-
Nazareem cultists accompany the fleet in civilian
bined cabins and stasis beds), chapel ×2, cargo hold (4×1,000
ships armed with hidden weapons. tons), medlab ×2, workshop ×2, service module ×2
WEAPONS: Torpedo room (4×4 fractal torpedoes), countermea-
NEW FIRST HORIZON SHIP TECH: sure dispenser, meson cannon ×2, heavy meson cannon ×2,
◆ PORTAL FIELD PROPULSION(Docks: The ship uses tiny data meme

tears into portal space for traveling which gives it FEATURES: Stealth Technology (Signature −1), Ablative Armor
×3 (−3 damage to three hits), Heavy Armor ×3 (Armor +3),
a +2 to Speed and a −3 to Signature. Only for ships
Robust Hull ×3 (HP +3)
built on Ardha.)
◆ SENSOR DEFLECTORS(Docks: Advanced stealth tech,
Signature −2. Only for ships built in Ainios.)
◆ NANITE ARMOR(Docks: Strong nano filament armor
capable of restructuring itself and opening up portal
TERMITE DESTROYER, GUNSHIP
space tears to rip apart incoming projectiles. Only for
ships built in Karrash.) DOCKYARDS: Wala dockyards, Karrash (Nanite armor, HP +3, EP −1)
◆ MEDITATION CHAMBER(Module: Meditation cabins CLASS: III (length 60 meters)

that double as stasis holds. Equivalent of standard EP: 4

cabins in terms of size and number of beds per HP: 9
module.) MANEUVERABILITY: +2
◆ DARKNESS PROPULSION(Feature +10%: A manner of SIGNATURE: −1
propulsion based on ancient solar sail technology ARMOR: 5
drawing power from the dark between the stars. SPEED: 3
Maneuverability +2, Speed +1.) MODULES: Hangar (1 solar drone), docking station, meditation
◆ HIDDEN WEAPONS(Feature +5%: The Nazareem chamber (4×5 combined cabins and stasis beds), mining sta-
ships are constructed to look like civilian craft. Only tion, cargo hold (2×50 tons)

a critically successful sensor roll can reveal their WEAPONS: Torpedo room (2×4 fractal torpedoes, 1×8 fractal
torpedo mines, 1×4 breach torpedoes (five soldiers in each),
hidden armaments.) meson cannon, data pulse
◆ FRACTAL TORPEDOES(Weapon system: Bonus +2,
FEATURES: Stealth Technology (Signature −1), Sensitive
Range: Extreme, Damage: 4 HP and 2 EP, CRIT: 1, Sensors ×3 (DATA DJINN +3), Darkness Propulsion
Signature: −4. See The Last Cyclade, page 39.) (Maneuverability +2, Speed +1), Ablative Armor (−3 damage to
one hit), Bonus Modules
◆ HEAVY MESON CANNON(Weapon system: Equivalent
to regular meson cannons but with Medium range.)

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WAKE OF THE ICONS

BUTTERFLY SHIP, COURIER SHIP

DOCKYARDS: Rosh dockyards, Ainios (Sensor deflectors equiv- SPEED: 5

alent to the Stealth Technology Feature ×2)
MODULES: Cargo hold (50 tons), docking station, chapel, medi-
CLASS: III (length 40 meters) tation chamber (6 combined cabins and stasis beds)
EP: 5 WEAPONS: Torpedo room (2×4 fractal torpedoes), meson
HP: 6 cannon (no Armor roll), countermeasure dispenser

MANEUVERABILITY: +4 FEATURES: Super Sensors (8 CU), Advanced Countermeasures,

Turbo Projectorer ×2 (Maneuverability +2, Speed +2), Darkness
SIGNATURE: −2 Propulsion (Maneuverability +2, Speed +1)
ARMOR: 5

SUN DRONE, INTERCEPTOR

DOCKYARDS: Rosh dockyards, Ainios (Sensor deflectors equiv- SPEED: 7

alent to the Stealth Technology Feature ×2)
WEAPONS: Meson cannon, data pulse, countermeasure
CLASS: I (length 6 meters) dispenser
EP: 4 FEATURES: Advanced Ship Intelligence (Attribute 3, Skill 3,
HP: 2 no organic crew needed), Supercharged Reactor (EP +1),
Darkness Propulsion (Maneuverability +2, Speed +1), Turbo
MANEUVERABILITY: +6 Projector ×2 (Maneuverability +2, Speed +2),
SIGNATURE: −2
ARMOR: 3

AB-MUSALAI, TYPICAL COURIER SHIP (NAZAREEM)

DOCKYARDS: Sahá dockyards, Zhau-B (RANGED COMBAT +2 when SPEED: 2

firing data meme)
MODULES 10: Docking station, cabins (1×5 standard), chapel,
CLASS: III (length 51 meters) cargo hold (2×50 tons), escape pods (2 pods, 10 people), stasis
EP: 5 hold (1×20 beds), workshop, medlab

HP: 6 WEAPONS: Data meme, acc cannon, thermal cannon, counter-

measure dispenser
MANEUVERABILITY: 0
FEATURES: Hidden Weapons ×3 (invisible module, can only be
SIGNATURE: 0 detected on a critically successful sensor roll), Atmospheric
ARMOR: 5 Entry, Bonus Modules, Research Computer, Blessed Ship

ALEA-QURAB, TYPICAL SHUTTLE (NAZAREEM)

DOCKYARDS: The abandoned Rashanda naval base, Melik SPEED: 4

(Maneuverability +2, Armor −2)
MODULES 6: Cabins (5 coffins), chapel, escape pods (1 pod, 5
CLASS: II (length 18 meters) people), stasis hold (5 beds)
EP: 4 WEAPONS: Auto cannon, heavy acc cannon
HP: 4 FEATURES: Hidden Weapons ×2 (invisible module, can only be
MANEUVERABILITY: +3 detected on a critically successful sensor roll), Atmospheric
Entry, Precise Thrusters (PILOT +2 when docking, landing and
SIGNATURE: −1 taking evasive maneuvers)
ARMOR: 2

1 96
 Appendix

THE ZENITHIAN FLEET IN EXILE

The black and gold ships of the disbanded Legion have ◆ WEAR(Many of the ships were permanently damaged by
joined forces with the remains of the Hegemony’s sleek the Monolith’s discharge or have been in active service
fleet. The flagship Asarita – impossible to outmaneuver for far too long because of the decimation of the fleet.
and crewed by three hundred top-trained veterans – leads Make an extra roll on the Ship Wear table to account for
the defense of the new home world, Amedo, together with this (Coriolis core rulebook, page 155))
the rest of the squadrons that survived the Fall of Coriolis.

JHADERA CLASS DESTROYER (EX-LEGION)

MODERN VERSION OF THE ZAFIRAH-CLASS DESTROYER. ARMOR: 7
DOCKYARDS: Sarinda naval base, Anaspora SPEED: 1
(MANEUVERABILITY +1, EP −1) MODULES: Hangar ×2 (1 shuttle, 4 fighters), medlab, workshop,
CLASS: IV (length 300 meters) cabins (2×20 standard), cargo hold, service module, stasis
hold (80 beds), escape pods (2×4 pods, 40 people)
WEAR: One roll on the Ship Wear table
WEAPONS: Acc cannon ×2, meson cannon, torpedo room ×2 (2
EP: 5
nuclear torpedoes, 2 ion torpedoes, 4 plasma torpedoes), data
HP: 10 pulse, countermeasure dispenser
MANEUVERABILITY: 0 FEATURES: Advanced Targeting Computer (DATA DJINN +1 when
SIGNATURE: +2 locking onto targets), Robust Hull (HP +1), ED Fields ×3 (stasis
hold, bridge, cabins)

ASARITA, FLAGSHIP (THE ZENITHIAN HEGEMONY)

DOCKYARDS: Harima dockyards, Kua (EP +1, HP −1) MODULES 40: Docking station ×2, hangar ×9 (4 gunships, 4
CLASS: V (length 1,000 meters) shuttles, 64 fighters), cabins (1×320 coffins for soldiers 4×80
standard for crew), stasis hold (2×320), escape pods (8×16
EP: 8 pods, 128 people), chapel, medlab, cargo hold (2×1,000 tons),
HP: 14 service module, workshop
MANEUVERABILITY: 0 WEAPONS: Nestera Mangler ×2, autocannon ×2, countermea-
sure dispenser, data pulse, torpedo room ×2 (16 nuclear mines)
SIGNATURE: +3
FEATURES: Ablative Armor ×3 (−3 damage to three hits),
ARMOR: 9
Advanced Targeting Computer (DATA DJINN +1 when locking
SPEED: 3 onto targets), Robust Hull ×3 (HP +3), Turbo Projector ×2
(Maneuverability +2, Speed +2)

JINA AN CLASS TORPEDO SHIP (EX-LEGION)

DOCKYARDS: Alhudu naval base, Kuan asteroid belt (Armor +1, ARMOR: 5
−1 module)
SPEED: 4
CLASS: II (length 68 meters)
MODULES: Escape pod (1 pod), stasis hold (4 beds)
WEAR: One roll on the Ship Wear table
WEAPONS: Advanced torpedo room (4 torpedoes), torpedo
EP: 4 room (8 ion torpedo mines), countermeasure dispenser
HP: 4 FEATURES: Ship System (sensor operator, Attribute 3, Skill 3)
MANEUVERABILITY: +1 Advanced Countermeasures (RANGED COMBAT +1), Advanced
Torpedoes (−1 to countermeasures and defensive barrage)
SIGNATURE: −1

197
WAKE OF THE ICONS

MATAH CLASS FIGHTER (EX-LEGION)

DOCKYARDS: Alhudu naval base, Kuan asteroid belt

THE FLEET OF THE ORDER OF THE PARIAH
(Armor +1, −1 module)
CLASS: I (length 11 meters)
The backbone of the fleets of the Order are the enormous monastery
EP: 3
cruisers who led the exodus out of the Second Horizon to Zalos and
HP: 2 the Crown of the Martyr. The original fleet suffered heavy losses
MANEUVERABILITY: +3 during the Portal Wars but two of the legendary flagships still live:
SIGNATURE: −2 The Hammer of the Martyr, Shakoush-M’hatoun, and the Fire of
ARMOR: 4 Amshaar, the Naar-Amshaar. The other monastery cruisers, includ-
SPEED: 5 ing the famous scroll ship Belit-Sheri, were built shortly before or
MODULES: Acc cannon, data pulse during the Portal Wars to strengthen the Martyr’s devotees against
FEATURES: Ejector, Tuned Accelerator (PILOT +2 the assault of darkness. The cruiser crews number between eight
to the advance/retreat action), Turbo Projector and twelve hundred souls including ground and breach troops, many
(Maneuverability +1, Speed +1)
of whom live out their entire adult lives onboard the ships in service
of the Martyr. More modern additions to the fleet include the Rumh
THE GOSHAWK, SIN-TASHAD CLASS GUNSHIP and Altihl class destroyers – dark, decorated and heavily armored
(THE ZENITHIAN HEGEMONY) with terrifying torpedo lances – and the smaller, more mobile,

DOCKYARDS: Harima dockyards, Kua (EP +1, HP −1) Alnakhi patrol ships and insect-like Nasia class fighters.

CLASS: III (length 36 meters)

NEW SECOND HORIZON SHIP TECH:
WEAR: One roll on the Ship Wear table
◆ FRACTAL HULL(Docks: The original tech on which the Order’s
EP: 4
glyph armor is based. Adaptive alloys in the hull strengthen areas
HP: 1
about to be hit and form sensor absorbing surfaces. Signature
MANEUVERABILITY: +4
−2, HP +2. Only for ships built in Aldaan-B. Can be combined with
SIGNATURE: −2
Glyph Armor.)
ARMOR: 3
SPEED: 6
ORDER OF THE PARIAH SHIP TECH:
MODULES: Heavy acc cannon, autocannon, data pulse
◆ GLYPH ARMOR(Feature +15%: Only for ship classes III-V.
FEATURES: Atmospheric Entry, Turbo Projector ×2
Painted fractal hull covered in Martyr praise that saps the
(Maneuverability +2, Speed +2), Precise Thrusters
(PILOT +2 on evasive maneuvers) kinetic energy from incoming fire as well as providing a +1
to Armor. Negates all damage from one ranged attack of
your choice after normal Armor rolls. One use per combat.
THE JUNGLE SWIFT, AIB-ASWAD CLASS FIGHTER
Generates 3 DP for a negated torpedo strike, 2 DP for other at-
(THE ZENITHIAN HEGEMONY)
tacks. Only for ships built or retrofitted in Zalos.)
DOCKYARDS: Harima dockyards, Kua (EP +1, HP −1) ◆ S PROPULSION(Feature +5%: Only for ship classes I-III, requires
CLASS: I (length 9 meters) Antimatter Rockets. Creates tiny quantum singularities to
EP: 4 propel the ship forward. At the cost of 1 DP, the pilot may per-
HP: 1 form a free two segment move on the battle map once per turn
MANEUVERABILITY: +4 (no PILOT roll, no EP cost). Only for ships built in Zalos.)
SIGNATURE: −2
◆ OSSUARY (Feature +5%: Ships in classes III-V may have ossuar-

ARMOR: 3 ies instead of chapels onboard. Dead crew members are interred

SPEED: 6
in the bone chambers. Deep, powerful preparatory prayer in
the name of the Martyr grants a +3 to all Judge rerolls (RANGED
MODULES: Heavy acc cannon, autocannon, data pulse
COMBAT and COMMAND), +2 to prayer rerolls for one other Icon
FEATURES: Atmospheric Entry, Turbo Projector ×2
(Maneuverability +2, Speed +2), Precise Thrusters and +1 to all other prayer rerolls for the entire crew.)
(PILOT +2 on evasive maneuvers)

1 98
 Appendix

SHAKUSH-M’HATOUN & NAAR-AMSHAAR, FLAGSHIPS

DOCKYARDS: Sachara docks, Aldaan-B (retrofitted at MODULES: Docking station ×2, hangar ×5 (1 destroyer, 2 patrol
Karrmerruk, Zalos) (Fractal Hull, Signature −2 and HP +2, plus ships carrying 4 fighters each, 32 fighters), cabins (2×320
the Antimatter Rockets Feature) coffins for ground troops, 7×80 standard for crew, 1×20 suites
CLASS: V (length 1,800 meters) for command), stasis hold (4×320), escape pods (4×16 pods,
64 people), chapel ×4, medlab ×2, cargo hold (4×1,000 tons),
EP: 7 mining station, service module, workshop ×2
HP: 17 WEAPONS: Heavy acc cannon ×2, autocannon ×2, thermal cannon,
MANEUVERABILITY: 0 torpedo room ×4 (8 antimatter torpedoes, 4 plasma torpedoes, 4
breach torpedoes for boarding), countermeasure dispenser
SIGNATURE: +1
FEATURES: Antimatter Rockets (Maneuverability +2), Glyph
ARMOR: 10
Armor, Robust Hull ×3 (HP +3), Arboretum, Advanced
SPEED: 1 Countermeasures (RANGED COMBAT +1), Bonus Modules ×2 (10
modules), Ossuary ×4

NABI-GHADIB, TYPICAL MONASTERY CRUISER

DOCKYARDS: Karrmerruk, Zalos (Feature: Antimatter Rockets) MODULES: Docking station, hangar ×3 (1 patrol ship carrying 4
CLASS: V (length 1,100 meters) fighters, 32 fighters), cabins (1×320 coffins for ground troops,
6×80 standard for crew, 1×20 suites for command), stasis hold
EP: 7 (3×320), escape pods (8×16 pods, 128 people), chapel ×2,
HP: 14 medlab, cargo hold (2×1,000 tons), service module, workshop
MANEUVERABILITY: 0 WEAPONS: Acc cannon, autocannon, thermal cannon, torpedo
room ×3 (4 plasma torpedoes, 4 standard torpedoes, 4 breach
SIGNATURE: +3
torpedoes for boarding), countermeasure dispenser, data
ARMOR: 10 pulse
SPEED: 1 FEATURES: Antimatter Rockets (Maneuverability +2), Glyph Armor,
Robust Hull ×2 (HP +2), Arboretum, Salvage Unit, Ossuary ×2

RUMH CLASS HEAVY DESTROYER

DOCKYARDS: Karrmerruk, Zalos (Feature: Antimatter Rockets) MODULES: Docking station, hangar ×2 (16 fighters), cabins
CLASS: IV (length 250 meters) (1×80 coffins, 1×20 standard), stasis hold (1×80), escape pods
(4×4 pods,16 people), chapel, medlab, cargo holds (1×250 tons
EP: 6 internal, 1×1,000 tons external), service module, workshop
HP: 11 WEAPONS: Acc cannon ×2, autocannon, torpedo room ×4 (8
MANEUVERABILITY: +1 standard torpedoes, 4 plasma torpedoes, 4 breach torpedoes
for boarding), countermeasure dispenser
SIGNATURE: +2
FEATURES: Antimatter Rockets (Maneuverability +2), Glyph
ARMOR: 8
Armor, Atmospheric Entry, Robust Hull ×2 (HP +2), Advanced
SPEED: 1 Torpedoes (−1 to countermeasures and defensive barrage),
External Cargo, Ossuary, Bonus Modules (5 modules)

ALTIHL CLASS DESTROYER

DOCKYARDS: Karrmerruk, Zalos (Feature: Antimatter Rockets) SPEED: 2

CLASS: III (length 120 meters) MODULES: Cabins (1×20 coffins), cargo hold (1×50 ton), chapel,
EP: 5 medlab, stasis hold (1×20)

HP: 6 WEAPONS: Acc cannon, ion cannon, torpedo room ×3 (8 ion tor-
pedoes, 4 plasma torpedoes), countermeasure dispenser
MANEUVERABILITY: +2
FEATURES: Antimatter Rockets (Maneuverability +2), S
SIGNATURE: −1 Propulsion, Glyph Armor, Atmospheric Entry, Ejector, Stealth
ARMOR: 6 Technology (Signature −1), Super Sensors (Extreme range)

199
WAKE OF THE ICONS

ALNAKHI CLASS PATROL SHIP NASIA CLASS FIGHTER

DOCKYARDS: Karrmerruk, Zalos DOCKYARDS: Karrmerruk, Zalos

CLASS: III (length 68 meters) CLASS: I (length 11 meters)
EP: 5 EP: 3
HP: 7 HP: 2
MANEUVERABILITY: +2 MANEUVERABILITY: +4
SIGNATURE: 0 SIGNATURE: −2
ARMOR: 6 ARMOR: 3

SPEED: 2 SPEED: 4

MODULES: Docking station, cabins (1×20 coffins), chapel, WEAPONS: Acc cannon, data pulse
escape pods (2 pods, 10 people), stasis hold (1×20), hangar ×4 FEATURES: Ejector, Antimatter Rockets (Maneuverability +2),
(4 fighters), service module Atmospheric Entry, Sensitive Sensors (DATA DJINN +1)
WEAPONS: Ion cannon
FEATURES: Antimatter Rockets (Maneuverability +2), Robust
Hull (HP +1), Sensitive Sensors (DATA DJINN +1)

THE THIRD HORIZON AND THE NOMAD FLEET

The home of the Mogul clans, the gigantic flagship Vaharwala, built in Aldaan-B which for the Nomad Federation
led the nomad swarms into the Third Horizon together with means only the class V battleships.)
her younger siblings Bhartena, Ghôl-Sarbh and Magratûrk. ◆ FAMILY SHIP(Feature +10%: Nomad engineers and dock
Council ships, armed family ships, converted destroyers, workers are skilled at turning cramped ships into homes for
freighters and shuttles make up the multicolored frenzy sur- large families. Calculate the capacity of the cabins, escape
rounding the black, glyph-covered hulls of the majestic bat- pod and stasis hold modules as if they were one ship class
tleships like huge schools of tropical fish around a coral reef. higher. These three module types also count as being pro-
The nomad fleet is larger than the rest of the Third Horizon’s tected by ED Fields. Classes I–IV simply fit more people as
fleets combined but mainly consists of class IIIs and a couple per one entry higher on the tables and for class Vs, double
of class IVs. Many of the ships listed below can be used as the numbers listed. The ship gets a +1 to its Signature stat as
generic military, civilian and corsair vessels throughout the the peculiar alterations made to the base design make them
Horizon if you take away the nomad-specific Features. easier to spot.
◆ SUPERCHARGED REACTOR(Feature +15%: Centuries of
NOMAD FLEET SHIP TECH AND FEATURES: expertise passed down through the generations have
◆ STAR SEERS(Feature: Ship classes III–V usually have made nomad reactors and energy distribution systems
at least one Kahin onboard, a mystic trained by the veritable works of art. Each tier of the Feature gives
Federation to interpret the streams between the portal the ship 2 extra EP. Class I ships may not purchase this
fields. These crew members grant a +2 to DATA DJINN when Feature, classes II and III may purchase it once and
calculating jump vectors and the Feature may be chosen classes IV and V may get it twice.)
up to (Class−2) times. This means a class V ship may have
three tiers of the Star Seers Feature, for example.) Many nomad ships will have the Ship System Feature for
◆ FRACTAL HULL(Docks: Adaptive alloys in the hull the pilot, sensor operator and gunner positions so the ship
strengthen areas about to be hit and form sensor ab- can defend itself as it emerges from a portal, before the
sorbing surfaces. Signature −2, HP +2. Only for ships crew are fully thawed out.

2 00
 Appendix

VAHARWALA, FLAGSHIP

DOCKYARDS: Sachara docks, Aldaan-B (retrofitted in the MODULES: Docking station ×2, hangar ×6 (2 light destroyers,
Quadrant of the Pillar) (Fractal Hull, Signature −2 and HP +2) 4 freighters), cabins (3×160 standard, 3×40 suites for elder
CLASS: V (length 1,600 meters) council families), escape pods (6×16 pods, 960 people), stasis
hold (2×640), cargo hold (5×1,000 tons), service module,
EP: 11 workshop, medlab ×2, chapel ×2
HP: 17 WEAPONS: Ion missile, heavy acc cannon ×2, ion cannon ×3,
MANEUVERABILITY: −2 autocannon ×2, data pulse ×2, countermeasure dispenser ×2,
torpedo room ×5 (8 ion torpedoes, 4, standard torpedoes, 8
SIGNATURE: +2
breach torpedoes with soldiers)
ARMOR: 9
FEATURES: Fractal Hull, Star Seers ×3 (DATA DJINN +6 on portal
SPEED: 1 jumps), Robust Hull ×3 (HP +3), Family Ship, Supercharged
Reactor ×2 (EP +4), Ablative Armor ×3 (−3 damage to three hits),
Ship System (Pilot, Gunner and Sensor Operator, Attribute 3,
Skill 3), Arboretum, Bonus Modules ×2 (10 modules)

BHARTENA, GHÔL-SARBH & MAGRATÛRK, BATTLESHIPS

DOCKYARDS: Sachara docks, Aldaan-B (retrofitted in the MODULES: Docking station ×4, hangar ×2 (2 corsair ships),
Quadrant of the Pillar) cabins (2×160 standard, 2×40 suites for elder council families),
(Fractal Hull, Signature −2 and HP +2) escape pods (5×16 pods, 800 people), stasis hold (1×640),
CLASS: V (length 900 meters) cargo hold (2×1,000 tons internal, 2×4,000 tons external),
mining station, service module, medlab ×2, chapel ×2, work-
EP: 9 shop, salvage module ×2
HP: 14 WEAPONS: Acc cannon ×2, autocannon ×2, data pulse, counter-
MANEUVERABILITY: −2 measure dispenser, torpedo room ×5 (8 ion torpedoes, 4 stan-
dard torpedoes, 16 mines)
SIGNATURE: +2
FEATURES: Fractal Hull, Star Seers ×2 (DATA DJINN +4 on portal
ARMOR: 9
jumps), Family Ship, Supercharged Reactor (EP +2), Salvage
SPEED: 1 Unit, External Cargo, Ship System (Pilot and Sensor Operator,
Attribute 3, Skill 3)

TYPICAL COUNCIL SHIP

DOCKYARDS: Unknown MODULES: Docking station, hangar ×2 (2 freighters), cabins

CLASS: IV (length 350 meters) (3×80 standard, 4×20 suites for elder council families), escape
pods (4×16 pods, 320 people), stasis hold (2×160), cargo hold
EP: 6 (1,000 tons), workshop, medlab, chapel
HP: 11 WEAPONS: Light acc cannon, autocannon, countermeasure dis-
MANEUVERABILITY: −1 penser, data meme, data pulse
SIGNATURE: +3 FEATURES: Family Ship, Star Seers ×2 (DATA DJINN +4 on portal
jumps), Trauma Lab (MEDICURGY +4, CRIT +5), Robust Hull ×2
ARMOR: 7
(HP +2), Bonus Modules (5 modules)
SPEED: 1

TYPICAL FAMILY SHIP

DOCKYARDS: Unknown SPEED: 1

CLASS: IV (length 200 meters) MODULES: Docking station ×2, hangar ×2 (2 shuttles), cabins (1×80
EP: 8 standard, 2×20 suites), escape pods (2×16 pods, 160 people),
stasis hold (1×160), cargo hold (1×1,000 tons internal, 1×4,000
HP: 9 tons external), workshop, medlab, chapel, service module
MANEUVERABILITY: −1 WEAPONS: Autocannon ×2, countermeasure dispenser, data meme
SIGNATURE: +3 FEATURES: Family Ship, Supercharged Reactor (EP +2), External
ARMOR: 7 Cargo

201
WAKE OF THE ICONS

TYPICAL LIGHT DESTROYER TYPICAL FREIGHTER/CORSAIR

DOCKYARDS: Unknown DOCKYARDS: Unknown

CLASS: III (length 110 meters) CLASS: III (length 40 meters)
EP: 7 EP: 7
HP: 7 HP: 6
MANEUVERABILITY: 0 MANEUVERABILITY: +1
SIGNATURE: +1 SIGNATURE: 0
ARMOR: 5 ARMOR: 5
SPEED: 2 SPEED: 3
MODULES: Docking station, cabins (1×80 coffins for cattle MODULES: Docking station, cabins (1×20 coffins), escape pods
or passengers, 1×20 standard for crew), escape pods (1×4 (2×2 pods, 20 people), stasis hold (1×20), medlab, chapel,
pods, 20 people), stasis hold (1×80), medlab, chapel, service workshop, cargo hold (1×50 tons internal, 1×200 tons exter-
module, cargo hold (2×50 tons) nal), smuggler’s stash (10 tons)
WEAPONS: Light acc cannon, heavy acc cannon, torpedo room WEAPONS: Acc cannon, autocannon, countermeasure dis-
×2 (4 standard torpedoes, 8 mines), countermeasure dispenser penser/ion missiles (depending on if primarily freighter or
FEATURES: Family Ship, Supercharged Reactor (EP +2),
corsair)
Robust Hull (HP +1), Super Sensors (Extreme range), Tuned FEATURES: Supercharged Reactor (EP +2), External Cargo,
Accelerator (PILOT +2 on the advance/retreat action), Ship Tuned Accelerator (PILOT +2 on the advance/retreat action),
System (Pilot, Attribute 3, Skill 3), Atmospheric Entry Turbo Projector (Maneuverability +1, Speed +1), Atmospheric
Entry

2 02
 METAGAME SHEET

FLEET: FLEET:

REINFORCE- REINFORCE-
WAR TURN SYSTEM STRENGTH MENTS WAR TURN SYSTEM STRENGTH MENTS

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

6 6

7 7

8 8

FLEET: FLEET:

REINFORCE- REINFORCE-
WAR TURN SYSTEM STRENGTH MENTS WAR TURN SYSTEM STRENGTH MENTS

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

6 6

7 7

8 8

FLEET: FLEET:

REINFORCE- REINFORCE-
WAR TURN SYSTEM STRENGTH MENTS WAR TURN SYSTEM STRENGTH MENTS

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

6 6

7 7

8 8
 TA R A Z U G
DZIBAN

UN S TA B L E
P OR TA L

GHODAR ZIB
THE M
CH

THE SADA AL
ROUTE
ERR A I
D AY B U L MIR A

ZALO
SADA AL

A I WA Z
MENK AR NAGAR

HAMUR A

DANGEROUS ARE A

TA O A N

FIRST
HOR IZON
CLOSED SYSTEMS

UHARU

ZUHAL

DABAR
 ODACON

DANGEROUS ARE A

ZHAU

MIR A N
A IN

S I VA S

ORDANA
THE QUADR ANT OF
THE PILL A R
OS

A LTA I

KUA AWADHI

UN S TA BL E
P OR TA L
NHARMADA
Z AMUSA

ALGOL UN S TA B L E
P OR TA L
CAPH

THE ALGOL ROUTE

MARFIK UN S TA B L E
P OR TA L
EREQU

ANASPOR A
YA S TA P O L

AMEDO
EANU
HE DA BA R A N CIRCLE

UN S TA B L E
P OR TA L

ALGEBAR

R IGEL
MEL IK
AN
Nightmares and premonitions wake you in a cold sweat, panic
tightening your chest. “It began with rolling fields and an invitation.
An outstretched hand – whose hand? Then a starry sky and the
emptiness of space. You couldn’t breathe, your heart racing as you
recognized a planet – the emerald – Kua, waiting for you. Glittering
wings in the darkness surrounding you. Hundreds of butterflies
followed by enormous shell-covered titans. A locust swarm coming to
devour the Third Horizon.”

In dreams and visions, something calls out into the dark space of
the Third Horizon – a new presence or something old? It may hold
the answers for the future – about a prophecy, the Chosen and the
coming Horizon Wars.

The Wake of the Icons is the third and final part of Mercy of the Icons,
Icons,
the epic and richly illustrated campaign for Coriolis – The Third Horizon.
Horizon.
This book contains:

◆ Extensive background infor- ◆ The Horizon Wars: In the

mation for the Gamemaster, final climactic scenario war
describing the events which breaks out and the charac-
threaten the Third Horizon. ters must lead the people of
◆ A Song for Kua: The first the Third Horizon to victory.
scenario starts with a series ◆ The Metagame where the
of visions, bringing the Gamemaster and the players
­characters back to Kua. can play out the fleet move-
◆ The Tenth Icon: The second ments and clashes of the war.
scenario sets the characters ◆ An extensive Appendix
on a diplomatic mission to ­containing over twenty
Sadaal to acquire the Nadir different ship types that
Flotilla as war in the Third take part in the war of the
Horizon grows closer. horizons.

“The game’s authors describe it as ‘Arabian

Nights in space’ and it fulfills that brief
marvelously. Style 5/5, Substance 5/5.”
rpg.net review

ISBN 978-91-89143-89-0
FLFCOR004

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Copyright© 2023 Fria Ligan AB.

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Fria Ligan AB. All rights reserved.
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