With the reawakening of magic in Altera, people that previously seemed simply human have begun to exhibit traits, behaviors and even powers associated with mystical races of legend.
Characters who have achieved XP milestones are able to choose whether or not they posses certain mystical racial potential and invest future XP into developing these traits. Choosing a racial development path will impact your roleplaying, certain plot involvement and difficulty/inability to access conflicting Combat Traits.
Overview of Races, A Treatse
Authored by Emilia Lithgow
Professor Emeritus of the Bardic College, Colstean
Forward
Any discussion of the ancient mythological creatures rumored to exist in the B.E. period of history must of course have certain limitations or definitions set upon the extemporary work. First it must be clearly understood that this is an academic article. The intent is not to sway the reader in any specific direction or to make argument for a specific type of revisionist history but to provide cool analysis, comparison, and categorization of the various myths in an attempt to uncover some underlying common truth. The implicit bias of the author, being a former Dean of the Bardic College in Colstean and a loyal servant of the Alteran Crown, will be kept to a minimum but the reader should be aware that such bias does exist. It is in this spirit of open academic discussion that the author hopes to inspire readers to do their own research and create a better global conversation.
When approaching each mythological classification I am attempting to create large categories that will embrace many different interpretations of a myth. For ease, I am using the common Alteran names of these groups as those category however, it should be noted that some of these examples to not comfortably fit within the Alteran narrative and are, in fact, at odds with each other. How to reconcile the differences of these varying descriptions is a constant challenge and as the author, I wholly recognize that certain subspecies may be classified entirely incorrectly. As an additional complication, all mythological races seem to have at least some limited ability to change their shape or appearance. This most often involves taking the form of a human for romance, a single night’s dalliance, or for ease of communication. While rare, there are stories of one race taking on the unique aspects of another for some purpose. This was apparently seen as an affront and caused much conflict within mythological society.
I suppose that no review of the multitudes of mythological creatures can begin without some attempt to analyze humanity as a whole. After all, it is through the oral and written traditions of the various human nations that these mythologies are given life. Some may treat them as historical facts but the lack of widespread evidence would leave one to think that their presence was not nearly as powerful or important in human history as some would lead you to believe. It is far more likely that these myths can and should be taken as allegory showing in dramatic relief the very best and the very worst of what we as humans already have within us.
Humans are, by current understanding, the only sentient race on Altera. While different societies approach the terms of “family” and “community” differently, there is no doubt that these general concepts drive all cultures. Humans lack any trace of “classical” heroes such as rumored giants, persons of unbreachable skin, animalistic claws, or other such features, even though such persons figure into the ancient lore on a regular basis. Gone from humanity as well, are the traces of what was once called magic. I would argue that this is to humanity’s benefit as the history of those who were wielders of such powers in the ancient mythos were capricious and dangerous with their powers as often as not. Indeed, the the strength of humanity has the power to accomplish great things without the need to rely on superstition, arcane practices, or prayers to potentially non-existent gods. It is however, also the basic need of humanity to look for deeper meaning in life and to seek more power. This is the drive that consistently drags humans back into the chains of mythos even though we have resoundingly thrown off such magical shackles once before.
This, then, provides a foundation of humanity’s conflicting nature and acts as a focusing lens while we explore the strange and arcane mythos of Altera, Before Exile.
Racial Powers
Racial powers reflect unique tricks and habits of the different mythological races which at one time inhabited Altera. All players start as “Human” and remain human as long as racial abilities are not embraced.
The Benefit of Being Human
Human characters may access all Combat Traits at base cost and have no restricted abilities.
Gaining Racial Abilities
Once they have accumulated 50 XP, players may gain access to a racial ability of their XP level or lower. Players must always have the previous abilities in that specific racial skill set. For instance in order to unlock the Tier 3 Dragon power they must have accumulated 150 XP, the first Tier, and second Tier already. At 150 XP however that same player may choose to unlock the first tier of Demon abilities giving them Tier 1 and 2 in Dragon and Tier 1 in Demon.
At each Tier there are two Racial Power choices. Both powers may be chosen but must be purchased at separate Tier levels. Only one power is required to progress further.
When selecting a Racial Power the player must also select a character modification which will be a costume, makeup, or role-playing change. Character modifications do occasionally have prerequisites however normally are all considered to be equal and not tied to any specific level.
Racial Powers are always 8 XP after the appropriate XP level has been reached. Normally they must be purchased between games however opportunities to gain powers may occasionally happen in play.
When selecting racial powers there is always two Combats Trait that become Difficult so that it will have XP penalties on them. If a Human character embraces a power which has an XP penalty then the additional costs must be purchased at the time of gaining the Racial Power.
Racial Legacies
Celestials are often described as beings of light and who fly on brilliant wings of vibrant colors of pure energy or pure white feathers. Their skin, much like their clothes, tend mirror the precious metals that are so prized by humans… [ Learn More ]
Difficult Attributes: Ingenuity, Resilience
Tier | Pre-Reqs | XP | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 50XP | 8 | Illumination or Healing Touch |
2 | 100XP | 8 | Shining Light or Resist Contagion |
3 | 150XP | 8 | Revealing Light or Sustained by Light |
4 | 200XP | 8 | Freed Mind or Freed Body |
5 | 250XP | 8 | Divine Retribution or Wings of Hope |
6 | 300XP | 8 | Righteous Fury or Unfettered |
In appearance, demons can range from small and seemingly helpless creatures seeking to befriend other races so that they may slowly exert control over them, up to monstrous amalgams of every nightmare possible… [ Learn More ]
Difficult Attributes: Dexterity, Empathy
Tier | Pre-Reqs | XP | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 50XP | 8 | Stone Snare or Weighted Limbs |
2 | 100XP | 8 | Infection or Reinforce |
3 | 150XP | 8 | Primal Endurance or Retaliation |
4 | 200XP | 8 | Hold Portal or Hale Body |
5 | 250XP | 8 | Captured Prey or Atrophy |
6 | 300XP | 8 | Edict of the Tomb or Edict of Blight |
The study of Giant Serpent lore which I have placed into the single category of “Dragon” is more complex than with other mythos, as there is very little lore about what these creatures were as a collective race… [ Learn More ]
Difficult Attributes: Dexterity, Ingenuity
Tier | Pre-Reqs | XP | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 50XP | 8 | Hide or Shell 3 |
2 | 100XP | 8 | Breath or Claws |
3 | 150XP | 8 | Rage or Terror |
4 | 200XP | 8 | Might or Quake |
5 | 250XP | 8 | Roar or Ancestral Memory |
6 | 300XP | 8 | Vengeance or Harden Shell |
Physically speaking, all creatures that I categorize as “elf” have pointed ears to some degree. This can vary wildly from the mythical Sidhe of Altera who were said to have elegant and slightly pointed ears to the comically long ears of Larana’s kobolds… [ Learn More ]
Difficult Attributes: Brutality, Resilience
Tier | Pre-Reqs | XP | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 50XP | 8 | Resist Disease or Resist Poison |
2 | 100XP | 8 | Building Conceal or Nature Conceal |
3 | 150XP | 8 | Natural Repair or Side Step |
4 | 200XP | 8 | Calm Animal or Haste |
5 | 250XP | 8 | Break or Concealed Walk |
6 | 300XP | 8 | Legerdemain or Dominate |
Of all mythological races, what Alterans dub “fey” is perhaps the hardest to describe. What is known about the Fey in all forms is that they are tricksters. This can range from imitation of courtly behavior with intricate wordplay, to gross slapstick or ambush humor… [ Learn More ]
Difficult Attributes: Brutality, Resilience
Tier | Pre-Reqs | XP | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 50XP | 8 | Detect Concealed or Sense Magic |
2 | 100XP | 8 | Sense Truth or Stupefy |
3 | 150XP | 8 | Wild Snare or Wild Touched |
4 | 200XP | 8 | Astral Step or Astral Charm |
5 | 250XP | 8 | Trusting Voice or Conceal Soul |
6 | 300XP | 8 | Invisibility or Mimic Spell |
It just started happening rare but a few people just awoke one day to find that their complexion had went noticeably gray… [ Learn More ]
Difficult Attributes: None
Tier | Pre-Reqs | XP | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 250XP* | 8 | Wild Magic Spell Flux |
*250 XP since the last purchased racial ability in any other race. Ex: At 300 XP you could have this and only one other racial lineage