Thursday 1 February 2018

MoT: Background of the Rei-La

Background of the Rei-La

The Rei-La are just one of a number of sibling shape-shifting alien species that adapt and grow based on their parent planet. The Rei-La are from the planet Rei and so take that as part of both their racial name as well as personal name. (Tao-La from planet Tao and Per-La from planet Per would be other examples of sibling species.)

Rei is a planet that is shrouded in darkness for an average of 36 hours of its 41 hour days. There is plenty of land masses but most do not exceed 6,000,000 km2 and the ratio of water covering the planet is about 64%. The topography can best be described as both jungle like and desert-like depending on the location, and the gravity is somewhat lower than that of the original Earth.

Due to the nature of their surroundings, the Rei-La have developed several physical characteristics such as multiple eyes, fins and luminescence that exist across both their humanoid and shifted forms. The Rei-La's shifted form is a creature similar to what would be known as panthers, suited to living among the thick undergrowth, trees and mountains. Their eyes and luminescence assist them in the dark while their fins allow them to take in moisture from the surrounding air and traverse the numerous bodies of water. Other typical physical characteristics are purple tone skin, average heights exceeding 6 foot and an average lifespan of 215 years.

The Rei-La are genderless and thus reproduce asexually. When they reach a certain stage in their maturity a naturally occurring trigger in their DNA causes them to conceive, carry and birth a single offspring whose gestation period is about 13 months. This only occurs once in their lifetime. Generally known as a curious and peaceful race, their initial and longtime isolation from other species have left them somewhat naive regarding other species and with a childlike lack of empathy toward them. Due to this, it is thought that the Rei-La are the accidental cause of the Lycanthropic virus caused by a careless and irresponsible first contact with humankind.

As a species, the Rei-La are highly developed intelligence wise but choose to live in a simpler more naturalistic way in harmony with their planet. They are communal, with a few exceptions, and no one's voice is more important than the others. Most Rei-La are scholars in fields such as Botany, Astrology, Zoology, Anthropology, History and Medicine. They have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and dedicate their lives to that pursuit.

Stat: Perception +1, Willpower -1
Boon: Panther form (As wereform but panther set, no trigger for the Rei-la)
Problem: Lost empathy or Pacifist.


Extra Boon Options
Virus Resistance:  At the end of each session reduce virus by 1d6.

(This background to the Rei-La was provided by Nikki Simon, a player in the current game set to the Prime Gate Network setting.)

MoT: Foundation of the magic system part 1.

Magic


Reading Magical Skills

  Magic is broken down into skills and styles within. When you take a Magic User boon, you gain access to specific magic skills and styles. As you train you may be able to develop more styles in the skills you know. Each skill is has a Stat focus that is used with the magical skill when using that type of magic. Some Skills break down into divisions as well. When you gain access to the skill you select one division, this can mean something different for different magical skills so read closely.


Reading Styles/spells

  Under each magical skill, there are a set of 'styles' or spells if you prefer. Each will give an effect of what it does and some qualifiers that may improve the effect, such as spending mana, regents or extra successes. Some Styles may even have style upgrades, that if you learn can improve the effect or potential of the spell further.


Mana Cost and Casting

  When casting a spell, unless stated in the effect it cost no additional mana on a success. Though there are often options for spending extra mana to improve the effect. However, when you fail to cast a spell, that is a different matter. When your character fails a spell roll, they must either pay one mana for every result of 1 on the spell dice or suffer one minor for each of those resulting 1 dice. That is the risk of magic. You may negate this effect by paying one mana before the dice are rolled.


Magic and range

  Unless stated otherwise when a spell is cast you must touch a target. This can be negated by proper Catalyst or medium that characters can learn or purchase.


Biomancy

  The art of strengthening the flesh and bone of the living.
Skill: Biomagic
Stat Focus: Endurance
Targets: Must be used on a living organic being.

Biomancy Styles


Bolster Form - Select one physical attribute each time you take this style.
Effect: Increase the physical stat chosen of a target by 1 for a short duration.
Additional Success: Increase the bonus to stats by one per additional success.
Spend mana: For each mana spend add an extra short duration to the time remaining on the effect.

Harden skin
Effect: Gain 1 armour for a short duration
Additional Success: add an extra short duration to the time remaining on the effect.
Spend Mana: +1 armour for the effect.

Regeneration
Effect: Convert 1 major wound to a minor wound.
Additional Success: Convert additional major wounds to minor wounds.
Spend Mana: Recover 2 minor wounds equal to mana spend. This cannot heal wounds caused by failed uses of magic.

More coming in the future, stay tuned.