TORG - Space Gods

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Chap Fiv · , ~~.i.,fp... W"t,.: Chapter ix: PSlotda~~ Chapter Se Chapter Eight: ocatio ...... 82 Chapter Nine: Crea s ...... ~ ...... 92 Chapter Ten: Equipment ...... 97 Chapter Eleven: Character Creation ...... 110 TEMPLATES ...... 112 ~2------n TORG - Space Gods

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Greg Farshtey, Greg Gorden, Ed Stark, Jim Bambra Design

Dr. Michael Fortner, Martin Wixted Additional Material

Greg Fa.rshtey, Greg Gorden Development and Editing

John Paul Lona Graphics

Dell Harris Cover Illustration

Allen Nunis, John Paul Lona SampleInterior Illustrations file

Eric Aldrich QeffBrown, Garry Corbin, Mike Landsdaal, Letha Owens, John White), Stephen Crane, Steve Crow (Ralph Altmaier, Dan Chapman, Elyce Helford, Christopher Mortika, Matt Van Kirk), Dirk Dejong, Dr. Michael Fortner, Alan Grimes (Sam Adams, Kevin Elmore, Crista Lambkin, Robert Quillen II, Dan Sylvester, Russ Whiteman, Curtis Zeitz) James A. Holden, Steve Lorenz (Ste- phen King, Dave Lemon, Bill Olmesdahl, Brian S. Perry, Jesse Van Valkenburg), Lou Prosperi (Gabe Cotto, Kevin Hudson, Gregory Rushton, Mike Shannon, Mark Terilli, Sheri A. Testa, Lawrence Trainer), Bill Smith, David Wetzel, Martin Wixted Playtesting and Advice

Titel und Inhalte dieses Werkes sind urheberrechtlich geschützt. Der Nachdruck, auch auszugsweise, die Bearbeitung, Verarbeitung, Verbreitung und Vervielfältigung des Werkes in jedweder Form, insbesondere die Vervielfältigung auf photomechanischem, elektronischem oder ähnlichem Weg, sind nur mit schriftlicher Genehmigung der Ulisses Spiele GmbH, Waldems, gestattet. Torg: Space Gods Introduction

he Akashan Council crazed monsters. You have heard the The High Lords are opposed all members started as the voices of the people, crying out for the over the globe by valiant Storm doors to their chamber council to act. How can we not explore Knights. Early in the struggle, a group • opened to admit a visi every possible source of aid?" of Knights obtained an ancient artifact tor. Monitor Zynn stood "And our people remember well knownas "thePossibilityChalice" and before them, barely able to gather the Those Who Wait on Earth," said Dala. used it to light a Signal Fire in a lost breath to speak and looking as if he "We risk much if we abandon them to city of the Himalayas. The immediate were flushed with fever. For a horrible their fate." effect of this was to create hundreds of instant, the elders wondered if the Sarila stood, shaking with rage. new Knights to aid in the fight - but plague had taken a new turn. "Fools, all of you! You would risk the true purpose of the Signal Fire But Zynn's excited condition had bringing the plague to Earth, the pos remained a mystery. been sparked by something quite dif sible contamination of Akashan cul Now the message sent that day has ferent. With great effort, he mouthed ture, and break our people's most sa reached the Akashans, aliens who vis the words that Akashans had both cred vow for the sake of Those Who ited Earth centuries ago and left the longed for and dreaded for almost five Wait? Their day is done, and it is only SignalFirebehind.Armed with psionic centuries: the revolutionaries who would see us powers, biotech, and non-invasive re "The Signal Fire has been lit!'' intervene on other worlds once more! ality technology, they have returned Thechambererupted,halfthecoun Akasha, the entire Star Sphere, are in to South America and discovered the cil members cheering, the others sit peril, and we cannot chance their de horrors of the Possibility Wars. ting with furrowed brows and dark struction on the basis of an archaic They have come to aid mankind, expressions. signalling device!" with a reality teclmology unlike any 1 ' You are certain of this, Monitor?" Ulka glanced around the chamber, thing ever seen before, something Rotan Ulka said, in a voice like thun and saw some heads nodding in agree which could spell final victory for the der. "You know the danger this could ment. He knew the decision he made Storm Knights. But they also bring represent, do you not?" here would be a crucial one - never with them perhaps the greatest men The Monitor swallowed hard, but had there been a greater need for bal ace of all ... stood his ground. ''I do, Rotan. I re ance among the Akasha, and never ceived the report from the lightship had there been a greater danger to that myself, and twice queried the vessel's balance. Important! master. The messages are confusing, The Rotan pondered for several but clear. There has been no mistake moments.Sample Then he lifted file his head and This sourcebook is a companion - Earth has called to us at last." said quietly, "The Rotan speaks, let all volume to Torg: Roleplaying the Possi Ulka sighed. "Then leave us. The attend. The decision is made. bility Wars. ltispossibletomakeuseof time has come for decision." "The Signal Fire will be answered. the Space Gods setting with other After Zynn had departed, Ulka The Akashans will return to Earth." roleplaying games, but many of the turned to his colleagues. "Centuries rules and concepts presented within ago, we reached out to other galaxies, these pages are explained in greater hoping to share our knowledge with The Possibility detail in the Torg boxed set. them. We left Signal Fires for the na tive beings, to be used when they had Wars reached a sufficient level of civiliza The Sourcebook tion and an understanding of them Earth has been invaded. Powerful selves. beings who call themselves "High This sourcebook provides all the "But you all know the results of our Lords" have come from different re information and advice needed to de ... tampering. I ask you, High Council alities to steal the energy of this cosm. sign exciting campaigns in the bizarre members -dare we answer this call?" Each High Lord has conquered a sec and fascinating lands visited by the Hakia spoke first. "How can we tion of Earth and reshaped its reality Space Gods and the Torg universe, as not, Rotan Ulka? You know the plague to suit his wishes. That is the situation well as a psionics system, biotech ravages our people, turning them from in the Near Now of Torg: Roleplaying equipment, and rules for the spread peaceful believers in balance to blood- the Possibility Wars. ing of non-invasive reality.

~4------/l!i Chapter One Cha]pter One The Cosm

he Akashans are resi Apeiros' power was multiplied bil dents of a small galaxy lions of times. But the Nameless One which they call the "Star emerged from the Void and consumed Sphere." Roughly 750 the energy provided by Apeiros, and parsecs across, the cosm then attempted to consume the Cre is home to over 500 races, and domi ator him.self. nated by tJ!le Akashan High Council Apeiros spread his wings and Although much of their galaxy has soared from the Void. He entered the been mapjped and catalogued, there Sphere of Stars where galaxies spun remain some areas that the Akashans from his wings. Whirling on their axes, and their client races have yet to ex the galaxies flickered and flared, and plore. Following the failure of their novas blasted across the Star Sphere. mission to Earth, the Akashans grew Where the Creator's wings touched, inaeasinglly isolationist, reluctant even worlds were imbued with possibili to study t:he planets and stars that ties and began to glow '"'Vith power. surrounded them. Slowly, the worlds began to revolve The High Council has been forced around the stars. The stars warmed to reconsidler this policy, however, due the planets, causing oceans to boil. to the effects of the Comaghaz plague Great winds blew, mountains arose (see below) and the need to control its from the ground and volcanoes ex spread in the Star Sphere. Expedition ploded, shooting fire into the sky. In ary teams of Monitors ha\•e been dis time, these worlds grew quiet, and the patched tc1 the furthest reaches of the seeds of life, planted by Apeiros, be galaxy to determine the extent of the gan to bloom. plague anOI hopefully discover a means Beings created in the image of to combat it. Apeirosthrived.ButtheNamelessOne Sample file envied the Creator's accomplishment, and sent his darkness to consume the The (;enesis of the civilizations of the Star Sphere. He did not succeed, for the children of the Star Sphere Light were strong. The Nameless One is an entity of An excerpt from theAkashic Records: limitless patience, and we must never relax our vigilance. Someday, he will In the bE~g, there was the Void. return and attempt to undo all cre Then Eternity entered the Place; ation, and on that day, our courage dreams al!ld possibilities were un and strength will be our only weap leashed and spread throughout the ons. Void. The Maelstrom was born from the meeting of these two great powers of the coSIJnverse. TheAkasha The possibilities spewed forth from the Maelsttrom created galaxies and The civilization of the Akasha bas worlds, only to see them consumed by existed as such for roughly ten the Void. Eventually, only two possi millenia. The prehistory of their race bilities smvived - Apeiros, the Cre was marked by visits by the Mohani, ator, and t:he Nameless One, the De spacefaring beings from beyond the stroyer. Star Sphere, who took it upon them ApeirosspangfromthesideofEter selves to shepherd the fledgling soci nity to send possibilities spinning ety. They taught the Akashans the need throughou1t the Void. Life began, and for balance in all things, how to live in

5 Totg'. SpilCc Gods harmony with nature and how to har both valued and sc-0med, considered must be earned through service to the ness the energy of the world around extremely valuable for government or society. A Rotan' s position is normally them for their own benefit. diplomatic service but also suspected his for life, although a lax performance The Moharu referred to themselves of spying on private conversations. of duty or a particularly impressh·e as pultaak, a word which can be Telepaths whose jobs do not specifi contribution to the Akashan peopleby roughly translated as "caretakers." cally require the use of that ability one of the other council members can They explained to the Akashans that often keep their possession of it secret, lead to a change. they believed having knowledge ga\·e preferringto avoid societal prejudice. The currentRotan , Ulka,hadgained one a responsiblity to share it for the Akashans have a life expectancy of renown while a High Council mem good of all, and that they had visited roughly a century. When they reach ber for ending the Lorbaat riots many races over the centuries. They theageof60, they are allowed to retire through diplomacy, rather than force. told the Akashans of the stargates, from whatever occupation they have A student of history, he is well aware great holes in the fabric of space pursued and devote themselves to in of the dangers of intervention, but also through which one can travel count trospection and meditative pursuits. realizes the threat posed by keeping less light years in thespaceofseconds. his peoples' innate yen for exploration The Mohani often expressed the Standard Akashan in check indefinitely. hope that one day the Akashans couJd D EXTERITY 9 The Kyat is made up of representa become the puJtaak for other civili7..a Dodge 10, unarmed combat 10 tives sent from the client worlds of the tions. They vowed to in form the STRENGTH 9 Star Sphere. Although they are allowed Akashans when the time came that the TOUGHNESS9 a vote on various issues and are noted mantle could be passed, but shortly PERCEPTION 10 for their prolonged debates, they have after that, the Mohani ceased to ap Evidence analysis 12, find 11, intro in general no voice in major decisions. pear. Why they vanished -whether spection 11, language 11,scholar11 The Kyatwas created in large part to their vessel was destroyed on the re appease agitators both within and MINDlO turn trip to their planet, or their race Test 11 without Akashan society, and a great was the victim of some natural disas CHARISMA9 hueandcryrisesfromtheclientworlds ter - is the subject of much specula whene\·er anyone has the temerity to Charm 10, persuasion 10 tion in Akashan myth. SPIRIT9 suggest then representatives are sim The ra~ had by this time learned ply going through the motions. Most Faith (Akashan) 10 enough from the Mohani that they Additional Skills: three at ..-1 adds of those who have never seen the were able to thrive on their own. Some Possibility Potential: some (30) Ak.ashan government at work firmly began to believe that the Mohani's Psionic Potential; some (5) believe that theKyat is a crucial partof departure meant the Akashans had Alignment: varies the decision-making process. been deemed ready to act as caretak The primary unit of Akashan cur ers for other worlds. This view pre rency is the ciara, which resembles a vailed, and the Akashans began to GovernmentSample file and smaJl scarlet gemstone. The Akashans move out into space, spreading the are an extremely prosperous people, philosophies taught them by the Economy collecting income through trade with Mohani. other planets in the Star Sphere and Akashansocietyisgovemedby the the use of lechnologies acquired from High Council and a lesser body called worlds beyond the stargates in the Physiology the Kyat. The most powerful office is years prior to the withdrawal. This that of Rotan, the chairperson of the weaJth has allowed many Akashans The Akashansarea humanoid race, High Council who is charged with to focusonesotericstudiesand lives of averaging 1.75 meters in height, with balancing both sides of every argu leisure, with client races assuming facial tea tures resembling those of the ment and then rendering a fair judg much of the menial labor that needs to Mayan Indians of Earth. Their skin is ment. be done. reddish-brown, their hair black, and The High Council is made up of This is not a situation that sits well most have slim, well-proportioned .representatives of the various states of with some younger Akashans. They builds. There are no external physic.al the Akashan homeworld, with each believe that the isolationisttendencies d.ifferencesbetweenAkashansand hu member having an equal voice in de of their rare, combined with assured mans. The only maJOr biological dif bate. There is no actual voting, but all wealth, have turned their elders into ference is that then body temperature are allowed a substantial amount of naive, detached leaders incapable of rarely e.xa!eds 90 degrees Farenheit, time to state their case before theRotan handling a crisis. Many point to the and their touch will feel cool to a hu announces .his decision. predominance of alien crews on man. The Rotan himself is not an elected Akashan vessels and alien laborers Akashans have de\'eloped power official, but is appointed from among performing essential services as signs ful ps1onic abiltnes, although only a the High Council members. His posi of a graducll erosion of their society. relatively small percentage are tele tion is more akin tothatofa judge than pathic. Those who have that talent are a president, and it is a station which ~6------/1)1