Sample file Title and Dedications High action roleplaying in a world of Indian myth! Written by Art by 1 Thorin Tabor Mkultra Studios, Carlos Jaramillo Edited by Map by Megan Turner Robert Altbauer Published by Layout by Tab Creations LLC Paolo Bosi Saga Machine system by Special thanks to Thorin Tabor Tammy Ryan, Matías N. Caruso Exceptional playtesting by Kat Davis, Carroll Emerson, Ben Goreham, Micah Hollis-Symynkywicz, Matthew Kamm, Matthew Pennell, Jesse Pingenot, Brian Richburg, Atom Smith, Darin Strouts, Eric Wir- tanen Tab Creations is Atom Smith,Sample Ben Goreham, Jesse Pingenot, Matthew Pennell, Thorin Tabor file Title and Dedications This book is dedicated to all of our Kickstarter backers who helped make the game possible. We would also like to dedicate this book to our families, whose unflagging support has helped get us to this point. 2 Designation of Product Identity The following items are hereby designated as Product Identity in accordance with Section 1(e) of the Open Game License, version 1.0a: Any and all Tab Creations logos and identifying marks and trade dress, such as all Tab Creations product and product line names including but not limited to Tab Creations, Saga Machine and Against the Dark Yogi; any specific characters and places; capitalized names and original names of places, artifacts, characters, countries, geographic locations, gods, events and organizations; any and all stories, storylines, histories, plots, thematic el- ements and dialog; and all artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, illustrations, maps and cartography, likenesses, logos, poses or graphic designs. The above product identity is not Open Game Content. Designation of Open Game Content SampleSubject to the Product Identity designation above, the following portions of Against the Dark Yogi are designatedfile as Open Game Content: The entirety of the Basics chapter, Systems chapter, Equipment chapter and Consequences chapter; all traits listed in the Characters chapter; and all stat blocks listed in the Non-Player Characters chapter. Tab Creations, Saga Machine and Against the Dark Yogi are trademarks owned by Thorin Tabor, under license to Tab Creations LLC. All rights reserved. All other content is ©2013-2014 Thorin Tabor. The mention of or reference to any company or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned. This document is a work of fiction. Check us out at http://www.tabcreations.com Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 Table Of Contents 41 Rivers 7 Introduction 41 Tendaka Forest 8 Inspiration 42 Tendaka Kingdom 8 Themes 42 Underworld 8 Recommended Reading 43 Wenga Jungle 8 Getting Ready For Play 43 Wodeha 9 Glossary 43 Wolaya Mountains 11 Setting 44 Echra: Center Of The Najal Raj 11 Overview 44 History 12 Life In Bhurloka 44 Customs 12 Castes 45 The City 13 Family Life 46 Lands 13 Language 46 Rulers 14 Society 47 Issues 14 Government 49 Basics 15 Warfare 49 Overview 15 Religion 49 Actions 16 Worship 50 Consequences 16 Ascetics 50 Characters 18 Gods 51 The Eight Stats 20 Astras 52 Traits 21 Cosmology & Metaphysics 52 Karma 21 The Three Worlds 54 The Action Mechanic 21 Dharma 55 Simple Actions 3 22 Karma 58 Extended Actions 22 Purity 59 Opposed Actions 25 Reincarnation 60 Skills 25 Prana 65 Consequence Mechanic 27 The Dark Yogi 65 What Is A Consequence? 27 Story Of The Dark Yogi 66 Levels Of Severity 29 Forces Of The Dark Yogi 66 Adjudicating Consequences 29 The Eighteen Wicked Kings 66 Effects Of Consequences 30 The Forbidden Sutra 67 Duration Of Consequences 30 Geli Yuga 69 Systems 31 Chosen Of Dharma 69 Health Points (Hp) 34 Gazetteer 69 Damage 34 Afkala 70 Healing 34 Dhar Desert 70 Prana 34 Ewanti 71 Chakras 35 Fondhya Mountains 71 Mechanics 35 Foreign Lands 73 Austerities 37 Ghendava Forest 75 Combat 37 SampleGusala 75 Starting A Combat file 38 Jaru Kingdoms 75 Rounds 38 Mount Niru 77 Actions 38 Najal Raj 78 Defense 39 Negadha Kingdom 78 Willpower 39 Rajbat Lands 79 Attack 40 Renka 81 Concentrate Table of Contents 81 Interact 113 Path Of The Archer 82 Move 116 Path Of The Ascetic 84 Example 120 Path Of The Chakra Master 84 Wait 122 Path Of The Charioteer 85 Vassals & Elites 125 Path Of The Performer 85 Rules For Elites 127 Path Of The Raja 86 Rules For Vassals 130 Path Of The Spearman 87 Maladies 132 Path Of The Trickster 89 Hazards 135 Path Of The Wildman 89 Avalanches 137 Path Of The Yogi 89 Catching Fire 141 Path Of Vows 89 Cave-Ins & Collapses 143 Weakness Path 90 Drowning & Suffocation 147 Inhuman Path 90 Falls & Collisions 152 Path Of Adharma 90 Forest Fires 155 Equipment 90 Magma 155 Properties 90 Sleep Deprivation 156 Encumbrance 91 Starvation & Dehydration 157 Armor 91 Temperature Extremes 157 Light Armor 91 Underwater Movement 157 Heavy Armor 91 Wealth & Titles 157 Shield 91 Exchange Rates 157 Weapons 92 Receiving And Granting Titles 157 Bagh Nakh 93 Tribute From Titles 157 Bow 93 Performances 158 Chakram 4 93 Giving A Performance 158 Club 94 Divine Boons 159 Gada 95 Size 159 Katar 97 Characters 159 Khanda 97 Character Creation 159 Kukri 97 Overview 160 Spear 98 Past Lives 160 Staff 99 Concept And Stats 160 Unarmed Strike 100 Caste 160 Urumi 102 Paths 160 Zaghnal 102 Finishing Touches 161 Accessories 104 Character Advancement 162 Craft Tools 104 Sadhana 162 Transportation 105 Purchasing New Traits 163 Trade Goods 105 Resolve Karma 164 Astras 105 Reincarnation 164 Adharmaastra 106 Enlightenment 164 Asurastra 107 Resolve Karma 164 Devastra 108 Past Lives 164 Echniastra Sample109 New Life 165 Ferunaastra file 109 Enlightened Retreat 165 Omdraastra 110 Paths 165 Phamiastra 110 Universal Path 165 Zaryastra Table of Contents 167 Running The Game 221 Low Posture 167 Planning A Session 221 Stun 167 Revealing Or Concealing Target Numbers 223 Kumari 167 Planning Challenges 223 The Setup 168 Gm Hands 223 On The Way To Echra 168 Giving Out Karma 224 Arriving In The City 168 Using Bad Karma 224 Meeting The Maharaja 168 Facing Defeat 225 The Investigation 169 Planning A Campaign 225 Journey To Find The Kumari 169 Life, Death & The Fatal Property 226 Searching For The Yaksha Kingdom 170 Total Party Kills 227 Meeting The Yaksharaja 170 Across The Generations 227 Facing The Yuthamukhya 171 Running Combat 227 Rewards 171 Tracking Prana 229 The Border 171 Declaring Actions 229 The Setup 171 Adjusting Stat Blocks 229 Behind The Scenes 171 Using Vassals 230 A Call For Aid 173 Non-Player Characters 231 Meeting The Maharaja 173 Stat Block Format 231 If The Pcs Don’t Bite 174 Humans 232 On The Way To Zeusambi 181 Animals 232 Meeting The Vanaras 187 Bestiary 233 A Stop In Ogachakra 201 Yakshi 233 Devarata The Warden 203 Individuals 234 Facing The Dekshaka Nagas 217 Consequences 235 Into Gusala 217 Bleeding 235 Zeusambi 5 217 Blocked Flow 236 Rescuing Gotama 218 Bolstered 237 Stopping The Attack 218 Concealment 237 Rewards 218 Cover 238 Books 218 Dazed 238 Films And Video 219 Desire 238 Comic Books 219 Disabled 238 Roleplaying Games 220 Encumbered 239 Special Thanks To Our Backers 220 Fatigue 240 Open Game License Version 1.0A 220 Fear 241 Index 221 Fixated 242 Character Sheet Sample file Sample file introduction he world of Bhurloka is one of myth and legend, and at the center of it, the great subcontinent stretches from the burning Dhar Desert in the west to the sweltering Wenga Jungle in the east, from the snow-capped Wolaya Mountains in the north to the Endless Ocean of the south. A thousand cities with myriad customs fill With dharma under attack, things are the subcontinent. Hundreds of city-states already beginning to be out of balance. and small kingdoms parcel up civilization, The Dark Yogi has many would-be allies with great swaths of untamed forests and and disciples, opportunistic men who mountains wedged in between. Wandering would use the imbalance of the world as ascetics practice austerities on mountain- a chance to advance their own ruthless tops, seeking spiritual enlightenment and interests without repercussion. They are supernatural powers. Rajas stand before many and the numerous city-states of their palaces speaking to their peoples. Bhurloka are divided. Archers, surpassing all others in skill, com- pete for great prizes and boons. Chariots Through all this, however, dharma does roll and elephants march with armies to not sit idly by. As the balance of the world is war. All the while, the devas look down under attack, dharma seeks to correct the upon the world from their celestial home, balance. Towards this end it has reached out watching events and warding off attacks and selected but a few to champion its cause. from their eternal rivals, the asuras. These chosen of Dharma may be devout ascetics, peerless archers, cunning chari- But Bhurloka stands at the precipice of oteers, fierce wildmen, charismatic rajas or disaster. In the east, a sinister figure—the any other number of things. However, they Dark Yogi—has risen to power. It is whis- are all foremost heroes. They have been pered that his forbidden sutra gives him the given enlightenment to see through their power to directly attack dharma, the very many incarnations, to what must be done to order of the universe. And this attack has restore the balance of the world and defeat many wide-ranging consequences. the Dark Yogi. This attack on dharma hastens the Now is a time of legend. coming of the Geli Yuga—the fourth and final age of the cosmic cycle. When the Geli Yuga comes, eighteen wicked kings will arise to power in Bhurloka, bringing about the birth of the demonic asura Geli, who will one day climb the heavens and cast down Lord Omdra and the rest of the devas who rule the Three Worlds.