The Fading Suns

1 Passion Play

Sample file

Pilgrims The passion plays of old, before the rise of the Second Republic, did depict the sufferings of the Prophet as he brought the light of the Divine Fire to shadowed man. I ask you, is this not like unto our own day? Do we not all suffer under a burden of darkness, yearning for light? Then is not life itself a Passion Play, and the cosmos its stage? If this be true, then all but this task is trifle and waste: Entreaty the Empyrean Playwright to script not a Tragedy, but to devise a grand Romance of Heroes… 2 3

Passion Play Based on FADING SUNS, created by Bill Bridges & Andrew Greenberg Game design: Bill Maxwell and Bill Bridges Writing: Bill Bridges, Jeff Brown, Gary Glass, Mareen Goebel, Bill Maxwell, Nikki Johnson- Passion Play Maxwell, Kim Scott, Trevor Valle, Dave Vasquez Development: Bill Bridges and Bill Maxwell Proofreading: Trevor Chase Art direction, book design and photo art: John Bridges Photography designer/coordinator: Kim Scott Photography: Ben Avery Thanks to all who helped with the photography: John Barrett, Rusty Buchert, Tad Dilday, Michelle Elbert, Brian & Juliet & Kyle Freyermuth, Paul Gofberg, Bree Goldman, Gina Karris, Dave & Juliet Johann, Jared Joseph, Anthony Lim, Melissa Leonard, Joseph Contents Lopez, Tony Martin, Gian Matera, Aaron Matthews, Gene Meyer, Chandra Miller, Chad Alustro’s Journal: Obligations 4 Minton, Adam Moscowitz, Charlotte Nixon, Eric Scott, Todd & Trish & Devon Tennison, Mike Vakian, John Woillard. Chapter 1: The Fading Suns 8 Playtesters: Sneezing Lizard Productions — Rusty Buchert, Michelle Elbert, Matt Keuneke, Anthony Lim, Melissa Leonard, Gene Meyer, Adam Moscowitz, Jason Ormand, James Chapter 2: Rules 28 Pinkerton, Paul Rivas, Mike Vakian Chapter 3: Characters 56 HDI —Bernard Clark, Andrew Greenberg, Andy Harmon, Ken Lightner, Tom Ricks The Pack — Channon Allen, Christian Kenney, Eric & Lalena Hutton Chapter 4: The Will & the Way (Combat, Occult, Cybernetics) 112 Amaranth —Paul Ang, John Barrett, Eric Dennison, Tad Dilday, K.C. Evans, Paul Gofberg, Chapter 5: Drama (Gamemastering) 158 Chandra Harburg, Joseph Lopez, Tony Martin, Chad Minton, Tony Moore, Justin Parker, Perry Ward Sample fileChapter 6: Life in the Known Worlds 186 Special Thanks to: Eric “Duke Abbadon” Hutton for his inspirational contracts and ruthless intrigue. Map of the Known Worlds 215 Dave “Ukari Unite” Vasquez & Jeff “3rd S.O.G.” Brown for their insights on combat. Appendices: Adam Moscowitz, Adam Fisher, Nikki Maxwell and James Pinkerton, the first aides. Kim Scott, Ben Avery and Lalena Hutton for making the photos happen. Example of Play 218 Thanks to Michelle Elbert and Charlotte Nixon for supplementary makeup and costuming. Arms & Armor 223 Matt “Marquis Saladin” Keuneke, for his insistence that rules just get in the way. Paul “Kohl Von Heller” Rivas and Christian Kenney for their contributions to the genre. Character Sheet 230 The Fading Suns discussion group & Pat Arakel for their feedback on Live-Action Games. Tad and Chandra for the use of their house for photos.

©2000 by Holistic Design Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permision of the publisher is expressly denied, except for the purpose of reviews. Passion Play and Fading Suns are trademarks and copyrights of Holistic Design Inc.

The mention of or reference to any companies or products in these pages is not a challenge to the trademarks or copyrights concerned. Holistic Design Inc. 5295 Hwy 78, D-337 Printed in the USA Stone Mountain, GA 30087 4 5

response an Eskatonic provost should give to such frivolous social entreaties as Alustro’s Journal: met me on nights such as these. A servant quickly exiting from an open door nearly knocked me over. He was in a rush and I lost in thought; we barely avoided a painful smack. Before he could get his wits about him, I heard a yell of pain in the room. Reacting on Obligations instinct rather than wisdom, I stepped into the room to see who had cried so. On a straw bed lay a soldier, his tunic and the straw beneath him stained in I am on a starship traveling a strange journey into unknown spaces. My blood. A horrendous gut wound was apparent, one to which another servant liege, Lady Erian Li Halan, presses us further into greater and greater danger in was doing his best to administer. But he was no chiurgeon, and I wondered why pursuit of her quest. Our fate has now led us into barbarian space, escorted by no physick had been summoned. Harshly, I stepped over and snatched the blade a Vuldrok pirate lord through jumpgates unknown to the empire — lost worlds and gauze from his hands, kneeling down to examine the wound. “Fetch hot which we hope to find again. water,” I said. I have much time to write here in my cramped cabin. My journals are caches The servant immediately leaped up and joined the other, and both left the of my reflections on our travails, on our hopes and fears. I often send copies of room in a rush. I hardly noticed. My attention was completely drawn to the them by trusted courier to my childhood friend, now chartophylax at the Vermil- wound. It was greivous. The man was dying, and it was amazing he had not lion Repository on Midian, who sees that they are published and distributed already passed on. I calmed myself and spoke the litany taught me years ago by among allies. For this reason, I have not yet transcribed our leading goal here Mother Kalpa, calling upon the divine fire in my breast to seal the torn flesh. among the barbarians. The skin grew taut and the edges of the wound — from a sword, I presumed — But danger is ever preying upon us, and I fear that we may not all survive reknitted somewhat. But it was not enough. this adventure. For this reason, I feel it best to record our goal. If we cannot accomplish it, then it is a lost cause. If we do, then I shall burn this entry and leave no evidence of our quest. It was on Byzantium Secundus, where so many plots and causes are hatched,Sample file that fate chose to chain my lady to new obligations. She had only recently taken her vows as a Questing Knight, and already we prepared to tread new and dangerous paths for reasons given us in visions by the great Anunnaki Gargoyle of Nowhere. So as not to insult our host during our stay, we partook of his grand parties at his villa outside the Imperial City. Boring and tedious affairs for the most part, my lady did find them amusing at times, for she knows the thrusts and ripostes necessary to thrive in such atmospheres. I, however, have no mind for even petty intrigue, and found myself on far too many occasions drawn into social conspiracies without my knowl- edge or consent, only discovering the truth of these matters after I had excused myself for the evening and discussed my meetings with Erian. Such was the status quo on this night. Rather than be suckered into yet another attempt by some bold noble compatriot to pass messages to a lover or co-conspirator — why are priests considered such good envoys for such things? Are we that naïve? — I slipped from the hall to wander down a side passage near the servants’ quarters, finding myself deep in contemplation of the proper 6 7

The man was looking at me now. He had awakened from his temporary naling that I believed the man to be delirious. delirium and stared into my eyes with an intensity I had never before encoun- “What you ask is… difficult,” she said. tered. Who was this soldier to have such a general’s glare about him? The man parted his collar, and revealed there an amulet carved into the “Leave it, brother,” he said, sighing. It seemed he was in a place beyond shape of a fiery lotus. pain. “I am dying, and there is nothing your rituals can do about it.” Erian shuddered and nodded. “The Burning Lotus. There is no greater mili- “Who are you?” I asked. “I am a confessor. I can hear and absolve you.” tary honor from my house.” “Of what? I bear no sins, but for pride perhaps. Regret, maybe…” “It was given me by your father.” “Can I help?” I said as I soaked the blood from his wound. It did no good. “Then I shall do what you ask, if it is in my power. But I have a quest of my My rite had not closed the wound entirely. own, you must know.” He then looked at me with that stare, one which commanded complete re- “He who gave me this ring…” the man said, struggling to remove a large spect. “I need a Questing Knight, brother. Not a brat on tour away from father’s ring of copperish-purple metal, “…takes precedence.” Once he’d freed it from fief, but a real knight.” his hand, he held it out for her. “It is Second Republic manufacture. It knows the “Then I shall fetch one,” I said, standing. I could not hide my smile at the makeup of my body, and I now set it for you. Take it.” She did. “Hold it here, amazed but skeptical look on his face. I stepped out of the room and saw the where I can reach.” He touched it and a slight sound emanated, but nothing servants returning, each ferrying a pail of steaming water. I took one from the more. “There. None can now bear this but you, and it is a sign that you are my lad I had nearly collided with earlier, and said: “Go to the main hall, quickly. chosen. It carries the lore with it that you will need. In return for the quest I have Fetch Lady Erian Li Halan.” set you, the owner of this ring shall render to you a service of your asking.” He stood there for a moment, doubtful, looking into the room. The soldiers’ Erian looked puzzled, waiting for him to reveal the patron. voice came: “Go, boy, do as he says. But quietly!” The lad was immediately off, “Look on the inner ring,” he said, his strength beginning to fail him. moving as quickly as he could yet taking pains to appear like a normal servant Erian gasped. “The Phoenix Seal of Vladimir. Only one man can rightfully on no mission of import. use it…” I stepped back into the room and dipped the gauze in the water, rubbing it “It is he,” the soldier said. “Now I am through.” over the wound to cleanse it. The man dropped in and out of consciousness.Sample I fileAnd there he died. momentarily thought he had died, but a fierce will within him kept him here. And here I now sit, in a starship somewhere making its way to the myste- Erian Li Halan came into the room, a look of concern on her face. When she rious world he named. It is known to our guides, but they only laugh when we saw my charge, her jaw dropped. “Warlord Sentaku…” she whispered in awe. ask about it, and say that we will know it when we ingest it. And then we will His eyes fluttered open and he looked at her. “Who?” “know everything.” I have no idea what they mean, but I suppose we will find She dropped to a kneel and bowed before him. “Lady Erian Li Halan, daughter out. of the Seven Petaled Rose lineage. You served with my father in the Shansei We did not speak of the incident to anyone, for the servants declared that Conflagration. You saved his life. I remember sitting on your knee as you told the soldier demanded secrecy. Our host was an ally of his, and he had appeared the tale before the Matrons.” at the gates wounded, seeking aid from someone he knew would keep his se- The man smiled. “Can the Pancreator be so kind as to bring you before me cret, but he gave the servants no explanation. By the time our host arrived, now? Quickly, young rose with thorns, are you indeed sworn to the Emperor as Warlord Sentaku had died. this priest says?” Our host was greatly troubled and would not speak of it, but he did notice “I am.” the ring on Erian’s hand — his raised eyebrows were hard for even him to hide. “Then I ask this one thing of you: Travel beyond all the maps we know to a He seemed to have some unspoken idea of the debt wearing it entailed, for he barbarian world called Sky Tear. There, in a bunker, is hidden a relic important was ever more respectful of her from then on. It seemed to me he treated us all to the empire. Fetch it and give it to its rightful owner.” as if we were leaving for a war from which we would not return. Erian looked dismayed. This was an insane request. I shook my head, sig- It seems that the heavy hand of obligation makes martyrs of us all. 8 9 Chapter 1: The Fading Suns

Once the suns shone brightly, beacons in the vast night of space, calling humanity onward. The stars were symbols of humanity’s vast potential, a purpose and destiny revealed in progress, inciting an exodus of unlimited growth to the distant stars. Once people looked to the heavens with hope and longing in their eyes. Then the suns — and the hope — began to fade. It is the beginning of the sixth millennium after Christ, and history has come to an end. Humanity’s greatest civilization has fallen, leaving ignorance and fear scattered among the ruins of many worlds. A new Dark Age is upon humanity, and few believe in renewal and progress anymore. Now there is only waiting. Waiting for a slow death as the age-old stars fade to cinders and the souls of the sinful are called to Final Judgment. But not all believe in this destiny. A leader has arisen, an emperor sworn to Sample fileunite the worlds of Human Space together again under one banner. To ignite hope once more in people’s hearts. It is a monumental task, for most people have already given up and fallen into the ways of the past, playing serfs to feudal lords. What is hope to them now but a falsehood which leads to pain? Better to leave the hard decisions to their masters and let the Church console their souls. There are enemies everywhere, those who seek to selfishly profit from humanity’s demise: vain nobles ruling far-flung worlds, power-hungry priests who seek dominion over the lives of men, the greedy merchant guilds growing rich from bartering humanity’s needs and wants. They are not alone. Others are out there among the darkening stars, alien races angry with humankind for age-old slavery, and enigmatic alien empires with agendas too paradoxical to fathom. It is in such a universe that individual men and women must live. Only a few of them will question. Fewer still will act on their questions and seek answers, ways to break the grip of custom and law. To free themselves and once more seize the stars — and their destiny. 10 11 A Futuristic Passion Play History Fading Suns is a roleplaying game setting first popularized in a tabletop The chronicle of humanity’s history among the stars is a long one, stretch- game version and a computer strategy game, Emperor of the Fading Suns. This ing over two millennia. It is not a quiet story. From the greedy planet-grabbing book, Passion Play, introduces the setting to the world of live-action roleplaying. of early colonists to the bloody battles of the Emperor Wars, humans have rarely Passion Play is primarily about heroes and the dramatic conflicts they en- slept peacefully in the void. They have prospered, suffered defeat, and dared to counter, from palace intrigues to cliffhanging combats. It provides a framework hope again. And they have not traveled down the paths of history alone; aliens for players to create games from any perspective they desire. If they want to walk among them, with long histories and destinies of their own to complete. play soldiers who fight evil with guns and fists, the rules are here. If they want to play merchants who prefer diplomacy to violence, or priests wrestling with a First Republic metaphysical crisis, rules and helpful dramatic hints are also provided. Passion Humanity first reached the stars under the auspices of the First Republic, a Play is whatever the players want it to be. one-world government run by the “zaibatsu”: greedy mercantile barons whose Passion Play is a science fiction game, which means that there are starships, corporate states replaced the nations of the earth. The zaibatsu colonized the blasters, powered armor, alien races, and weird science. But there are also many solar system in search of new sources of wealth and mineral resources. At the elements of traditional fantasy gaming: heroic characters and struggles, a feu- edge of the solar system they found the jumpgate. dal sociopolitical structure (noble lords, high priests and headstrong merchants), This ancient artifact of alien manufacture baffled and awed humanity. It powerful artifacts and great mysteries. And there is horror: monsters and mad- took many years of research to unlock even the most basic secrets of its tech- dening discoveries revealing terrifying metaphysical truths. nology, but its main function was clear: It opened portals to distant star sys- In short, Passion Play is a game which has everything a live-action tems. Diligent scientists constructed the first jumpdrive, an engine installed on roleplaying universe needs in order to tell stories of varied and exotic themes a spaceship which could propel the ship through the gate, transporting it in- that can be found anywhere — even in our very own world here and now. stantly into foreign space light years away. Like medieval passion or mystery plays, Passion Plays deals with Samplegrand fileThe exodus began. themes universal to human experience. Its main theme is the Seeking. This is At first, the zaibatsu carefully controlled the manufacture and ownership of the mythological role all heroes play: the knight on quest, seeking power to jumpships and reaped the resources of the new worlds and solar systems. But vanquish his enemies or the secrets of self-discovery. Success or failure on this once anarchists leaked the secret of the technology to all, nobody could keep quest is not as important as the insights learned while on it. back the vast wave of people seeking to escape corporate tyranny and claim The atmosphere of the dramas played out in Passion Play is one of tragic worlds of their own. The First Republic collapsed in a civil war over ever-ex- ignorance. Civilization is in decline, and superstition and fear are everywhere. panding territory and diminishing loyalties. New ideas and frontiers are spurned by a nervous populace, fearful of change for the harm it brings. But it is just this sort of willful ignorance that keeps Diaspora civilization from rising again. It is such fear that keeps hope buried and great The new universe of Human Space was made up of fractured, planetary challenges from being met. The player characters represent the heroes who can nations, some democratic, some totalitarian. Many of the original rulers of these break the bonds of this ignorance and bring something new and great to their worlds created dynasties which would last for millennia: the first noble houses culture, to reawaken and invigorate life. to rule the stars. But years of political and social experiments yielded only chaos Without further ado, we give you a glimpse into the tumultuous fate of and strife between worlds. Into this dangerous universe came the Prophet, a humankind four millennia from now…. man with a vision of Creation he claimed was gifted to him by God, whom he called the Pancreator. The Prophet gathered disciples and followers about him and performed many miracles. A humanity desperate for unity and hope looked to the Prophet for its answers.