THE ORDER OF REASON TM Sample file By Brian Campbell 1 THE ORDER OF REASON Author’s Dedication Credits Special thanks to playtesters Elizabeth Campbell, Marc Authors: Brian Campbell “Sparky” Schmalz, Jilli “Perkygoth” Venters, Pete Venters, Fiction by: R. Sabrina Udell and Wendy Wallace. Developed by: R. Sabrina Udell Edited by: Jeanée Ledoux Developer’s Special thanks Art Director: Richard Thomas To Phil Brucato, for trusting me with the job. Layout & Typesetting: Ron Thompson To Rich Dansky, for help and support above and be- Art: Anthony Hightower, Jeff Holt, Andrew Siddall yond the call of duty. and Mikey Chaney as the Beaver. To Mike Tinney and Fred Yelk, for their infinite Front Cover Art: Christopher Shy patience. Back Cover Design: Ron Thompson And to Glenn Moss and Anthony Yarbrough, for lawyering the rules with precision and grace. © 2001 White Wolf Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Repro- duction without the written permission of the publisher is expressly forbidden, except for the purposes of reviews, and blank character sheets, which may be reproduced for personal use only. White Wolf, Vampire the Masquerade, Vampire the Dark Ages and Mage the Ascension are registered trademarks of White Wolf Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Trinity, Werewolf the Apocalypse, Wraith the Oblivion, Changeling the Dreaming, Werewolf the Wild West, The Book of Mirrors, The Book of Chantries, Beyond the Barriers the Book of Worlds, The Fragile Path, The Book of Shadows, Ascension’s Right Hand, The Book of Madness, Horizon Stronghold of Hope, Dark Ages Companion, The Risen, Axis Mundi the Book of Spirits, Mage the Sorcerers Crusade, and The Book of Crafts are trademarks of White Wolf Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. All characters, names, places and text herein are copyrighted by White Wolf Publishing, Inc. Ars Magica is a trademark of Atlas Games. Bjornaer, Criamon, Diedne, Flambeau, Jerbiton, Quaesitor, Tytalus, Verditius, Bonisagus, Covenant and Regio are trademarks of Atlas Games, are from the Ars Magica ™ game, and are used with permission. What is Arthaus? It’s White Wolfs newest The mention of or reference to any company or product in these imprint. White Wolfs mission has always been to pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright concerned. create art that entertains ; White Wolf Arthaus is This book uses the supernatural for settings, characters and themes. the embodiment of this ideal. Modeled after small All mystical and supernatural elements are fiction and intended for entertainment purposes only. Reader discretion is advised. For God’s press, the Arthaus team strives to create those sake,Sample it’s fiction! games and projects that are new,file experimental and Check out White Wolf online at unique. White Wolf Arthaus now manages whole http://www.white-wolf.com; alt.games.whitewolf and rec.games. game lines, supports others and creates specialty frp.storyteller projects whenever possible. PRINTED IN THE USA. 2 THE ORDER OF REASON TM Table of Contents Prelude: A Venetian Intrigue 4 Introduction: The Ascent of Daedalus 13 Chapter One: The Outer Labyrinth 19 Chapter Two: Enlightened Arts 41 Chapter Three: Daedalean Effects 63 Chapter Four: The Inner Labyrint 95 Chapter Five: The Hero Revealed 115 Appendix:Sample Storytelling file151 3 THE ORDER OF REASON Prelude: A Venetian IntrigueBianca Grimaldi cursed being born second and a woman. She gazed down from her bedroom window onto the fat, round head of her brother, Cæsare, and watched as both he and her father helped Giuseppe Lessi out of his opulent gondola. Close behind came another finely constructed craft, this one bearing Lessi’s wife, Gloria, and their son, Alessandro — Bianca’s future husband. She sighed and let the lace curtain fall back into place. “What vexes you, niece?” Bianca turned to regard the tall, raven-haired man whose powerful form filled the doorway. Lo- renzo Grimaldi had a dark, rich voice to match the dark, rich raiment he often wore. “I have been contemplating the gross injustice of this world, Uncle,” she replied and brushed the curtain aside once more. Cæsare was taking great pains to pose, gesture and flourish, the better to flaunt his bright green doublet, vivid blue hose and a cape made of fine cloth-of-gold. On a well-proportioned, highly charismatic man, the ensemble would have had Samplea passing chance at success. On her brother’s portlyfile 4 Introduction body, however, the combination was simply awful and embarrassing. “Just look at him!” she complained. “Preening about like a stuffed peacock. I cannot begin to spec- ulate how much he paid for that ridiculous costume. But I am certain the cost of the dye alone would be enough to feed our entire household — servants, guests and dogs — quite well for at least year. For that much money, he might have at least asked for a remotely flattering cut.” “Calm yourself, carina,” the great man crooned. “Surely your brother’s spending habits and poor taste in fashion are not responsible for this foul humor?” She turned to face him, hands on hips, her head cocked slightly to the side. In this posture, he noted, her dark beauty lent her a certain ferocity and contradicted the light and airy delicacy her name was meant to convey. “Uncle, I should think that you above all peo- ple would understand!” she exclaimed. “I could make this family truly great. I could build upon father’s good fortune and success. But Cæsare is the firstborn son. And so, I must marry while the great wastrel inherits. Left to him, the wealth my father labored a lifetime to build will bleed out of our coffers in the blink of an eye! And then where shall we be? On the street! Disgraced! We shall be the laughingstock of Venice!” Lorenzo laughed softly and strolled across the spacious room to stand on the sun-drenched balcony overlooking the canal. “I think, piccolina, your fears spring less from your brother’s lack of thrift and more from a strong desire to remain unmarried and Sampleclaim the inheritance for yourself.” file 5 THE ORDER OF REASON Bianca left the window to stand beside her uncle, linking her arm with his and resting her head on his shoulder. Only three years separated Lorenzo from his brother, and yet her uncle lacked the traces of advanced age that were plainly evident in her father. In every aspect, Lorenzo retained the ardor and vitality of a man in the prime of life. Bianca had chosen him as her favorite from an early age, and so the bond between them was deep. Perhaps that was why he seemed able to peer into her heart and read her innermost thoughts. “Yes,” she began, “I suppose I would like to remain a maiden and claim father’s fortune for my own. I would be lying if I told you otherwise. But my rational self understands that marriage is a noble and necessary contract.” “And yet?” Lorenzo prompted. “And yet,” she sighed, “I find myself questioning father’s judgment.” She detached herself from his side and began to pace. “I have had legitimate attentions from great men — wealthy men! Even Giulio Caspetti, a member of the Serenissima and a nobleman! His father was here to dine two months past, and you told me that he asked for father’s opinion regarding a possible union. I was certain father would leap at such an offer. But instead . .” “Instead he chose Lessi,” Lorenzo interrupted, placing himself directly in her path. “And are the Lessis so far beneath you? Hmm? Are they not a fine merchant family? One of the finest in Venice? It is well known that the father has a considerable fortune, which he intends to settle on Samplehis son. A union between our two families wouldfile do much to expand our interests.” 6 .