Godstones/Rules

Rules For Godstones
Two key attributes (characteristics) are used in the operation of, namely  (psychic ability) and  (mental strength). If your FRP rules do not include these attributes, they may be determined by the sum of 3d6 (+2 for females).

Attribute testing
and are tested according to the  rules (SkillS 8). The attribute is multiplied by 1 to 7, to produce a Target Level (TL) that may be modified at discretion. Any TL larger than 95 is treated as 95 and any TL lower than 5 is treated as 5. A roll is made. If the roll exceeds the Target Level, the attempt fails, otherwise it succeeds. Any percentile roll divisible by five is a critical result, all other rolls indicate marginal results. Hence, there are four possible levels of success: Critical Failure (CF), Marginal Failure (MF), Marginal Success (MS), or Critical Success (CS).

Operating Godstones
Anyone may step through an active Godstone. This can, of course, be extremely risky. An unknown destination may be very dangerous to the health of the user. Even if an active Godstone has been used before and that destination was safe, the setting may have been changed in the interval by some other user. To activate passive Godstones or to read or change their settings, characters must first attune to them.

Attunement
Attunement is an empathic relationship between the Godstone and the character. Before a character can attempt any other operation on a Godstone, he must attune to it. This is true whether the Godstone is active or passive. Any character with an may attune by entering a light trance while touching the stone. The time required for the operation is 30– seconds. Attunement is attempted by testing against 5× or against Sensitivity ML.


 * 4 Fatigue Levels, Shock Roll. No attunement.
 * 2 Fatigue Levels, Shock Roll. No attunement.
 * 1 Fatigue Level. Character is Attuned.
 * Character is attuned (no fatigue).

If successful (MS/CS), a character remains attuned until he breaks the tactile link, steps through the Gate, or fails at any operation. Once attuned, the following operations may be attempted:


 * [1] Activate the Godstone
 * [2] Read the Setting
 * [3] Change the Setting
 * [4] Shut Down the Godstone

[1] Activating Godstones
There is a 30% chance that an encountered Godstone is active. Experienced players will soon note the difference between an active and passive Godstone by the presence or absence of the black “gate” on its front. But even this basic difference may occasionally be disguised by illusory spells. Roll against 5×:


 * 3 FL, Shock Roll. Remains Passive.
 * 2 FL, Shock Roll. Remains Passive.
 * 1 FL. Godstone Activated.
 * Godstone Activated (no fatigue).

[2] Reading the setting
An attempt to read the current setting of an active Godstone. This operation is optional (a character may reset without reading the setting). Roll against 7×:


 * 3 FL, Shock Roll. No information.
 * 2 FL, Shock Roll. No information.
 * 1 FL. Character reads setting.
 * Character reads setting (no fatigue).

Only the character who reads the setting is given information (he may wish to mislead others). Unless the character has been there before, information given should be a brief visual description of the destination.}}

Random settings
s do not have to record Godstone settings. It may be assumed they are changed (randomly) by the several dozen NPCs who use them. The following tables can generate the current setting of Godstones.

Destination type
Most Godstones are set to the location of other Gates, since this provides a way back. But they may be set to ordinary places. They can even be set to a specific person, which means the Godstone will seek out that individual's location and teleport a user to him.

World setting
The following table randomly generates the target world for any Godstone on any Kethrian world. A “00” roll indicates a setting outside the Kèthrîan Family.

Northwest Lýthia settings
The following table generates Godstone settings in the [h],  [i] and  [s] regions.

[3] Resetting Godstones
A new destination is set by mentally visualizing it and exerting Will to change the setting. When given a mental image of a new location, a Godstone conducts a search for a location that resembles the image. Since mental images can be vague, the Godstone can get confused. If the image is poorly constructed, the Godstone may be forced to reject it.

The Reset Roll
The roll is made against a target level (TL) that is a multiple (WM) of. Basic WM is 3, adjusted as noted below. Fractional adjustments to WM (e.g., + half WM) may be assessed at discretion.

Resetting a Godstone to the location of another Godstone is easiest (+0); to a location without a godstone, –1; and to a person, –2.

Good familiarity with the intended destination is required for accurate visualization of a location. Adjust WM from –2 (character has never been there before) to +2 (character is particularly familiar with the location (e.g., his bedchamber).

Those with high mental discipline, such as, can create more precise mental images. GM may adjust WM +1 at his discretion.

A good memory helps provide detail if the character has actually been there. Increase WM +1 if the character’s Intelligence is more than 13.

A Godstone has a primary affinity with the world in which it stands and secondary affinities with others. For a moderate link, decrease WM by 1, intermediate link by 2, and hard link by 3.

Roll against Target Level (WM×Will). Maximum TL is 95; minimum is 5.


 * 5 FL, Shock Roll, Godstone shuts down
 * 3 FL, Godstone resets randomly.
 * 2 FL, Resets to intended destination.
 * Godstoneresetstointendeddestination.

Reset accuracy is not automatically apparent. The character must read the setting to determine success.

[4] shutting down Godstones
Godstones may be shut down (made passive). Use the same procedure as Activating Godstones, except CF means failure to close, etc.

Malfunctions
The Godstones have been around for a long time and are not impervious to breaking down. As there is no one around with the requisite skill to repair them, Godstone malfunctions tend to be permanent. At GM discretion, there is a 10% chance that any Godstone is malfunctioning. Some possible consequences are:



Effect on possessions
Since Godstones act on, items devoid of aura may not be transported. All living things have aura, and most once-living things such as, , or , usually have enough residual aura to accompany their owners. Some artifacts have artificial aura. Persons of high aura may be able to “drag” aura-less items within a few (Aura/2) inches of their skin. For each item, the may test a multiple of the carrier’s.

Items lost in transit are “stored” in the departure Godstone. If the same traveler returns to that stone within a reasonable period, some or all of his lost possessions may be restored to him.

Megagaming
s may use the Godstones to link different worlds under one or several GMs into a megagame wherein characters travel from one world to another in the course of their adventures. Each world can operate under its own natural laws (rules). Powerful characters from a magic-strong world should find their abilities reduced when they arrive in a magic-weak environment like (and vice-versa). Each player might have several profiles describing the same character, reflecting changes in personal powers as he moves from one world to another. The megagame concept is one of the most interesting in roleplaying.

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