Tavern Tales Toolkit - studioKeywi

There are some who seek to look beyond the veil to unravel the mysteries of the universe, unlocking ancient power that was never intended to fall into mortal hands. These masters of the arcane arts bend the universe to their will by breaking the laws of physics and inventing new laws at whim. They fling fireballs as easily as an archer might launch an arrow. They warp space and time to create portals that span across continents. They bind their enemies under powerful spells to leave them as helpless as newborn kittens. Do you dare to rip apart the fabric of spacetime to tinker with reality? Unfathomable power awaits those foolish or brave enough to try.

Examples of Arcane characters include:

An aged wizard spends his days poring over tomes to create a new spell.
A war mage devastates his foes with orbs of raw energy and powerful hexes.
A scientist researches bizarre magical anomalies hoping for the next big scientific breakthrough.

Arcane

Barrier

(Arcane | Combat)

Effects

You can create a wall (max 1) of 20 spaces or less that lasts a few minutes. Shape it however you want, but don't imprison anyone

Descriptions

creating a wall of force

conjuring a wall of iron

dividing reality with an impenetrable barrier

Counterspell

(Arcane | Combat)

Effects

Collaborate on how you charge this trait. At any point, spend the charge to make someone's Tale utterly fail

Descriptions

turning their power against them

activating a ward

triggering a contingency

casting an anti-spell

Examples

Charge

write runes in your spellbook

enchant your staff with a null-spell

meditate in total silence

Dispel

(Arcane | Combat)

Effects

You can destroy or suppress magic.

Descriptions

stealing magic

purging dark magic

teleporting energy

reshaping reality

siphoning magic

Evocation

(Arcane | Combat)

Effects

You can create an explosion in a zone

Descriptions

explosion of arcane energy

beam of pure energy

cone of force

burst of raw chaos all around you

Magic Resistance

(Arcane | Combat)

Effects

Gain the defense "Magic Resistance ☐." Mark it when you suffer a Bad Tale related to magic. You're then immune to that specific magic for several minutes

Descriptions

conjuring a shield spell

your magical blood

have a resistant spirit

your spell-ward tattoos

Magic Missile

(Arcane | Combat)

Effects

You don't need ammo to make ranged attacks, and your projectiles can turn corners to seek targets

Descriptions

conjuring orbs of energy

shooting blue lights

firing laser beams

creating ammo from the ether

Rewind

(Arcane | Combat)

Effects

You can rewind someone, returning them to their status about 1 minute ago. Then, you can't use Rewind again for about 1 minute

Descriptions

turning back time

jumping into a wormhole

reversing time's flow

casting chrono-magic

Examples

Status

inventory

wounds

location

treasure

temporary conditions

memories

physical condition

Warp Time

(Arcane | Combat)

Effects

You can accelerate or decelerate someone for a few minutes. Accelerated creatures move about twice as fast as normal. Decelerated creatures move about half as fast as normal

Descriptions

casting a chronomancy spell

reversing the flow of time

opening or closing the time stream

Alter Time

(Arcane | Exploration)

Effects

You can alter time. Collaborate on what you do.

Descriptions

changing the flow of times

casting powerful chrono-magic

stepping out of the time stream

Examples

Alter time

undo an event

slow down time in an area

travel to the far future or distant past

restore youth

Cantrip

(Arcane | Exploration)

Effects

You can perform minor magic tricks You can do virtually anything with these tricks so long as the effect is comparatively weak

Descriptions

performing sleight of hand

creating a minor illusion

dazzling with showy magic

casting rote spells

Examples

Tricks

inscribe a permanent glowing rune

make a handheld item vanish or appear

light candles in a room

Detect Magic

(Arcane | Exploration)

Effects

You can experience magic with your normal senses

Descriptions

seeing swirls of magic

how magic sounds

the stench of necromancy

the glow of divine magic

Illusion

(Arcane | Exploration)

Effects

You can create a convincing illusion that lasts for several hours

Descriptions

bending light and shadow

creating a faerie illusion

deceiving their minds

casting twilight magic

Invisibility

(Arcane | Exploration)

Effects

You can touch something to turn it invisible for several hours. Collaborate on what causes the invisibility to flicker, fade, and end

Descriptions

bending light and shadow

creating a faerie illusion

deceiving their minds

casting twilight magic

Place of Power

(Arcane | Exploration)

Effects

Whenever you encounter a place of power, collaborate on what power you can draw from it

Descriptions

pulling forth a geyser of pure energy

devouring raw magic

bending energy to your will

Examples

Places

ley line

magic anomaly

dragon graveyard

primeval grove

heart of the mountain

sun temple

Power

amplify a trait

gain a temporary trait

deal more damage there

heal more quickly

enhance a stat

Ritual

(Arcane | Exploration)

Effects

Whenever you want, tell the GM a powerful effect you want to achieve. The GM will tell you what you need to do to complete a ritual If you fulfill the requirements, you achieve the desired effect

Descriptions

performing an ancient ritual

reciting magic phrases

chanting around a glowing circle

Examples

Effects

eternally seal a creature in a prison

raise a sunken ship

make a magic effect permanent

Requirements

visit a special location

sacrifice treasure

chant with other wizards

obtain a special item

Teleport

(Arcane | Exploration)

Effects

You can teleport. Collaborate on what that entails

Descriptions

vanishing in a puff

rearranging spacetime

opening a wormhole

stepping across dimensions

Examples

How it works

you must have been there before

requires line of sight

requires intense concentration

Wizard Eye

(Arcane | Exploration)

Effects

You can create an eye-sized item. You can see, hear, and sense through it whenever you want. It's permanent and immobile, or it flies wherever you want and lasts for about 1 hour

Descriptions

conjuring a floating disembodied eye

enchanting a crystal ball

activating a magic drone

Apprentice

(Arcane | Interaction)

Effects

You can designate 1 of your minions (max 1) as your apprentice. Their disposition toward you significantly improves and the end of their contract becomes "in exchange for guidance and hands-on training." When you gain XP, your apprentice gains that much XP as well

Descriptions

leading by example

explaining the intricacies of your craft

testing their skills

bonding with them

Familiar

(Arcane | Interaction)

Effects

Create a minion with half of your XP and the contract "________ will loyally serve as your lab assistant, pet, and familiar in exchange for basic necessities." If lost, collaborate on how you replace it

Descriptions

summoning a familiar

growing it from a drop of your blood

enchanting an animal to serve you

Examples

Familiars

imp

cat

frog

snake

mouse

dog

monkey

small robot

raven

owl

drakeling

mana dragon

Flawless Logic

(Arcane | Interaction)

Effects

You are far more persuasive with logic, reasoning, and evidence. You can sway others in situations when logic would normally fall on deaf ears. Collaborate on how your logical arguments exceed normal limitations

Descriptions

listing the facts

reaching a logical conclusion

using your sharp mind

outwitting someone

Gentleman and a Scholar

(Arcane | Interaction)

Effects

When you show someone respect, they will match the amount of respect you show them until your show them disrespect

Descriptions

wearing a monocle

bowing graciously

giving a firm handshake

showing due respect

Just an Old Man with a Walking Stick

(Arcane | Interaction)

Effects

You can make someone grossly underestimate you until they see proof to the contrary

Descriptions

leaning heavily on your cane

acting awkward and socially inept

acting naive and harmless

Mutual Edification

(Arcane | Interaction)

Effects

When you honestly reveal information to someone or answer one of their questions, they must share equally important information or answer an equally sensitive question

Descriptions

proposing an exchange

tricking them into talking

showing scholarly respect

educating each other

Pedantic

(Arcane | Interaction)

Effects

You can make people listening to your gain the condition "Bored and Sleepy"

Descriptions

talking in one long incredibly unbroken sentence

your monotone voice

droning on and on

Examples

Topics

spore varieties

extended noble lineage

agazar's third law of arcano-kinetics

ancient texts

Polyglot

(Arcane | Interaction)

Effects

Collaborate on which additional languages you know

Descriptions

how you learned another language

the language's accent

speaking a sentence in that language