GURPS 4th edition. Banestorm

258 Pages·2005·12.358 MB·English

by  Phil Masters, Jonathan Woodward

Welcome to the land of Yrth, a realm of incredibly varied
races and monsters – including people snatched from
our Earth and other worlds by the cataclysmic
Banestorm! Now humans struggle with dwarves,
elves, and each other. The Crusades aren’t ancient B
history here – they’re current events. And on this
A
world, magic works!
N
Journey from the windswept plains of the
Nomad Lands – where fierce Nordic warriors seek E
a valiant death to earn a seat in Valhalla – to S
Megalos, the ancient empire where sorcery and
T
political intrigue go hand in hand. Or trek south
O
to the Muslim lands of al-Wazif and al-Haz to
explore the forbidden city of Geb’al-Din.
R
This is a complete world background – history,
M
religion, culture, politics, races, and detailed,
full-color maps – everything needed to start a
campaign. Phil Masters (the Discworld and
Hellboy RPGs) and Jonathan Woodward (Hellboy
and GURPS Ogre) have compiled previous Yrth
material and updated it with new peoples, places, and
plots, as well as much more on magic and mystic powers.
Make your own mark on Yrth. Plunder elven ruins while evading
the desert natives. Play a peasant-born hero . . . an orcish pirate . . .
a Muslim double agent commanded to infiltrate the Hospitallers.
A world of magic is waiting for you . . .
By Phil Masters and Jonathan Woodward Edited by Janie Murphy and Steve Jackson
Based onGURPS FANTASYbySteve Jackson, Kirk Tate,andJanet Naylor
Cover Art by Bob Stevlic Illustrated by Bob Stevlic and Chris Quilliams
Cartography by J. Kovach
1STEDITION,1STPRINTING
PUBLISHEDAUGUST2005
ISBN 1-55634-744-8
9!BMF@JA:RSVSSRoYjZhZ_ZdZ`
STEVE
JACKSON
Printed in GAMES
SJG03495 01-2002
the USA
01-2002
Written by PHIL MASTERS and JONATHAN WOODWARD
Based on GURPS Fantasy by STEVE JACKSON, KIRK TATE, and JANET NAYLOR
Cover by BOB STEVLIC
Illustrated by BOB STEVLIC and CHRIS QUILLIAMS
Cartography by J. KOVACH
Edited by JANIE MURPHY and STEVEJACKSON
ISBN 1-55634-744-8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
STEVE JACKSON GAMES
C
ONTENTS
1. HISTORY. . . . . . . . 5 TECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 The Curia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Yibyorak: The GoblinCity. . 100
PRE-HUMANYRTH . . . . . . . . . . .6 Underground Engineering. . 30 Holy Orders. . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 The Brothers of Mercury . . 102
Yrth Astronomy and Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . 31 The Order of Friedrich. . . . . 62 ARATERRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Geography. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Medicine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 The Secret of the Templars. . 63 The Fiefdoms. . . . . . . . . . . 104
THEBANESTORM . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 The Michaelites. . . . . . . . . . . 64 MAPOFARATERREAND
Gaming the Banestorm. . . . . 7 MAJORLANGUAGES . . . . . . . . .33 The Afterlife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 THERINGISLANDS. . . . . . . 105
Civilizations Emerge. . . . . . . 8 Nonhuman Speech. . . . . . . 33 ISLAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Maritime Technology. . . . . 105
Timeline (200 B.C. to ARTSANDENTERTAINMENT . .34 The Shari’a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 The Prince of Araterre. . . . . 106
1550 A.D.). . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 SOCIALARRANGEMENTS . . . . .38 Julnari Dervishes. . . . . . . . . 67 Dame Catherine “la Noire”. . 107
THESPREADOFHUMANITY . .10 The Peasantry . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Islam’s Divisions . . . . . . . . . 69 The Ring Islands. . . . . . . . 107
The Rise of Megalos. . . . . . 10 Nonhumans in Human Human Religions’ Views Bilit Island. . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
The Crusades. . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 of Nonhumans . . . . . . . . 69 Adventuring in the Isles. . . 108
The Unified Church. . . . . . . 10 The Merchant Class. . . . . . . 40 The Ghazi Orders . . . . . . . . 70 CAITHNESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Simon Menelaus. . . . . . . . . . 10 Knighthood . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Nonhumans’ Views MAPOFCAITHNESS. . . . . . . . . 109
Timeline (1550 A.D. to Muslim Social Positions. . . 40 of Human Religions. . . . 70 The Silver Hand. . . . . . . . . 110
1900 A.D.). . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Arms and Devices. . . . . . . . . 41 Muslim Radicals and The Civil War. . . . . . . . . . . 113
NEJWihCadHA. L. L. E. .N .G . E. S. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1122 TOhrdee Nrso obfi lKitnyi.g h. .t h. o. o. d. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4412 Has“hHieshreinti cAss”sa. s. s.i .n .a .t i.o .n . .. .. .. 7712 KThineg R Cooynaalilsl tVsI. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 111145
The Banestorm Resurgent. 12 SLAVERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 JUDAISM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 The Knights of the Stone. . 115
Megalos Reduced. . . . . . . . . 13 ECONOMICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Berakhot and Kashrut. . . . . 75 Baroness Bronwyn. . . . . . . 116
Rabbis and Cantors. . . . . . . 75 The Sterling Rebels. . . . . . 117
An Yrthian Reformation? . . 13 Coins of Ytarria . . . . . . . . . . 44
THELASTHUNDREDYEARS . .14 CRIMEANDPUNISHMENT . . . .44 OTHPaEgRanRiEsmLIG. I.O .N . S. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7766 PhoCtihuusr cahn do ft hCea ithness. . . 118
The Mages’ War. . . . . . . . . . 14 POLITICALSYSTEMS . . . . . . . .45 The Religion of Bilit Island. . 78 The South. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
More Orc Aggression. . . . . . 14 Feudalism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Hinduism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 The Order of St. George
A World Seen in Dreams. . . 14 Megalan Autocracy. . . . . . . 46
Buddhism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 of the Dragon. . . . . . . . . 119
Timeline (1900 A.D. to The “Rebel Lands” . . . . . . . . 47
Sahudese Religion. . . . . . . . 80 The Great Forest. . . . . . . . . 120
2005 A.D.). . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Muslim Government. . . . . . 48
An’Fo’Tama Monks. . . . . . . . 80 AL-HAZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
The Blackwoods Spread. . . 16 Nonhuman Government. . . 48
The Frontier Wars. . . . . . . . 16 Tribalism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 NONHUMANRELIGIONS . . . . .81 MAPOFAL-HAZ. . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Hazi and Wazifi Status . . . 121
Civil War in Caithness. . . . . 16 Sahud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 4. LANDSOFYRTH. . 84 The Rulers of Al-Haz . . . . . 123
Now. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 TOWNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 COUNTRIESANDREGIONS The Coast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
2. LIFEINYTARRIA . . 17 SECGRuEiTldSsO. .C .I E. T. I.E . S. .A .N . D. . . . . . . 50 MEOGFAYLOTASR R. I.A . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8854 TThhee MMaoeulsnttraoimns.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 112256
THEPEOPLEOFYRTH . . . . . .18 CONSPIRACIES . . . . . . . . . . .52 MAPOFWESTERNMEGALOS. . . 86 The Pilgrims’ Plague. . . . . . 127
The Elder Folk. . . . . . . . . . . 18 Wizardly Conspiracies . . . . 52 The “Evil Empire”?. . . . . . . . 87 The Plains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
The Dark Elves. . . . . . . . . . . 18 Fireballs vs. Gunpowder . . . 52 Megalan Status and Titles. . 87 The Balikites in Firuz. . . . . 128
The Newcomers. . . . . . . . . . 20 Pagan Cults . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 The Ministry of AL-WAZIF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
Interracial Relations. . . . . . . 21 Mystery Cults. . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Serendipity. . . . . . . . . . . 88 MAPOFAL-WAZIF. . . . . . . . . . 130
Gabrook: World of Sands. . . 21 Diabolical Cults. . . . . . . . . . 53 Megalos: Capital The Great Games. . . . . . . . 133
Loren’dil: The Green World. . 22 Bardic Colleges . . . . . . . . . . 53 of the Empire. . . . . . . . . 89 Cities of Al-Wazif. . . . . . . . 133
Olokun: World of Water. . . . 22 The Underground MAPOFEASTERNMEGALOS. . . 91 The Treachery of Taveon. . . 134
Other Races. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Engineers . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 The Emperor. . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 The Ruins of Autheuil. . . . 135
MAGIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Spy Rings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 The Midlands. . . . . . . . . . . . 93 The Pillars of Heaven. . . . 136
Spell-Based Magic. . . . . . . . 23 Protestantism. . . . . . . . . . . . 55 The Manites . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 CARDIEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
MMaaggiecr yI tienm Nso.n .h .u . m. .a .n .s . .. .. .. .. 2243 3. RELIGION . . . . . . 56 TLohred N Colartuhdeiruns MMaarsckhilels. .. .. .. .. 9945 MATPhOeF LCoArdRsDI.E .L . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 113408
Banestorm Spells. . . . . . . . . 25 Comparative Theology. . . . . 56 City of the Dead . . . . . . . . . . 97 The Regions of Cardiel. . . 140
Some Legendary Artifacts. . . 26 CHRISTIANITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 The Southlands. . . . . . . . . . 97 Tredroy: The City
Mysticism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Beings With Souls . . . . . . . . 57 Pirates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 of Three Laws. . . . . . . . 142
Alchemy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Canon Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 The Western Empire. . . . . . 98 MAPOFTREDROY. . . . . . . . . . 143
The Genetics of Magery. . . . 29 Heresy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 The Secret Adventuring in Tredroy. . . . 147
Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 of the Blackwoods. . . . . . 99
GURPSSystem Design ❚ STEVE JACKSON Production Manager ❚ MONICA STEPHENS Sales Manager ❚ ROSSJEPSON
GURPSLine Editor ❚ SEAN PUNCH ProductionArtist ❚ ALEX FERNANDEZ Errata Coordinator ❚ ANDY VETROMILE
Art Director ❚ STEVEJACKSON Print Buyer ❚ MOECHAPMAN GURPSFAQ Maintainer ❚ ❍❍❍❍❍
Page Design ❚ PHILIP REED Marketing Director ❚ PAUL CHAPMAN STÉPHANE THÉRIAULT
Lead Playtester: Stephan Pennington.Playtesters:Mark Baddeley, Frederick Brackin, Michael Cule, Peter V. Dell’Orto, Thomas Devine, Leonardo M. Holschuh,
MA Lloyd, Paul May, David Moore, Simon Proctor, Shawn K. Stevenson, William H. Stoddard, Dustin Tranberg, Chad Underkoffler, and Jeff Wilson.
Thanks to Tamar Amidon, Christopher Anthony, Elizabeth McCoy, and Matt Riggsby.
Phil Masters:To my players of the last 25 years, who suffered while I learned. Jonathan Woodward:To Annie Webber, ever a shelter from the storm.
GURPS, Warehouse 23, and the all-seeing pyramid are registered trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. Pyramid, Banestorm,and the names
of all products published by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated are registered trademarks or trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated,
or used under license. GURPSBanestormis copyright © 2005by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please
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2 C
ONTENTS
SAHUD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148 Intelligent Animals. . . . . . . 194 Knight-Errant . . . . . . . . . . 208 Harpies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Who is “Sahudese”?. . . . . . 148 Medusas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Knightly Lenses. . . . . . . . . . 209 Hellsharks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
MAPOFSAHUD . . . . . . . . . . . . 149 Merfolk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Martial Artist. . . . . . . . . . . 209 Hippogriffs. . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Women in Sahud. . . . . . . . 152 Minotaurs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Mercenary . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 Animal PCs. . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
The Clanholds of Sahud. . 153 Octopus Folk . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Masters of the Martial Arts. . 210 Hydras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Sahudese Ninja. . . . . . . . . . 153 Ogres. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Merchant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 Krakens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Kinkaku and Uulinn. . . . . 154 Orcs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Michaelite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 Nightstalkers. . . . . . . . . . . 223
The Eyes of Heaven. . . . . . 155 Reptile Men. . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Other Jobs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 Paladins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
ZARAK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157 The “Monster Races”. . . . . 197 Mystic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 Pegasi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
MAPOFZARAK. . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 Sea Elves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Northern Barbarian . . . . . 212 Reeks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
The Banestorm Shark Men. . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Mystic Lenses. . . . . . . . . . . 213 Animal Handling and
Underground. . . . . . . . . 158 Sphinxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Missionaries. . . . . . . . . . . . 214 “Hybrids”. . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Zarak Social Status. . . . . . 159 Spirits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Peasant Hero. . . . . . . . . . . 214 Striders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Dwarf Women. . . . . . . . . . . 159 Trolls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Priest-Wizard. . . . . . . . . . . 214 Treetippers. . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Surface Dwarves. . . . . . . . . 160 Interbreeding. . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Priest-Wizard Lenses. . . . . . 215 Unicorns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Technology in Zarak. . . . . . 161 THEACCURSED . . . . . . . . . . .200 Swashbuckler. . . . . . . . . . . 215 Wyverns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Seven Brother Kings. . . . . 161 Ghouls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Underground Engineer. . . 215 DRAGONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226
Thulin’s Folk. . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Lycanthropes. . . . . . . . . . . 200 Sailors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 DOMESTICANIMALS . . . . . . .228
THEORCLANDS . . . . . . . . . . .163 Vampires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Urban Rogue. . . . . . . . . . . 216
MAPOFTHEORCLANDS. . . . . . 164 ADVENTURINGCHARACTER Watchman . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 7. CAMPAIGNS
The Orc Tribes. . . . . . . . . . 164 TEMPLATES . . . . . . . . . . . .202 Woodsman. . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 ON YRTH . . . . 230
Castle Defiant. . . . . . . . . . . 164 Assassin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 The Silver Hand Lens. . . . . 217 GAMESTYLES . . . . . . . . . . . .230
OFrtohnetri eRr aacneds T. r.i .b .a .l . . . . . . . 166 BTeacrhdni.q .u .e .s . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 220033 6. CREATURES. . . . 218 MLeiaxrendi nSgt yflreosm. .H . i.s .t o. r. y. .. .. .. .. 223312
Adventuring. . . . . . . . . . 166 The Bard-Wizard. . . . . . . . . 204 “ORDINARY” WILDLIFE . . . . .218 Beware of Black Powder. . . 233
THENOMADLANDS . . . . . . .167 Battle Wizard. . . . . . . . . . . 204 Vermin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 THEPCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .235
MAPOFTHENOMADLANDS. . . 167 Bounty Hunter. . . . . . . . . . 204 FANTASTICALCREATURES . . .219 Criminal vs.
The Legend of Heolford. . . 168 Charlatan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Basilisks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 High-Minded PCs. . . . . 235
Northman Religion. . . . . . . 170 Agents of Serendipity. . . . . 205 Bushwolves . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 Playing Yourselves . . . . . . . 236
THTBWEhlSiIenLO dDGU ELrTReaHaNrWstE D.ES .SSe .Ts .eE. .rR. t .. N. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111777332 ECAdonvutOeernrtthtitaeuerirrn. e Oe.r rs.c ..cf ru.. o..p m..a ..t i..o ..n .. s .. ... ... ... ... 222000566 CTDGhaeiaeumn sAott cinSgidsup. si S.de w.es ..ra s..m ... p... ...s .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... 222222220000 MCEHPAIAGLNOICGGIUONENG: YTTHRHTEEHWF U.O .T R.U L.R D. E. .. .. .. ..223367
MAPOFTHEGREATDESERT. . 173 Freelance Wizard. . . . . . . . 207 Gryphons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 OFYRTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237
The Southern Plains. . . . . 173 Healer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Bestial but Intelligent. . . . . 221 INDEX. . . . . . . . . . 238
Elven Ruins . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
The Djinn Lands. . . . . . . . 174
MAPOFTHEDJINNLANDS. . . 175
MANALEVELSACROSS About GURPS
YTARRIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
THEOCEANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178
Steve Jackson Games is committed to full support of the GURPSsystem. Our address
Island Cultures. . . . . . . . . . 179
The Sea Elf Tribes. . . . . . . 179 is SJ Games, P.O. Box 18957, Austin, TX 78760. Please include a self-addressed, stamped
The Banestorm envelope (SASE) any time you write us! We can also be reached by e-mail:
Underwater. . . . . . . . . . 180 [email protected]. Resources include:
Beyond the Seas?. . . . . . . . 181
Adding New Lands. . . . . . . 181 Pyramid(www.sjgames.com/pyramid/). Our online magazine includes new GURPS
rules and articles. It also covers the d20system, Ars Magica, BESM, Call of Cthulhu,
5. CHARACTERS. . . 182 and many more top games – and other Steve Jackson Games releases like Illuminati,
STARTINGPOINTS . . . . . . . . .182 Car Wars, Transhuman Space,and more. Pyramidsubscribers also get opportunities to
DESIGNINGCHARACTERS . . .183 playtest new GURPSbooks!
Advantages. . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 New supplements and adventures. GURPScontinues to grow, and we’ll be happy to let
Religious Rank of you know what’s new. For a current catalog, send us a legal-sized SASE, or just visit
Church Officials . . . . . . 184 www.warehouse23.com.
Disadvantages . . . . . . . . . . 185 e23.Our e-publishing division offers GURPSadventures, play aids, and support not
Skills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
available anywhere else! Just head over to e23.sjgames.com.
STATUSANDWEALTH . . . . . .187 Errata.Everyone makes mistakes, including us – but we do our best to fix our errors.
What Cost of Living
Up-to-date errata sheets for all GURPSreleases, including this book, are available on our
Gets You. . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
website – see below.
NONHUMANRACES . . . . . . . .188
Internet.Visit us on the World Wide Web at www.sjgames.comfor errata, updates,
Centaurs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Djinn Ascended Ones. . . . 188 Q&A, free webforums, and much more. The GURPS Banestorm web page is
Dolphins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/banestorm/.
Dwarves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Bibliographies.Many of our books have extensive bibliographies, and we’re putting
Elves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 them online – with links to let you buy the books that interest you! Go to the book’s web
Gargoyles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 page and look for the “Bibliography” link.
Giants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 GURPSnet.This e-mail list hosts much of the online discussion of GURPS.To join,
Gnomes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
point your web browser to mail.sjgames.com/mailman/listinfo/gurpsnet-l/.
Goblins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Halflings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Rules and statistics in this book are specifically for the GURPS Basic Set, Fourth
Insect Men . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Edition.Page references that begin with B refer to that book, not this one.
Creating New Races. . . . . . 193
Hobgoblins. . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Kobolds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
C 3
ONTENTS
I
NTRODUCTION
This world to me is like a lasting Publication History it also received passing mentions in
storm . . . various “generic” fantasy-oriented
The GURPSfantasy world of Yrth
–William Shakespeare, Pericles GURPSsupplements over the years.
is actually older than GURPSitself. It
This book returns to Yrth, advanc-
first appeared in 1985 as the setting
Welcome to Yrth – the world of for Orcslayer, by Warren Spector and ing its history 15 years from its last
the Banestorm. Here humanity and a Steve Jackson; this adventure focused substantial depiction and bringing
dozen other races, orphans and on the region of Caithness and worked game mechanics in line with GURPS
authors of the storm alike, wield with the core combat system for Fourth Edition. We’ve broadened the
swords and spells in a struggle for GURPS, published the following year. general scope in some spots, explored
survival and glory. Although trolls In 1986, a larger world-rendering more detail in others – and taken the
and dragons lurk in the dark places, appeared in the first edition of opportunity to change a few things.
the worst dangers of all may be GURPS Fantasy, by Steve Jackson. A
Ytarria
found in the verdant forests and general guide to running fantasy
This book, like its predecessors,
great palaces . . . games in GURPS,it also outlined Yrth
focuses on the continent of Ytarria.
as a sample setting, still focusing on
ABOUT Caithness. That land reappeared in Located in Yrth’s northern hemi-
sphere, Ytarria spans roughly 3,000
1988 as the location for Aaron Allston
THIS BOOK and J. David George’s GURPS miles. Local climes range from
parched deserts and subtropical
Fantasy:Harkwood,a campaign set-
GURPS Banestorm is a guide to forests in the south to chilly subarctic
ting and scenario based on a feudal
fantasy RPG adventures on the world regions in the north. Humans have
fief. In 1989, Alexander von Thorn’s
of Yrth, particularly the continent of GURPS Fantasy: Tredroy looked at settled a number of outlying islands
Ytarria. Yrth largely resembles our the “City of Three Laws.” Kirk Tate but maintain contact with mainland
own world save that magic works there and Janet Naylor wrote a completely cultures. Some nonhuman races dwell
and none of its original sapient or semi- new 1990 edition titled GURPS under the waves themselves.
intelligent races are human. However, Fantasy: The Magical World of Yrth, Although other continents exist on
an ancient dimensional vortex known which plumbed the mysteries of Yrth, ocean travel is difficult. Ships
as the Banestorm has periodically Ytarria even further. are likely to be beset by powerful cur-
transplanted humans and others to Yrth was the official “default” set- rents, wild storms, monsters, and
Ytarria from Earth . . . and elsewhere. ting for GURPS fantasy games, but supernatural strangeness. GMs may
This book is a supplement for after 1990 it was only lightly devel- view the lack of development
of Ytarria’s neighbors as an invitation
GURPS Fourth Edition, and Yrth- oped, notably in the 1991 anthology
to design and populate these
based games can be run with nothing GURPS Fantasy Adventures, which
places themselves; however, GURPS
more than this and the two volumes of featured scenarios by Chris W.
Banestormis explicitly written to pro-
the GURPS Basic Set.However, many McCubbin, David Dunham, Walter
vide plenty of adventuring opportuni-
gamers may wish to mine the exten- Milliken, and David L. Pulver. Pyramid
ties as it stands.
sive list of spells and rule guidelines in authors continued to discuss Yrth;
GURPS Magic as well as the general
campaign concerns found in GURPS
Fantasy.
Most of GURPS Banestorm is About the Authors
intended to be read by both GMs and
players. However, GMs may ask play- Phil Masters has been playing RPGs since 1978; his first professional
ers not to read Chapter 3, which writing appeared in 1980, his first RPG book in 1990, and his first work
details Ytarria’s cultures; there are for Steve Jackson Games (GURPS Arabian Nights) in 1993. Since then,
one or two secrets revealed there. On he’s worked on many more GURPSbooks, including the Discworldand
the other hand, some GMs might pre- Hellboy RPGs (the latter also with Jonathan Woodward). He’s also
fer to treat some of what’s said there written for White Wolf, Guardians of Order, and Eden Studios, among
as old wives’ tales, uncorroborated others. He lives in the U.K., runs a biweekly game, and sometimes helps
rumors, or complete falsehoods, just organize RPG conventions.
to keep players who “cheat” uncer- Jonathan Woodward, a freelance writer and computer professional,
tain and off-balance. We definitely is the author or co-author of GURPS Ogre, GURPS Magic Items 3,the
encourage such stratagems. Chapter Hellboy Sourcebook and Roleplaying Game, and Transhuman Space:
6 is mostly aimed at GMs but pro- In The Well,all for Steve Jackson Games. He has also co-authored sev-
vides suggestions and outlines rather eral books for White Wolf Publishing. In addition to roleplaying, he col-
than details. Players may find this lects books and deconstructs maps. He lives in Massachusetts, with a
section useful when constructing summer home in Sahud.
their characters’ backgrounds.
4 I
NTRODUCTION
C O
HAPTER NE
H
ISTORY
Harry Williamson, skipper of the Harry nodded dumbly, and the ser- The bizarre cleric seemed to sense
Saint Martha, was a worried man. His geant nodded back, looking sympathet- Harry’s thoughts; he swept his gnarled
ship had survived the storm that had ic. “So that wasa Banestorm last night, green hand to indicate the port. “This
blown out of nowhere last night, then,” he observed. “Father Hermann must be confusing for you. I know
though she’d come horribly close to los- said it might be, though most folks what you must be thinking, but you
ing her mainsail, running before those thought the last of those had blown and your crew are neither dead nor
crazed winds. But storms were part of ‘emselves out in my dad’s day.” damned. You are simply the victims of
life; it was everything since that was “Not true, I’m sorry to say,” com- the greatest folly in the history of this
giving him cold sweats. The day was far mented another voice. Harry’s stomach world. But this is not the world you
too warm, the coastline was all wrong, twisted. The other . . . person now were born on.”
and now . . . Harry knew every inch of aboard was clearly a demon, shorter
And so another hapless other-
the Channel and all down to Spain, but than a man, green of skin and twisted
dimensional traveler arrives on Yrth,
this fine little town, the first they’d of face. That it was wearing a priest’s
snatched from our own Earth like so
sighted, was new to him. Some of the robes and crucifix was surely a diabolic
many before him. But what is the
buildings on the hills were definitely jest. The rest of the crew were equally
“Banestorm” that brought them here?
marble, and that made no sense at all. horrified, lurching back, muttering
How did it come into being, and what
The port-folk had evidently decided prayers, and grasping for luck-charms.
else has it done? And what other
there was something curious about the The creature continued, “The
worlds has it ravaged?
ship, too, and a heavy-set fellow in Banestorm has never died, though
This chapter’s concise history of
unfamiliar livery scrambled aboard at occurrences have been much less com-
Yrth, from prehistory through the
the first opportunity. He had “sergeant” mon of late. But I apologize, captain.”
year 2005 A.D., answers these ques-
written all over him. Recognizing Harry And saints ha’ mercy, thought Harry,
tions and more. It focuses on the con-
as the skipper, he approached. “Who be but he really sounds sorry.
tinent of Ytarria, the “known lands” of
thee?” His English had an odd accent. The demon – smiled? – in what
Yrth. All dates, including pre-
“The Saint Martha,” Harry might have been a reassuring way, on a
Banestorm ones, are given in terms of
answered, “Out of London.” human face. A distant, perennially
the modern calendar. For game pur-
The sergeant’s brow furrowed. “Ah, unfazeable part of Henry’s mind won-
poses, GMs may assume that Yrthian
my ol’ grandad spoke of that. In Ingul- dered wryly that he should be fixating
dates work the same way as those of
land, wasn’t it?” on such a trifle when it was obvious
our own Earth.
he’d clearly gone mad.
H 5
ISTORY
P -H Y
RE UMAN RTH
Prior to the Banestorm, Yrth was as well, regardless of whether the ended when a Zarak peace delegation
home to three major intelligent races – underground folk deserved any blame faced down the Defenders’ spokesmen
dwarves, elves, and orcs – and various for the harm done with the weapons at the elves’ High Council. The
minor breeds related to them. As long stolen from them. Defenders were discredited for many
as Yrth’s history has been recorded, These hard-bitten survivors formed generations – and elf generations are
dwarves and elves have occasionally the nucleus of a movement which long – but they didn’t vanish. They
clashed, but both groups always called itself “Defenders of the Shaded largely withdrew to their own commu-
detested the orcs. Woodlands.” In its first decades, the nities, focused once again on martial
Dwarven and elven writings don’t group was a local cult with little use training. They no longer spoke of the
go back as far as one might expect for for the finer things of elven culture. Its dwarves, when they entered the High
such long-lived peoples; the oldest warriors devoted their long lives to Council at all. They spoke always of
date from approximately 200 B.C. training, scouting, and occasional the orcs, the murderous orcs. They
Their earliest scrolls concern tribes murderous raids. They succeeded in honed their own warrior skills, and
struggling with one setback or anoth- wiping out or driving off many nearby many truly earned the name Defender,
er: a massive weather shift, an orc orc-tribes. As the years passed, some fighting for other elf communities
invasion, or – regrettably often – a of the veteran Defenders put down threatened by orc raids. The dwarves
dwarf-elf war. their bows and picked up their harps, did not forget their earlier excesses,
As of the fourth century A.D., half a traveling elsewhere to tell their tales of but most of their fellow elves came to
millennium later, Ytarria had basically loss and successful revenge. They see the Defenders as merely a warrior
stabilized. Zarak, which was larger gained recruits, becoming a signifi- cult with great skills and dedication.
then, housed the dwarves; they also cant faction in elven society. And so the years passed, with the
had established smaller settlements in Around 400 A.D., the Defenders Defenders quietly bent on genocide,
other mountain ranges. The elves persuaded the leaders of the elves to but not succeeding due to the orcs’
mostly kept to the forests, which go to war against the dwarves of prolific nature. The Defenders would
spanned huge areas at that time: the Zarak. The Zarakun regarded this as think they had wiped out a tribe, only
Great Forest, the Blackwoods, and the completely unprovoked, and it to find it back to full strength 20 years
Emperor’s Forest are merely the ves- remains the primary reason many later. Around 1000 A.D., they decided
tiges of a vast timberland that cloaked dwarves still mistrust elves. The war to seek a more final solution.
the continent’s heart. The orcs roamed
the surrounding lands, occasionally
raiding elf villages and dwarf caves or
burning forests to clear them for hunt-
Yrth Astronomy
ing. Dwarf-elf relations were as peace-
ful as they had ever been; the last war
and Geography
had ended centuries ago, and the
mountain-dwellers happily traded
Yrth lies in a parallel universe; its solar system closely resembles
steel arrowheads and blades for fresh
Earth’s. The stars, planets, and sun are the same. Yrth’s moon – called
meat and sun-grown vegetables from
“the Moon” by most cultures – is the same size but shines more brightly,
the forest folk.
with a more silvery color. Also, the pattern of craters and maria is quite
Rise of the Dark Elves different. The day, year, and lunar month coincide with Earth’s.
The above is reasonably common knowledge, though 99% of
Most elves, then as now, got along
Ytarrians don’t think much about such things. But Yrth’s solar system
well enough with the other races shar-
has one thing Earth’s lacks: numerous mana-rich asteroids in eccentric
ing their world. While they had battled
orbits. These asteroids have pelted Yrth and its moon many times over
both dwarves and orcs in the past,
billions of years, radically altering Yrth’s geography and mana level (see
they thought of peace as the natural
The Ring Islandson p. 107 for one example). There are a few dozen peo-
state of things. Some, however, were
ple in Ytarria who suspect this; possibly three know it for certain.
less tolerant. Those who lived in the
western Ytarrian Forest – where today Ancient Catastrophes
there is only the Great Desert – suf-
Fortunately for Yrth, all of its craters were not made at once – more
fered from constant orc harassment;
than a half-dozen simultaneoushits would likely have wiped out all life
some particularly brutal orc tribes,
bigger than a cockroach. Still, asteroid activity caused mass extinctions.
armed with stolen dwarven weapons,
Those few Ytarrian scholars who understand something of paleontology
nearly exterminated the elves there
suspect that life on Yrth was once very different. Some even speculate
around 350 A.D. The survivors
about long-extinct intelligent races.
resolved to eliminate the bandits . . .
and do something about the dwarves
6 H
ISTORY
T B
HE ANESTORM
The Defenders counted many pow- The disaster gave the Defenders the First Contacts
erful mages among their members. two names which Yrth knows them by
Some of the newcomers went years
Together they assembled a spell to today. Only among themselves are
without meeting nonhumans; others
bring a merciless bane down on the they called the Defenders now. Other
encountered them quickly. The
orcs. The intended nature of this bane elves call them “Bringers of the
dwarves had retreated to their cav-
is not clear; judging by the results, the Storm,” or “Storm-Bringers” for short.
erns, and met no humans for cen-
spell was designed either to send all The other races simply call them the
turies. Some of the elves avoided the
the orcs to another world or to sum- Dark Elves.
new beings, while others tried to help
mon creatures hostile to orcs. Perhaps
them. The orcs, inevitably, attacked.
it was just a generalized “wish” for E C
ARLY HAOS Apart from the humans of Earth,
something that would deal with the
the Banestorm also brought goblins,
orc problem. Humans were by far the majority
hobgoblins, kobolds, and reptile men
Their strongest mages conducted of the newcomers. Ships lost at sea
from their homeworld Gabrook; cen-
the primary spellwork at a high-mana found haven on unfamiliar shores, if
taurs, giants, halflings, and minotaurs
site near the western edge of the not necessarily safe haven. Entire vil-
from Loren’dil; merfolk and shark
Ytarrian Forest, close to what is now lages arrived on Yrth intact; travelers
men from Olokun; and other, rarer
the center of the Great Desert. Other caught in sudden tempests never
creatures. The wilder newcomers like
sorcerers and allies performed sup- reached their intended destinations.
hobgoblins and minotaurs adapted
porting ceremonies in communities Most of this occurred between the
quickly, resuming their savage hunt-
across the continent. The spell built years 1050 and 1200 A.D., the approx-
ing and scavenging with little inter-
over weeks, coming to a climax on imate time of the Crusades on Earth.
ruption. The goblins and halflings,
June 26th, 1050 A.D. Many immigrants died, but more
who had civilized parts of their home-
It backfired. Calamitously. The survived and banded together. Some
worlds, struggled to adjust, but they
massive spell unleashed a torrent of founded small villages, while others
were no less adaptable then mankind,
magical wildfire that scorched much took to banditry. For most, day-to-day
and where they appeared in numbers,
of the western forest and drained survival outweighed any desire or
they thrived.
mana from hundreds of thousands of need to consider what had happened.
The first interracial encounters
square miles. The effect cascaded into Those few who had time for curiosity
were usually marked by violence.
the supporting ceremonies, reducing looked at the strange moon overhead
Each saw the other as monsters,
many elven communities to cinders. and the stranger creatures abroad and
and even when the strangers were
Then it jumped to other high-mana concluded they were a very long way
obviously intelligent, the struggle to
spots, not all in elven territory. The from home.
survive encouraged hostility. Real or
sorcerous flames devastated the land,
burning away woods and creating
new deserts.
If that had been the full extent of
Gaming the Banestorm
the catastrophe, it still would have
been the greatest blight of Ytarrian
The default setting for a GURPS Banestormcampaign is present-day,
history. But the Defenders got their
but equally exciting games can take place in the 11th century, when the
Bane as well. The spell snatched
Banestorm was at its peak. The players should create characters native
thousands of beings of various races
to Earth: probably medieval Europeans, though PCs from the Middle
from their worlds, depositing them
East, Asia, or even other worlds like Gabrook are also valid. Life on their
on Yrth. These newcomers usually
home world seems to be proceeding as expected until a strange storm
regarded the orcs with hostility, but
spills over the horizon . . .
often they were nearly as offensive to
Some adventurers may arrive on Yrth with nothing but the clothes on
everyone else. Unnatural storms
their backs, but it’s possible for whole buildings and small villages to
always heralded these dimensional
come through. Regardless, the transition will deprive newcomers of
breaches, and the Bane thus became
most of their social structure. In the new world, they must band togeth-
known as the Banestorm.
er with other immigrants if they want to survive. Great leaders can cre-
Yet, despite the cataclysm, the
ate safety for their people and possibly found their own empires, reshap-
Defenders survived. Their descen-
ing the history of Yrth as presented here. See Out of the Storm(p. 234)
dants continue to pursue their original
for more ideas.
aims, albeit in secret. See the sections
For more Banestorm details to exploit, see Banestormed Ideas
on the Blackwoods (pp. 16, 99), Dark
(p. 32) or examine how the storm works underground (p. 158) and
Elves (p. 18), and “The Genetics of
underwater (p. 180). Also, three spells have been developed for detect-
Magery” (p. 29). GMs may wish to bar
ing different aspects of the cross-dimensional vortex (p. 25).
their players from reading the second
section on the Blackwoods.
H 7
ISTORY
perceived competition for resources in
some places was too fierce to encour-
age cooperation. However, occasional
mixed groups worked together, if only
because a larger band could survive
where a small one couldn’t. And as the
11th century drew to a close, many vil-
lages were settled and prosperous
enough to greet mysterious newcom-
ers with wary interest rather than
arrows and pikes. Gradually, many
races of Yrth, new and old, learned
some of their neighbors could be
trusted.
Others, however, had more trouble
making friends. In particular, orcs
regarded the immigrants as easy tar- Spirit Encounters Feudalism
gets compared to the uncanny elves
Men occasionally encountered Most of the newcomers to north-
and hardened dwarves. They were
intangible beings only describable as ern-central Ytarria were largely
wrong. The newcomers were smarter
“spirits.” Christians and Muslims nat- Christian men and women from
tacticians, worked together better, and
urally had problems reconciling these western Europe. They found Earth’s
often fought with utter desperation. A
creatures with their religious assump- feudal culture well suited to the chal-
few scattered orc-tribes learned dis-
tions. Some scholars declared there lenges of their new environment.
cretion and became quiet neighbors,
mightbe an order of neutral “airy spir- Strong, charismatic leaders quickly
but across most of eastern and south-
its” – neither angels nor demons, but attracted followers and acquired ter-
ern Ytarria, orcs pursued their usual
something between. But these entities ritory. Dozens of tiny kingdoms
heedless destruction until it turned on
refused to acknowledge this as their sprang up; most were annexed later
them. Humans, goblins, halflings, and
status. Some seemed to claim they by more powerful neighbors. For
others eventually did what the
were more or less gods. While these more on feudalism and how it influ-
Defenders could not, and eliminated
spirits were rarely savagely hostile and enced the formation of the Megalan
orcs entirely from broad areas.
humans could do little to hurt them, Empire, see p. 45.
Magic Is Real! relations usually degraded fairly
The Muslim Lands
quickly, with the spirits taking offense
Meanwhile, humans were con-
and leaving settled areas. Most spirits Muslim tribesmen primarily
fronted with another strange discov-
eventually decided to have little to do appeared further south. Scattered
ery: magic. The elves, who discovered
with humanity, and Christian and widely, many followers of Islam adopt-
some of their new acquaintances had
Muslim societies in particular. ed a nomadic lifestyle, traveling with
“the gift” of magery, demonstrated
For more about the role of spirits their herds, raiding their neighbors,
magic’s uses and encouraged them to
in Ytarria, read about the northern and meeting at a few permanent vil-
adopt it, both on principle and as a
settlements (p. 167), Beings with Souls lages to trade. Others founded towns
survival tool. Goblins also brought a
(p. 57), Sahud’s religious practices where the rich culture of the Abbasid
chaotic but enthusiastic tradition of
regarding spirits (p. 151), and Spirits Empire survived. Small groups of
wizardry from their own homeworld.
(p. 199). GMs may also decide that scholars and holy men recorded and
Initial reactions of panic at this
several of Ytarria’s cults (p. 53) traffic preserved the science, philosophy, and
“inhuman sorcery” caused yet more
with such ethereal beings – some literature of Islam as these towns grew
trouble between races, but human
doing so willingly and wittingly, some into small cities. The libraries and uni-
leaders soon recognized the potential
not. versities these scholars founded are
of magical power. They convinced
among Ytarria’s greatest storehouses
their followers this was “natural
C of knowledge.
magic” rather than “diabolism” or IVILIZATIONS
“necromancy.” Those talented E Northern Settlements
MERGE
humans who studied under elves or
The far northern reaches of Ytarria
goblins quickly proved their worth, As the various Yrthian immigrants received a greater diversity of immi-
helping encourage acceptance. After a became more comfortable with their grants than the rest of the continent.
few decades, human wizards, both new home, villages grew into towns, In the frozen wastes north of the
warriors and scholars, enjoyed great cities, and eventually distinct regions Whitehood Mountains, pagan Celts
respect. and cultures. These are dealt with in and Scandinavians merged into fierce,
For more on current religious and more detail in Chapter 4, which territorial clans. These groups may
cultural attitudes toward magic, see describes the various current sover- have been plucked from one of Earth’s
Chapters 2 and 3. eignties of Ytarria. earlier eras, if not from a parallel
Earth. Further west, on the coastline,
8 H
ISTORY
a variety of Asian and North American Other Immigrants absorbed most of these smaller ones,
emigrants founded the unique realm but even today travelers can find iso-
The Banestorm also brought peo-
of Sahud. lated villages where almost all the
ple . . . including whole caravans,
In both regions, especially in inhabitants have black skin, worship
ships, and villages from dozens of
Sahud, humans formed amicable rela- Krishna and Vishnu, or speak undi-
other cultures. Significant numbers
tions with the resident spirits. Since luted German.
of Jews settled in both Islamic and
the newcomers’ metaphysical beliefs This is an opportunity for the GM
Christian lands. African, Chinese,
were more flexible than monotheistic to create any sort of interesting
German, Indian, and Slavic groups
ones, they were less upset by the spir- micro-culture that he can envision, as
popped up across the continent.
its’ claims. long as it is well off the beaten path!
Dominant local cultures quickly
Timeline (200 B.C. to 1550 A.D.)
200 B.C.: Earliest reliable dwarf and elf records date 1360-1381:The First Crusade – Megalan legions invade
from this time. Muslim lands in what will become central al-Wazif.
350 A.D.: The “Defenders of the Shaded Woodlands” 1365: Octavius Magnus leads the First Crusade into
start to organize. Paradin.
400:Dark elves incite the last major dwarf-elf war. 1379:Octavius Magnus assassinated.
1000:“Defenders” begin devising the Bane spell. 1379-1381: The legions begin losing ground and soon
1050:The Bane spell backfires; the resulting Banestorm retreat.
begins. 1403:Emperor Antonius II abducts Church leaders and
1068:Humans of various cultures found Autheuil in the demands they hold what is remembered as the first
Great Forest. Conclave of Christian Archbishops, in Mehan.
1074:Founding of the Islamic city of as-Siyassi. 1412:Founding of the Michaelite Order in Megalos.
1160: Founding of the Islamic Holy City of Geb’al- 1424-1428: The Second Crusade, a.k.a. Prince Ivor’s
Din. Crusade – Megalan legions, led by the emperor’s
1172: The Goblin Kingdom of Yibyorak comes into third son, descend on the south.
being. 1435: Northern Muslim tribes hold the first Great
1175:Benedictine monks establish Drift Abbey on Ental Games in as-Siyassi.
Island (later known as Isle Entelle). 1440-1470:The Grand Crusade – Megalos launches the
1180:Founding of the city of Paradin (now Tredroy). most extensive anti-Muslim crusade yet, primarily in
1187:The Banestorm brings the Knights of the Order of what will become Cardiel.
the Hospital of St. John to Yrth. 1442:Southern Muslims found al-Haz.
1188:The Hospitallers found New Jerusalem. 1444:Northern Muslims found al-Wazif.
1194: Goblin chieftains execute Christian missionary 1445:Southeastern Muslims found al-Kard.
Michael Olybrius. 1470: Megalan crusaders conquer al-Kard. Renamed
1199:Founding of the Olybrian Order. Cardiel, it becomes a province of Megalos.
1200: Simon Menelaus founds the city and empire of 1473:The emperor names the first Imperial Viceroy of
Megalos. The Banestorm starts to subside. Islamic Cardiel.
tribesmen begin roaming the region which will 1496: Paradin officially becomes Tredroy, “The City of
become Cardiel. Three Laws.”
1229:The Goblin Kingdoms join the growing Megalan 1499: The Viceroy forcibly converts Calder (formerly
Empire. “al-Kard”) to Christianity.
1232:Emperor Menelaus I dies and is succeeded by his 1515:Diophrates IV becomes Emperor of Megalos.
son. 1519-1525: The Easter Crusade – Megalan legions
1235:In the first recorded contact between humans and based in Cardiel attack al-Wazif but gain no lands.
dwarves, a Megalan scouting party enters Zarak and 1519:Megalos conquers parts of eastern al-Wazif; Kardi
discovers the scope of the dwarven kingdoms. revolutionaries incite general rebellion in central
1270-1290: Border wars push the Northmen back Cardiel.
beyond the Whitehood Mountains. 1523:The first Heavenking declares himself Emperor of
1310:The Knights Templar appear on Yrth. Sahud.
1350:Megalan warlord Octavius Magnus convinces the 1525:The Legions return to deal with unrest in Cardiel.
Hospitallers to join the Megalan Empire in “spread- Megalos and al-Wazif sign a truce.
ing the dominion of Christ.”
H 9
ISTORY