VEARTH RPG: PLAYERS GUIDE

Introduction

# VEARTH RPG PLAYER'S MANUAL

## INTRODUCTION: THE GATEWAY TO WONDER

In the boundless reaches of existence, before our universe drew its first breath, there was Vearth. Ancient beyond reckoning, vast beyond comprehension, it stands as the silent cornerstone upon which all realities rest. Not merely a world, but a living testament to creation itself, Vearth exists as both the first world and the last – the beginning and end of all cosmic stories.

The great ocean of Omnious stretches across its surface – a sea not of mere water, but of possibility and primordial power. Its depths harbor secrets from the dawn of time, creatures born from the first dreams of creation, and currents that flow between the very fabric of different realities. Sailors who venture too far from familiar shores tell tales of waters that shine with starlight from within, of impossible islands that appear for a single night before vanishing with the dawn, and of voices that whisper truths too profound for mortal minds to fully comprehend.

Drifting eternally across this mystical expanse is Pan, a floating continent vast as Earth itself. Unlike the stable lands of mundane worlds, Pan journeys in a thousand-year cycle across Omnious, its path a complex pattern that mirrors the movements of celestial bodies in distant galaxies. This wandering island houses wonders and terrors in equal measure – abandoned ruins from civilizations that rose and fell before time had a name, verdant forests where the trees remember the songs of creation, and mountains that reach so high their peaks pierce the veil between dimensions.

You stand now at the threshold of adventure in a realm where magic flows like rivers through the land, where forgotten gods slumber beneath ancient stones, and where your choices may alter the course of realities yet unborn. Take up your dice, gather your companions, and prepare to write your chapter in the eternal story of Vearth – for in this oldest of worlds, even the newest arrival might leave a mark that lasts forever.


## WHAT IS ROLEPLAYING?

A roleplaying game represents a magnificent journey of collaborative storytelling, where you and your friends create spectacular narratives together, guided by rules that give structure to your shared imagination. Unlike conventional games with rigid objectives and predetermined paths to victory, a roleplaying game offers boundless possibilities limited only by your creativity and the internal consistency of the world you explore.

In the VEARTH RPG, you will create and inhabit a character – a magnificent persona with unique abilities, motivations, and quirks who will serve as your avatar in the breathtaking world of Vearth. Through this character, you will face spectacular challenges, form meaningful relationships with other characters, and make decisions that shape not just your personal story but potentially the fate of Pan itself.

One player assumes the spectacular role of Dungeon Master (DM), serving not as an opponent but as a guide and arbitrator who describes the world, portrays its inhabitants, and presents challenges for the player characters to overcome. The Dungeon Master breathes life into the magnificent setting of Vearth, crafting scenarios that range from intimate personal quests to world-shaking conflicts that test the limits of heroism.

Together, you will weave tales of spectacular adventure, profound discovery, and magnificent triumph that may span many sessions, with your characters growing in power and wisdom as they navigate the wonders and perils of Vearth. The dice add an element of magnificent uncertainty, ensuring that even the Dungeon Master cannot predict exactly how events will unfold and creating truly memorable moments when fortune smiles or frowns upon your endeavors.

## HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

This magnificent tome serves as your primary guide to creating and playing characters in the world of Vearth. Within these pages, you will find everything needed to bring your spectacular vision to life:

- **Character Creation**: The tools to forge a magnificent hero (or antihero) ready for adventure

- **Rules of Play**: The fundamental systems that govern actions and their consequences

- **Magical Traditions**: The spectacular cosmic forces that permeate Vearth and how they can be harnessed

- **The World of Vearth**: Descriptions of the magnificent locations, beings, and phenomena your character might encounter

New players should begin with the **Character Creation** chapter, which will guide you through the magnificent process of generating ability scores, selecting a race and class, determining spiritual attributes, and finalizing the details that make your character unique. The spectacular **Sample Character** section provides examples of completed character sheets with annotations explaining key elements.

Dungeon Masters should familiarize themselves with the entire book but pay special attention to the **World of Vearth** chapter, which contains information about the setting that player characters might not initially know but that will inform the magnificent scenarios you create. Additional resources for Dungeon Masters can be found in the companion volume, the **VEARTH RPG DUNGEON MASTER'S GUIDE**.

During play, you need not memorize every rule—the comprehensive **Index** allows for quick reference when questions arise. What matters most is not perfect adherence to every guideline but creating a magnificent, engaging experience that captures the spectacular wonder of Vearth.

## CORE CONCEPTS

Before diving into the details, familiarize yourself with these fundamental magnificent concepts that form the foundation of the VEARTH RPG:

### THE THREE TIMES BACK PRINCIPLE

The most profound cosmic law governing Vearth states that what you send into the universe returns threefold. This magnificent principle applies not just to metaphysical karma but as a fundamental force woven into reality itself. Acts of mercy may bring unexpected allies in moments of dire need; cruelty might return as threefold misfortune when least expected. This spectacular cosmic echo operates with subtle complexity and perfect memory across time and space.

### THE DUAL TRADITIONS

Magic on Vearth manifests primarily through two magnificent but distinct approaches: the harmonious path of White Star Sorcery and the mastery-focused approach of Black Star Sorcery. These traditions do not represent good and evil but different philosophies about how consciousness should interact with cosmic forces. Understanding this spectacular duality is essential for comprehending Vearth's metaphysical landscape.

### THE MOUNT BOND

Unlike conventional fantasy worlds where mounts serve as mere transportation, Vearth's magnificent mount companions form profound spiritual bonds with their riders. This spectacular relationship deepens over time, granting both mount and rider abilities neither could achieve alone. The Mount Bond system represents one of Vearth's most distinctive and beloved features.

### THE COSMIC BALANCE

The delicate magnificent equilibrium between opposing forces—creation and destruction, order and chaos, light and shadow—requires constant maintenance. Many spectacular conflicts in Vearth stem not from simple villainy but from well-intentioned actions that inadvertently disrupt this cosmic balance. True heroes understand that maintaining harmony sometimes requires difficult choices and personal sacrifice.

### THE DICE OF DESTINY

The VEARTH RPG uses polyhedral dice to introduce magnificent uncertainty into the narrative. When you attempt challenging actions with uncertain outcomes, dice rolls determine your success or failure. The basic dice include:

- d4: A four-sided die resembling a triangular pyramid

- d6: A standard six-sided die

- d8: An eight-sided die shaped like two pyramids joined at their bases

- d10: A ten-sided die numbered from 0 to 9 (0 represents 10)

- d12: A twelve-sided die

- d20: A twenty-sided die used for most action checks

- d100: Two ten-sided dice used together, one representing tens and one representing singles

When the rules call for a die roll, the notation will appear as "1d20" (meaning "roll one twenty-sided die") or "3d6" (meaning "roll three six-sided dice and add the results together").

## A WORD OF WELCOME

As you embark upon your magnificent journey through the world of Vearth, remember that the ultimate goal is not to "win" but to create memorable stories and experiences together. Embrace the spectacular unexpected turns your adventure might take; celebrate both triumphs and setbacks as essential elements of a compelling narrative.

The rules contained within this tome exist to support your magnificent creativity, not to constrain it. When uncertainties arise, the Dungeon Master should make fair rulings that keep the adventure flowing rather than pausing for lengthy deliberations. The spectacular essence of roleplaying lies in shared imagination, with rules serving as helpful guidelines rather than immutable laws.

Now, brave adventurer, the path awaits. The choice is yours. Will you walk the harmonious way of the White Star, seeking to channel universal balance? Will you pursue the knowledge-focused path of the Black Star, mastering cosmic forces through will and intellect? Or will you forge an entirely new approach to the magnificent mysteries of Vearth?

Whatever you choose, may your dice roll true, your companions stand steadfast, and your legend echo through the ages of Pan.

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# TERMS AND CONCEPTS

## ESSENTIAL GAME TERMINOLOGY

Before beginning your magnificent journey through Vearth, familiarize yourself with these fundamental terms:

**Ability Score**: A numeric rating (typically between 3 and 18) that quantifies one of six basic capacities: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. These magnificent values determine what your character can accomplish and how effectively.

**Action**: A discrete activity that your character performs, such as attacking, casting a technique, moving, or interacting with objects. The spectacular flow of combat divides into actions to maintain order and fairness.

**Bond Rating**: The numeric representation of the magnificent spiritual connection between a character and their mount companion. This spectacular value determines what special abilities the partnership can access.

**Class**: Your character's primary profession or vocation, such as Fighter, Magic-User, White Star Sorcerer, or Slime Shaper. This magnificent choice determines your character's core abilities and how they interact with the world.

**Dungeon Master (DM)**: The player who serves as the magnificent referee and storyteller, describing the world, controlling non-player characters, and adjudicating rules. The DM creates spectacular scenarios but remains neutral about outcomes.

**Hit Points (HP)**: A numeric measure of your character's magnificent vitality and ability to avoid serious harm. Damage reduces hit points; healing restores them. Reaching zero hit points means your character has fallen unconscious or worse.

**Non-Player Character (NPC)**: Any magnificent being in the world controlled by the Dungeon Master rather than a player. NPCs range from spectacular allies to terrible foes to neutral bystanders.

**Player Character (PC)**: A magnificent hero (or antihero) controlled by a player rather than the Dungeon Master. The collective choices of all player characters drive the narrative forward in spectacular ways.

**Race**: Your character's magnificent species or ancestry, such as Human, Elf, Dwarf, or Questauian. This spectacular trait provides innate abilities and influences how the world perceives your character.

**Saving Throw**: A defensive roll made to resist or mitigate a harmful effect, representing your character's magnificent capacity to avoid danger through reflexes, fortitude, or willpower.

**Shadow Points (ShP)**: The resource used by Black Star Sorcerers to power their magnificent techniques, representing their capacity to impose will upon reality through knowledge and discipline.

**Spiritual Points (SP)**: The resource used by White Star Sorcerers to channel their magnificent techniques, representing their attunement to cosmic harmonies and universal energies.

**Technique**: A specific application of magical energy used by spectacular sorcerers of both traditions. Unlike rigid "spells," techniques represent flexible frameworks for channeling cosmic power toward particular ends.