BWDiscord
From RainGamersWiki
Contents |
Discord: an Emotional Attribute for Burning Wheel
The centaur folk, Hallanen and Chavonen both, are bound to the cycles of nature, the manifestations of the seasons. They have arrayed themselves into four Herds, one for each season, and each must give way in its turn. Giving way is not always simple, however, and they struggle with each other over just when and how they will relinquish power. As beings closely tied to nature, they are compelled to fulfill the ideals of their season -- Winter to be indifferent and pitiless, Summer to be confident and bellicose, etc. -- and this can often cause them to transgress the natural order.
Furthermore, the race of Men have begun to cause tension in the ways of the centaurs. Their faith in the spirits of nature conflicts with the rational ways of science, squeezing the very delicate chaos the earthbound creatures thrive on. So, the horse-men have convened to figure out what to do, and the court which holds power is reluctant to give up control at this crucial moment. The Hallanen Summer Herd holds rein currently, while the Chavonen Winter Court are currently maintaining the balance, while something can be done about the chaos of humanity.
The Nature of Discord
The courts of the seasons, as manifestations of the natural cycles that make up the world, exist in an eternal state of tension. The harmony between the seasons is fundamental to the world: the joy of new life in Spring means nothing if it does not come to know itself in Summer, to reflect on its mortality in Autumn, and to have disappeared come Winter. The centaurs, being representatives of their respective seasons, do not always hear this harmony. At times, they tell too harsh a tale and drown out the saga told by the whole. When this happens, the centaur transgresses the natural order of things, and, in time, Nature will repair it.
Centaurs begin with Discord B0. This is modified as follows:
- If the centaur has rarely or never strayed from his seasonal Herd, add 1.
- If the centaur has any of the following lifepaths, add 1: Song Singer, Soother or Artist.
- If the centaur has any of the following lifepaths, add 1 each: Born Etharch, Sword Singer, Althing, Prince, and Lord Protector.
- Add 1 for every point of Animism skill exponent higher than B3 (+2 for Grey, +3 for White).
- Add 1 for every three Summonings known.
- Add 1 for every two True Names known.
- Is Will higher than 5? Add 1.
- Subtract 1 if the centaur has taken the Wanderer or Loremaster lifepaths.
Telling the Season's Tale
Centaurs can draw directly on their relationship with their respective Season Herds. To do so, they must spend three Artha. They may add any number of dice up to their Discord rating to a single roll for which their seasonal mein applies. This counts as a Difficult Discord test.
- Spring: Rejuvenation, creativity, licentiousness
- Summer: Strength, vigor, warmth
- Autumn: Harvest, reflection, tradition
- Winter: Silence, cold, the hearth
Sowing Discord
Certain actions or effects can record a test against Discord. Among the most common are:
- Ob 3: Assuming a strong leadership role
- Ob 4: Learning a Summoning
- Ob 5: changing another's Belief; growing frustrated that someone blocked your goals
- Ob 6: Killing a Mortal in a life/death situation; Creating a unique work of art
- Ob 7: Killing a Fey (Elf, etc) in a life/death situation
- Ob 9: Killing a Mortal to advance your own goals
- Ob 10: Killing a Fey to advance your own goals
Transgressing Nature’s Bounds
Should a centaur reach Discord 10, they have pressed too hard against Nature’s balance. The offender begins to become a nexus of chaos and calamity, in an effort to restore the equilibrium. Death may come suddenly, as a bolt of lightning from the sky, or dramatically, as the earth cracks open to swallow him whole -- or it may come slowly and unforeseen, such as an arrow in the back or a poisoned drink.
In any case, the poor soul is fated to die to restore the balance.
From an idea by Trismegistus on the Burning Wheel forum.
