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THE NATURE OF CORRUPTION

The Nature of Corruption

Corruption

Corruption

A physical, measurable force. Every spell cast, every artifact touched, every step deeper into Davokar leaves a mark on the soul.

Read more → is not a metaphor in Symbar

Symbar

Legendary capital of the fallen Symbaroum empire. Never found. Every treasure hunter's ultimate prize.

Read more →oum—it is a physical, measurable force woven into the fabric of reality. Every living creature possesses a Shadow

Shadow

An ethereal aura visible to those with Shadow-sight. Reveals a creature's nature and corruption level through color.

Read more →: an ethereal aura visible to those with the gift of Shadow

Shadow

An ethereal aura visible to those with Shadow-sight. Reveals a creature's nature and corruption level through color.

Read more →-sight. Natural beasts display Shadow

Shadow

An ethereal aura visible to those with Shadow-sight. Reveals a creature's nature and corruption level through color.

Read more →s of green, red, white, or bright primary colors. Civilized creatures shimmer in gold, silver, copper, and metallic shades. But as Corruption

Corruption

A physical, measurable force. Every spell cast, every artifact touched, every step deeper into Davokar leaves a mark on the soul.

Read more → accumulates, the Shadow

Shadow

An ethereal aura visible to those with Shadow-sight. Reveals a creature's nature and corruption level through color.

Read more → darkens and twists—corroded copper, blackened silver, sickly green, red streaked with rust, white flecked with ashen gray. At its worst, the Shadow

Shadow

An ethereal aura visible to those with Shadow-sight. Reveals a creature's nature and corruption level through color.

Read more → turns black and purple: the unmistakable mark of the blight-touched.

The cosmological source of Corruption

Corruption

A physical, measurable force. Every spell cast, every artifact touched, every step deeper into Davokar leaves a mark on the soul.

Read more → traces to Katrandama

Katrandama

Sorcerer who devised the Triptych — the three-part model of reality. Burned to death in Kadizar around Year -24.

Read more →'s Triptych—the three-part model of reality devised by the sorcerer Katrandama

Katrandama

Sorcerer who devised the Triptych — the three-part model of reality. Burned to death in Kadizar around Year -24.

Read more → before she burned to death in Kadizar

Kadizar

Barbarian settlement conquered by Ambrians in Year 0. Became the foundation of Yndaros.

Read more → around Year -24. The Physical World sits at the center. On one side lies the Spirit World

Spirit World

A gray, barren land of ashes and lost spirits bordering Eternity. One part of the Triptych.

Read more →: a gray, barren land of ashes and lost spirits bordering Eternity. On the other lies the Yonderworld

Yonderworld

A mist-shrouded wasteland where nature itself IS corruption. Home of Blight Spawns and ancient horrors.

Read more →: a mist-shrouded wasteland where nature itself IS Corruption

Corruption

A physical, measurable force. Every spell cast, every artifact touched, every step deeper into Davokar leaves a mark on the soul.

Read more →, populated by Blight Spawns and ancient Blight Beasts

Blight Beasts

Animals mutated beyond recognition by Davokar's corruption. More numerous and aggressive in recent years.

Read more → of immense power. Corruption

Corruption

A physical, measurable force. Every spell cast, every artifact touched, every step deeper into Davokar leaves a mark on the soul.

Read more → makes the triptych tremble and open, allowing horrors to seep through the gaps between worlds. The ancient Huldra Aroaleta

Aroaleta

Ancient Huldra whose poetry and warnings about corruption are still quoted centuries later.

Read more → warned: '...deep down the world was violated, because the shell is suited for the force within; to add power to power without bracing the hide is as inexcusable as it is inconsiderate. For when the shell ruptures the force released is multiplied by the thousands, from anger and shame.'

To add power to power without bracing the hide is as inexcusable as it is inconsiderate. For when the shell ruptures the force released is multiplied by the thousands.

Mechanically, Corruption

Corruption

A physical, measurable force. Every spell cast, every artifact touched, every step deeper into Davokar leaves a mark on the soul.

Read more → starts at 0 and increases through spellcasting, artifact use, trespassing in corrupted places, and dark acts. Your Corruption Threshold

Corruption Threshold

The point at which corruption becomes permanent. Calculated from proficiency bonus and spellcasting modifier.

Read more → determines how much you can bear. For non-mystics, the threshold equals (proficiency bonus × 2) + Charisma modifier, minimum 2. For mystics, it equals (proficiency bonus + spellcasting ability modifier) × 2, minimum 4. Some features modify this—the Mage's Assistant background adds +1. When your permanent Corruption

Corruption

A physical, measurable force. Every spell cast, every artifact touched, every step deeper into Davokar leaves a mark on the soul.

Read more → reaches half your threshold, you are Blight-marked: your Shadow

Shadow

An ethereal aura visible to those with Shadow-sight. Reveals a creature's nature and corruption level through color.

Read more → is covered with darkness, and those who can see it are deeply alarmed. When permanent Corruption

Corruption

A physical, measurable force. Every spell cast, every artifact touched, every step deeper into Davokar leaves a mark on the soul.

Read more → exceeds your threshold entirely, your character is Thoroughly Corrupt—Shadow

Shadow

An ethereal aura visible to those with Shadow-sight. Reveals a creature's nature and corruption level through color.

Read more → completely black, overwhelmed by the blight, lost to you as an NPC. This is not a distant threat. This is the central tension of wielding power in Symbar

Symbar

Legendary capital of the fallen Symbaroum empire. Never found. Every treasure hunter's ultimate prize.

Read more →oum.