Defenders of the Forest - Liber Fanatica

Chapter IV: Wood Elf Magic
Ta b l e 4.3: El e m e n t a l Fu l c r u m s
Entry
Fulcrum
Exit Fulcrum (Modifier applies to all travellers’
Will Power tests)
Wood Wood (+20) Fire (+0) Other (-20)
Earth Earth (+20) Water (+0) Other (-20)
Fire Fire (+20) Metal (+0) Other (-20)
Metal Metal (+20) Earth (+0) Other (-20)
Water Water (+20) Wood (+0) Other (-20)
Air Air (+10) Other (-10)
Travellers wishing to return through the same aethyric pathway
must cast Path Between Worlds again. This time, the elements
are reversed (i.e. the entry fulcrum becomes the exit fulcrum,
and vice versa).
The Silver Path
Once a portal to the Shadow Walk has been opened at the entry
fulcrum by the casting of Path Between Worlds, travellers must
follow a silver pathway through a surreal, nightmare world. The
Shadow Walk is inhabited by Daemons and Shadow Beasts
(pg. 102) which seek to lure travellers from the path. Reaching
the exit fulcrum requires a Will Power Test from all travellers.
Calculate Degrees of Success or Failure individually and consult
the table below.
As r a i El e m e n t a l Th e o r y
High Elves recognise the traditional elements of Fire, Water,
Earth and Air as the foundations of the magical arts. But as
with all other aspects of their being, the Wood Elves’ elemental
paradigm is influenced by their sylvan environment. Wood and
Metal are also considered to be foundational elements. Furthermore,
Air isn’t considered a normal element by the Asrai.
Instead, it is considered a “binding” element through which
the Winds of Magic flow more easily. This “elemental binding”
concept is embodied in the yearly Wild Hunt, when thunderclouds
roll across the treetops, lightning splits the sky, and howling
gales carry Orion’s huntsmen aloft.
Wood Elves recognise 6 elements: Water, Fire, Metal, Wood
and Earth, with the aethyric element of Air as a binding force.
It might seem strange to outsiders that Metal is viewed as a
primary element, but the Wood Elves believe Metal is required
for the generation of Earth.
Ta b l e 4.4: Sh a d o w Wa l k Na v i g a t i o n
Will Power Test
3+DoS Pathfinder: You are in tune with the Aethyr, and
reach the exit fulcrum after only 1d5-1 minutes
of real time. In addition, you may rescue someone
who is Lost in Time and Space!, or perceive
an event that will soon come to pass.
0-2 DoS Safe Passage: After following the silver path
for 1d5-1 hours of real time, you reach the exit
fulcrum without incident.
0-2 DoF Shadow Beasts: After succumbing to nightmarish
illusions, you are attacked by 1d5+2 Shadow
Beasts (pg. 102). Your fellow travellers may join
the fight, however after facing Shadow Beasts
everyone must pass another WP test to find the
silver path again.
3-5 DoF Lost in Time and Space! (see pg. 58): You stray
from the silver path and are left wandering aimlessly
in limbo between worlds.
6+ DoF Realms of Chaos: Your shadow-self is claimed
by a daemon of Chaos leaving your physical
body in a coma. Unless the daemon is located
by its True Name and slain within 1d10 days, it
delivers your soul to the Realms of Chaos and
your body perishes. A Fate Point may be used to
escape. Survivors of this ordeal gain 1d5 IP.
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Metal and Fire have come to represent greed and war, which are
considered the doom of both the lesser races and their own kin.
The Asrai therefore use little metal aside from the blades and
arrowheads needed to defend the forest, and fire is employed
only towards creative ends. Wood is the most favoured element
in Asrai mysticism, followed by Water and Earth. All magic is
considered to rely upon Air.
There is some minor conceptual variance among Wood Elves
who live in unique environments. Treesingers from the Pine
Crags recognise 5 elements instead of 6, conflating Metal and
Earth together as Stone. Disciples of Isha often speak of Moonlight
as if it were a 7th element. The Lost Kindred believe that
Wood is the universal binding element, rather than Air. These
alternative theories are not considered heretical (or even erroneous)
by other Wood Elves; they are simply “different truths”.