Authors: Aaron Rosenberg, Ann Dupuis, Melissa Houle

Managing Editor: Nancy Berman

Deryni Goddess: Melissa Houle

Copy Editors: Nancy Berman, Ann Dupuis,

Melissa Houle, Katherine Kurtz

Additional Materials: Jennifer Brinn, Sharon Cohen, James A. Davis, Melissa Houle,

Steve Kenson, Melinda Sherbring, Doyce Testerman

Interior Graphic Design & Layout: James A. Davis, Ann Dupuis

Cover Art: Michael Herring (“King Javan’s Year”)

Daniel M. Davis, Ann Dupuis, James A. Davis, Martine Lynch (“The Eleven Kingdoms”) James A. Davis (Graphic Design, Heraldic Shields)

Playtesters: Kim Bergman, Nancy Berman, Doug Bickford, Jennifer Brinn, Ann Dupuis,

Melissa Houle, Steve Kenson, Katherine Kurtz, Jay Liebzeit, Martine Lynch, Pat Nolan, Christopher Rheinherren, Kathi Spivy, Carol Townsend, Susan Werner and everyone who helped by playtesting the Deryni Adventure Game online and at

science fiction and game conventions. Special thanks to the Pyramid Online and fudgerpg.com playtesters who reviewed the very early drafts

and set us on the right track. Thank you, all!

Copyright ©2005 by Grey Ghost Press, Inc. Deryni is a trademark of Katherine Kurtz, used under license. All Rights Reserved.

Printed on recycled paper.

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Dedication ...................................... 6Foreword ........................................7Map of the Eleven Kingdoms ....... 8

Chapter One: The Eleven Kingdoms ...................9

The Known World .......................... 9Global Timeline .......................... 9History .................................... 10Geography ............................... 10

Gwynedd ..................................... 11Political Structure ..................... 11

The Haldanes ....................... 11The Privy Council .................. 11

Duchies .................................... 12Major Cities of Gwynedd ........... 12

Rhemuth .............................. 12Valoret .................................. 12Nyford .................................. 12Coroth .................................. 12Desse ................................... 12Grecotha .............................. 12Culdi .................................... 13Dhassa ................................. 13

The Border Marches .................... 13Meara ......................................... 13

Laas ..................................... 14Ratharkin ............................. 14

The United Kingdoms of Howicce and Llannedd ..................................... 14

Seerhowy .............................. 14Pwyllheli ............................... 14

The Connait ................................ 14Torenth ....................................... 14

Duchies and Counties ................ 15Major Cities of Torenth .............. 15

Beldour ................................ 15Furstanan ............................. 15

The House of Furstán ................ 15The Marluk ........................... 15

The Forcinn States ....................... 16The Ile d’Orsal ...................... 16

Bremagne .................................... 16R’Kassi ....................................... 16Other Countries ........................... 16Diplomatic Relations ..................... 16

Chapter Two: Religion .........................................17

The Church ................................. 17Church History ............................ 17

The Archangels ......................... 17Bishop Denis Michael Arilan ...... 18

Church Hierarchy ......................... 18Religious Orders ........................... 18

Knights of the Anvil ................... 19Order of St. Brigid ..................... 19Ordo Custodum Fidei (Guardians of the Faith) ........... 19

Ordo Fratri Silenti (Brothers of Silence) ................ 19Ordo Sancti Gabrielis (Gabrilites) ............................. 20Ordo Sancti Michaelis (Michaelines) .......................... 20Ordo Verbi Dei (God’s Words) .... 21Servants of Saint Camber .......... 21Les Soeurs de l’Arc-en-Ciel (Rainbow Sisters) .................... 21The Varnarites .......................... 21The Willimites .......................... 21

Episcopal Jurisdictions .................. 22Religious Practices ........................ 22Excommunication and Anathema ... 23Other Churches ............................ 24

Torenth .................................... 24The United Kingdoms of Howicce and Llannedd ............. 24Elsewhere in the Eleven Kingdoms .................... 24

Other Religions ............................ 24Judaism ................................... 24Moors ...................................... 25Pagans ..................................... 25

Chapter Three: The Deryni ................................... 26

History ........................................ 26The Earls of Culdi ..................... 26

Abilities ....................................... 27Thoughts ......................................27Light .............................................27Moving Objects .............................27Basic Powers ................................28Other Abilities ..............................28

Heredity ...................................... 28Training ....................................... 28

Setting Wards ........................... 28Merasha ...................................... 29Portals ........................................ 30The Church and the Deryni ........... 31Humans and Deryni ..................... 31

The “Baptizer” Cult .................. 31Hiding ......................................... 32Lost Deryni ................................. 32The Haldanes .............................. 33

Chapter Four: Daily Life ...................................... 34

Culture and Interaction ................. 34Nobility ....................................... 34

Inheritance ............................... 35Education ................................ 35Titles in Gwynedd ..................... 35Estates .................................... 36Responsibilities ......................... 36Fostering .................................. 36Oaths ....................................... 37

Knighthood .................................. 37Knightly Duties ........................ 38The Warhorse ........................... 38

Women in the Eleven Kingdoms .... 39Women as Knights .................... 39

Commoners ................................. 40The Middle Class ...................... 40Craftspeople ............................. 40Farmers ................................... 41Sailors ..................................... 41Soldiers .................................... 41Servants ................................... 41Laborers .................................. 42Peasants ................................... 42Outlaws and Bandits .................. 42Slaves ...................................... 42Medicine, Physicians, and Healers ............................ 42Healers .................................... 42

High vs. Low Justice ..................... 43Currency and Trade ...................... 43

Coinage in Gwynedd .................. 43Equipment ............................... 44

Horses ........................................ 45Clothing ...................................... 45Food ........................................... 46

Brewing ................................... 48The Arts ...................................... 48

Painting and Drawing ................ 48Literature ................................ 48Music ...................................... 49

Stringed Instruments ............. 49Wind Instruments .................. 49Trumpets ............................. 49Court, Secular and Folk Music 49

Scribal Arts: Calligraphy and Illumination ..... 50

Crafts .......................................... 51Woodwork ................................ 51Pottery and Glassware ............... 51Weaving and Dyeing .................. 51Stone Carving ........................... 51Jewelry .................................... 52

Games ........................................ 52Competitions and Tournaments ... 52Theatrical Entertainments ......... 53

The Cycle of Life .......................... 53Birth and Baptism ..................... 53Weddings ................................. 53Death ...................................... 54

Chapter Five: Character Concept ....................... 55

The Game ................................... 55Setting ..................................... 55The Important People ................ 55

From the GM’s Viewpoint ............. 56Information for the Players ......... 56

From the Player’s Viewpoint .......... 57Gender .................................... 57

Table of Contents

Table of Contents excerpted from The Deryni Adventure Game from Grey Ghost Press, Inc.See www.derynirealms.com for more information.

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Table of ContentsRace ........................................ 57

Deryni .................................. 57Human ................................. 57

Half-Blooded vs. Full-Blooded Deryni ................ 57Rank and Position ..................... 58Family ..................................... 59

Noble ................................... 59Middle Class ......................... 59Commoner ............................ 59Peasant ................................ 60Slave .................................... 60

Occupation ............................... 60Character Types ........................... 60

Noble ....................................... 60Knight ..................................... 61Squire ...................................... 62Courtier ................................... 62Clergy ...................................... 62Merchant ................................. 63Rogue ...................................... 63Performer ................................. 63Other Commoners ..................... 64Other Possibilities ...................... 64

Character Questions ..................... 65Family ..................................... 65Religion and the Church ............. 65Goals and Ambitions .................. 65Tying It All Together ................. 66

Chapter Six: Character Generation and Development .........................67

General Roleplaying Game Terms .. 67Character Creation Terms ............. 68Fudge Levels ............................... 69The Basic Fudge Trait Scale: ......... 69Character Creation Systems .......... 69

Five Point Fudge .................... 69Subjective Character Creation .............. 69Other Character Creation Systems ................. 69

Character Creation Summary ........ 70Race and Rank Packages ............... 70

Racial Package .......................... 71The Deryni Racial Package ..... 71

Sendai the Magnificent: Character Concept .................... 71Rank ....................................... 71

Precedence ........................... 72Noble Rank Packages ................ 72

Legendary: King or Queen ...... 72Superb: Duke or Duchess ....... 73Great: Earl, Count, or Countess ......................... 73Good: Baron or Baroness, Clan Chief ........................... 73Fair: Landed gentry ............... 73Mediocre: Knight/Lady .............73

Commoner Rank Packages ......... 74Fair: Wealthy freeman ............ 74Mediocre: Free commoners ..... 74Poor: Journeymen, servants, subsistence farmers, peasant laborers .................. 74Terrible: ............................... 74

Sendai theMagnificent: Rank ...................................... 74Clergy Rank Packages ............... 75

Legendary: Archbishop .......... 75Superb: Bishop ...................... 75Great: Abbot, Abbess ............. 75Good: Priest .......................... 75Fair: Monks, nuns, deacons ..... 75Mediocre: Lay staff and lay brothers ......................... 75

Gifts and Faults ............................ 76Sendai the Magnificent Gifts and Faults ....................... 76Gift List ................................... 76Fault List ................................. 80

Skills ........................................... 85Spending Points ........................ 85Exchanging Skills ...................... 85Sendai the Magnificent: Skills ..... 86Choosing What to Spend Where .................................... 86

Skill Levels: What do I need to do my job? . 87

Skill Defaults ............................ 87Skill Requirements .................... 87Skill Groups ............................. 88

Daily Life .............................. 88Athletic/Outdoor .................... 88Magic ................................... 89Noble ................................... 89Religious .............................. 90Rogue ................................... 90Scholar ................................. 90Trade .................................... 91Weapons & Combat ............... 91

Skill Definitions ........................ 92Attributes .................................. 103

The Standard Attributes .......... 104Attribute ............................. 104Description ......................... 104Attribute ............................. 104Description ......................... 104

The Power Attribute ................ 104Finishing Touches .................... 104Sendai the Magnificent: Attributes ............................. 104

Chapter Seven: Playing the Game ...................... 106

An Example of Play .................... 106Narration and Dialogue ............ 106Action Resolution Terms .......... 107

Resolving Actions ....................... 108

Fudge Dice ............................. 108Rolling the Dice ...................... 109

Other Randomizing Techniques ........................ 109

Situational Rolls ...................... 109Unopposed Actions .................. 110

Example: Variable Results .... 110Example: Clear Success or Failure .......................... 110Example: Level of Success .... 111Example: Modifiers .............. 111Example: Secret Rolls .......... 111

Opposed Actions ..................... 112Example: A Chase! .............. 112

Summary of Dice Rolling and Results ........................... 112

Fatigue and Effort (Optional) ....... 113Categories of Activities ............. 113

Effortless ............................ 113Tiring ................................. 113Exhausting ......................... 113

Measuring Fatigue .................. 114Pre-Determined Number of Actions ............. 114Trait Checks ........................ 114

Fatigue Penalties ..................... 114Fatigue and Magic ................... 114Recovering from Fatigue .......... 115

When Things Come to Blows ....... 115Before Combat ....................... 115Combat Terms ........................ 115Weapons ................................ 116Armor .................................... 116Determining Weapon Effectiveness ......................... 116Determining Armor Effectiveness ......................... 116

Weapons and Armor Examples .......................... 117

Narrative Combat ................... 117Narrative Combat Example .. 118

Special Circumstances and Combat Modifiers ........... 120Optional: Damage to Weapons and Armor .............. 120

Broken Weapons .................. 120Ranged Combat ...................... 121Mounted Combat .................... 121

Mounted Combat Modifiers .. 122Wounds ..................................... 122

Wound Levels ...................... 122Determining the Extent of Injuries .................. 123Optional: Determining Wound Location .................... 123Keeping Track of Injuries ......... 124

Injury Tracking Example ...... 125Wound Penalties ..................... 125Resistance Checks ................... 126Pulling Punches, Stun, and Knockout ....................... 126

Table of Contents excerpted from The Deryni Adventure Game from Grey Ghost Press, Inc.See www.derynirealms.com for more information.

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Table of ContentsHealing .................................. 127Sample Healing Times ............. 127

Fudge Points .............................. 128Character Development .............. 129

Formal Training ...................... 129Training Examples ............... 129

Other Ways a Character May Develop ........................ 130Optional: Using Fudge Points for Character Development .... 130

Animals in the Game .................. 131Camel .................................... 131Cat ........................................ 132Deer ...................................... 132Dog ....................................... 132Falcon (or Hawk) .................... 132Horse .................................... 133Wild Boar .............................. 133Wolf ....................................... 133Roleplaying Animals ................ 133The Sport of Kings .................. 134

Chapter Eight: Advanced Rules (Optional) ........ 135

Advanced Combat Terms ......... 135Determining Numerical Damage Factors ....................... 136

Offensive Damage Factors (ODF) .................................. 136

Weapon Strength: ............... 136Character Strength: ............. 136Sample Weapon Damage Factors ................. 137

Armor and Defensive Factors .... 137Defensive Factors: ............... 137Sample Armor Defensive Factors ............... 137

Damage Factor Examples ........ 138Damage Factors and Wounds .... 138

Combat Rounds ......................... 139Combat Rounds Example ......... 140Advanced Combat Options and Modifiers ....................... 143

Animals in Combat ..................... 144Damage Factors for Animals ..... 144

Offensive Factors: ................ 144Defensive Factors: ............... 145

Scale ......................................... 145Scale and Strength .................. 146

Scale and Minimum Difficulty levels in Combat .. 146

Scale Options and Modifiers ..... 147Other Combat Systems ............... 147

Chapter Nine: Magic ...........................................148

What is Magic? .......................... 148Magic in the Game ..................... 149Magical Traits ............................ 149

Power .................................... 149Skill ....................................... 149

Using Magic .............................. 150Concentration ......................... 150Touch and Rapport .................. 150Fatigue .................................. 150Magical Action Resolution ........ 151

Combined Skill Use ............. 151Effort .................................. 151Option: Dying Effort ............ 151Preparation ......................... 151

The Color of Magic ................. 151Innate Magical Abilities ........... 152Magic Skills ............................ 152Arcane Lore ........................... 152Deryni Esoteric Texts .............. 152

Duel Arcane ........................ 153Ritual ................................. 153

Blocking ................................. 153Body-Control .......................... 153The Second Sight .................... 153

Affecting Others .................. 154Energy Augmentation .......... 154Fatigue-Banishing ................ 154Inducing Sleep .................... 154Death-Triggers .................... 154

Casting .................................. 155Opening Locks .................... 155Tracking ............................. 155Detecting Other Deryni ........ 155Dowsing ............................. 155

Healing .................................. 155Latin ..................................... 156Meditation ............................. 156Mind-Control ......................... 156

Compulsions ....................... 156Control Triggers .................. 157Memory Alteration ............... 157Mind-Reading ..................... 157Mind-Ripping ...................... 157

Magic and Animals .................. 157Death Reading .................... 158Memory Assumption ............ 158

Mind-Speech .......................... 158Rapport .............................. 158

Move Objects ......................... 159Deflecting Arrows ................ 159Opening Locks .................... 159Heart-Stopping ................... 159

Shields ................................... 159Breaking Down Shields ........ 159

Spellcasting ............................ 160Truth-Reading ........................ 160

Truth-Say ........................... 160The Truthand Nothing but... ..... 160

Spells ........................................ 161Basic Spells ............................ 161

Activation ........................... 161Attack ................................ 161Attunement ......................... 161Conjury .............................. 161Flame Conjuring .................. 161

Handfire ............................. 161Warding .............................. 162

Advanced Spells ...................... 162Preservation ........................ 162Scrying ............................... 162Shape-Changing .................. 162Sympathetic Magic .............. 163

Lost Magic and Forbidden Lore ... 163Summoning ........................ 163Binding Souls ...................... 163The Forbidden Spell ............. 163Other Secrets ...................... 164

Rituals ...................................... 164Ritual Actions ......................... 164Ritual Difficulty ...................... 164Ritual Modifiers ...................... 164Ritual Fatigue ......................... 164Roleplaying Rituals ................. 164Ritual Structure ...................... 165Ritual Applications .................. 165Sample Rituals ....................... 165

Scrying With the Haldana Necklace .............. 165Arilan Creates a Transfer Portal ................... 166Cinhil’s Power Assumption ... 166

Magic in Combat ........................ 166Magical Attack ....................... 167The Duel Arcane .................... 167

The Challenge ..................... 167Sword Spells ........................... 167

Warding .............................. 168Testing ............................... 168The Duel ............................ 168The Rush of Victory ............. 168

Human Magic ............................ 169Learning Magic Skills .............. 169Power Assumption Rituals ........ 169Deryni Who Aren’t .................. 169

Magical Tools ............................. 170Attuned Items and Seals .......... 170Merasha ................................ 170Unique Magic Items ................ 170Jeraman Crystals .................... 171Shiral Crystals ........................ 171Transfer Portals ....................... 171

Trap Portals ........................ 171Creating Portals .................. 172Destroying Portals ............... 172

Ward Cubes ............................ 172

Chapter Ten: Gamemastering .......................... 173

Running A Roleplaying Game ...... 173How to Run a Deryni Game ........ 175

Women in the Eleven Kingdoms 175Goals ..................................... 175

Individual Goals .................. 176Group Goals ....................... 176Using Goals ........................ 176

Table of Contents excerpted from The Deryni Adventure Game from Grey Ghost Press, Inc.See www.derynirealms.com for more information.

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Table of ContentsConflict .................................. 176Humor ................................... 177Youth Characters and Young Players ....................... 178Flavor .................................... 178Gaining Experience ................. 179

Story-based Experience ........ 179Point-based Experience ........ 179Combined Experience .......... 179

Aging ..................................... 180Treasure ................................. 180

Item Growth ....................... 181

Chapter Eleven: Stories ............ 182Time Periods ............................. 182

Pre-Interregnum: The Early Haldanes ................................ 182Interregnum: The Festillic Period 183Restoration of the Haldanes: Camber’s Time Period ........... 183Between 928 and Brion ........... 184King Brion’s Reign .................. 185Kelson’s Time ......................... 185Post-Kelson ............................ 185

Locations ................................... 186Torenth .................................. 186Meara ................................... 186R’Kassi .................................. 186Bremagne and the Forcinn States ....................... 186On the Water .......................... 186Other Places ........................... 187

Types of Adventures ................... 187Politics ................................... 187Intrigue .................................. 188Religion ................................. 188Magic .................................... 189Military ................................. 190Exploration ............................ 190Romance ................................ 191

Antagonists ................................ 192Church .................................. 192Humans ................................. 192Other Deryni .......................... 192

The Camberian Council ........ 192Rogue Deryni ...................... 193Rival Deryni ....................... 193

Humans in the Game .................. 193Alliances ................................... 194Involving the Players’ Characters . 194To Canon or Not to Canon ........... 195Adventures ................................ 195

A Recipe for Adventures .......... 195The Quest ........................... 196Suspected Deryni ................ 196Mearan Rebels .................... 196Torenthi Trouble .................. 196Plague ................................ 196Rogue Deryni ...................... 197Deryni Lord ........................ 197

Under Siege ........................ 197Damsel in Distress .............. 197The Lost Heir ..................... 197Trade Relations ................... 197The Minstrel Boy ................. 197The White Stag ................... 197Unwanted Affections ............ 198The Legion ......................... 198

Full-length Adventures ................ 198The Missing Heirloom ............. 198

Background Information ....... 198The Setting ......................... 198Skelden Manor and Surroundings .............. 199The Circumstances .............. 199Beginning the Adventure ...... 199Opening Scene: ................... 200Lady Fafne D’Ahearn ........... 200The Hunt is On! .................. 201Let Your Players Lead You .... 201Where is the Ring? .............. 202So, Where’s the Goat? .......... 202Recovering the Ring ............ 203It’s in the Goat .................... 203Someone Else Has It ............ 203Encounters, Obstacles, and Plot Twists .................. 203About Goats ........................ 203Ending the Adventure .......... 204Race Against Time .............. 204A Bit of a Pickle ................... 205Failure! ............................... 205This isn’t the End!! .............. 205Deryni Magic and the Missing Heirloom ... 205The Perils of Magic .............. 205Further Customizing “The Missing Heirloom” ..... 206

Unnatural Charm .................... 206The Initial Incident .............. 206GM Notes ........................... 206Dilemma ............................. 207Thenial’s Acquisitions .......... 207True Colors ......................... 207Superior Aid ........................ 208Desperate Straits ................. 208Resolution ........................... 208

Appendix I: Weapons and Armor in the Eleven Kingdoms ............ 209

Weapons ................................... 209Armor ....................................... 210

Gwynedd ............................... 210Torenth .................................. 210

Armor Type ......................... 210Factors ............................... 210Armor Type ......................... 210Factors ............................... 210

Knights in Gwynedd and Their Armor ...................... 212Armor in Torenth and the Anvil ... 212

Appendix II: The Camberian Council ..............213

History ...................................... 213Purpose ..................................... 213

Note to the GM ...................... 214

Appendix III: Price Lists in Gwynedd .............215

Appendix IV: Glossary Of Religious Terms ....217

Appendix V: Calendar ......................................222

Liturgical DatesUnfixed Liturgical Dates ......... 224

Quarter Days and Cross-Quarter Days .................. 224

Appendix VI: Timeline for the Kingdom of Gwynedd ................ 225

Appendix VII: Index of Deryni Characters ...... 227

The Deryni Chronicles ............. 228

AppendixVIII: Index of Places in the Eleven Kingdoms ............238

Appendix IX: Deryni d20 ................................. 244

Races ........................................ 244Classes ...................................... 244

Option: Deryni Sorcerers ......... 244Deryni Sorcerer Spell List ........ 244

Character Level ......................... 245Skills ......................................... 245Feats ......................................... 245Religion & Alignment .................. 246Psionic Powers ........................... 246

Deryni Psionic Powers List ....... 246Divine Magic vs.Divine Providence .246

Equipment and Magic Items ........ 247The Deryni and the Psychic’s Hand-book ...................................... 247Option: Massive Damage ......... 248

Open Game License ................ 249

Architecture (an excerpt from Fief) ................. 250

Fief (advertisement) ................... 255

Grey Ghost Games .....................256

Table of Contents excerpted from The Deryni Adventure Game from Grey Ghost Press, Inc.See www.derynirealms.com for more information.