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.