Ľubica Lintnerová
Unions and their ‘Rituals’ have been a really interesting concept to me within the context of Into the Odd / Electric Bastionland ever since Chris McDowall wrote about them. They are a unique way to engage associatively in character development and advancement. The following are a few Unions for my own setting; an as-of-yet unnamed European (French/British) fantasy world with a nice dose of slightly-silly whimsy. I imagine that in action, around the table, time with a Union (especially that which ends in a Ritual) will play out similar to individual or pub vignettes.
Convincing a Union you are ‘down with their cause’ is the best way to become engaged with them, but most can also be swayed by the truth of 10 gold.
The Monastic Society of True Wealth
False Wealth cannot follow where True Wealth leads.
Desires to…
– acquire ‘True Wealth’ for the afterlife
– preach against the pitfalls of ‘False Wealth’
Potential rituals…
– Appraise Truth: You are able to distinguish True Wealth from the False (1-in-2 chance to be True), but your ability to distinguish Actual Truth from Actual Falsehoods is disadvantaged.
– Material Prayer Market: Congregants spend hours in prayer devoted to their True Wealth, then express worship by bragging about those items. The floor is then opened for trading.
– Belittle the False: You may admonish owners of False Wealth, berating and guilting them into an impaired/disadvantaged state (CHA save ends). Handling False Wealth yourself puts you on edge, causes extreme jitters, and your efforts are impaired/disadvantaged.
Desires to…
– acquire ‘True Wealth’ for the afterlife
– preach against the pitfalls of ‘False Wealth’
Potential rituals…
– Appraise Truth: You are able to distinguish True Wealth from the False (1-in-2 chance to be True), but your ability to distinguish Actual Truth from Actual Falsehoods is disadvantaged.
– Material Prayer Market: Congregants spend hours in prayer devoted to their True Wealth, then express worship by bragging about those items. The floor is then opened for trading.
– Belittle the False: You may admonish owners of False Wealth, berating and guilting them into an impaired/disadvantaged state (CHA save ends). Handling False Wealth yourself puts you on edge, causes extreme jitters, and your efforts are impaired/disadvantaged.
The League of Surf Wizards
All I need is some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and to own as much of the coastline as possible.
Desires to…
– use magic to catch the gnarliest waves in the gnarliest fashion
– privatize as much coast under the League as possible
Potential rituals…
– Wave Pool Training: The League imbues one of your foci with the spell Tubularize Water, which is used to generate rad waves in the training pool.
– Hostile Beach Takeover: The League shows up in force at a beach they do not own and act like total jerks. Crashing waves into sunbathers and knocking over sand castles is par for the course. If you meaningfully contribute, you can add two to your score in the next surf contest.
– Surf Contest: There are always five contestants, including yourself. Roll ascending dice d6-d12, assigned to the NPC contestants. You are given a single attempt, and your score is equal to the height of the wave ridden. If you win, receive 5 gold, and an invite to the Inner Sanctum of Wet Wizards.
– Meeting of the Inner Sanctum of Wet Wizards: Only the best Surf Wizards attend these meetings. The agenda? Drink beer, smoke epitaph, and swap surf stories. Epitaph brings to the front of your mind potential final words for deaths you could have suffered; “Here Lies So-and-So, drowned in a totally rad 20-footer” or “… dashed upon the rocks of Skridden Beach”. On a CHA save, the Sanctum thinks your tale is totally rad and gifts you a surfboard (bulky) and a wooden ring containing the spell Neversink.
Desires to…
– use magic to catch the gnarliest waves in the gnarliest fashion
– privatize as much coast under the League as possible
Potential rituals…
– Wave Pool Training: The League imbues one of your foci with the spell Tubularize Water, which is used to generate rad waves in the training pool.
– Hostile Beach Takeover: The League shows up in force at a beach they do not own and act like total jerks. Crashing waves into sunbathers and knocking over sand castles is par for the course. If you meaningfully contribute, you can add two to your score in the next surf contest.
– Surf Contest: There are always five contestants, including yourself. Roll ascending dice d6-d12, assigned to the NPC contestants. You are given a single attempt, and your score is equal to the height of the wave ridden. If you win, receive 5 gold, and an invite to the Inner Sanctum of Wet Wizards.
– Meeting of the Inner Sanctum of Wet Wizards: Only the best Surf Wizards attend these meetings. The agenda? Drink beer, smoke epitaph, and swap surf stories. Epitaph brings to the front of your mind potential final words for deaths you could have suffered; “Here Lies So-and-So, drowned in a totally rad 20-footer” or “… dashed upon the rocks of Skridden Beach”. On a CHA save, the Sanctum thinks your tale is totally rad and gifts you a surfboard (bulky) and a wooden ring containing the spell Neversink.
Tubularize Water (d4-d20):
You pull water up and out of its body, creating a rolling wave. The height of the wave is [sum] feet, and the length is twice [sum], given a large enough body of water.
Neversink (d6):
The underside of a targeted object glows a light blue as you enchant it to be entirely unsinkable for [sum] hours. No matter the force or weight applied, the enchanted item cannot be fully submerged. If [sum] is six, you may make the effect permanent.
Tax Auditors’ Union
Take as the system demands; keep what overflows.
Desires to…
– publicly maintain a reputation of fairness and good-will
– secretly scrape off the top and practice extortion
Potential rituals…
– Tax Code Training: You will be taught all about local tax code and laws. You can use this knowledge to your advantage when it comes to trade and haggling.
– Group Audit: Members vote on a business and then pour over their taxes as a group, zealously applying tax law in ways favorable to themselves. Make a CHA save to meaningfully contribute and receive a share of the spoils (1d6 gold).
– Casting of the Flawed: A member is audited and as much of their worth as possible is split between contributing members. Make a CHA save to meaningfully contribute and receive a share of the spoils (2d6 gold). There is a 1-in-6 chance you are the targeted member.
Desires to…
– publicly maintain a reputation of fairness and good-will
– secretly scrape off the top and practice extortion
Potential rituals…
– Tax Code Training: You will be taught all about local tax code and laws. You can use this knowledge to your advantage when it comes to trade and haggling.
– Group Audit: Members vote on a business and then pour over their taxes as a group, zealously applying tax law in ways favorable to themselves. Make a CHA save to meaningfully contribute and receive a share of the spoils (1d6 gold).
– Casting of the Flawed: A member is audited and as much of their worth as possible is split between contributing members. Make a CHA save to meaningfully contribute and receive a share of the spoils (2d6 gold). There is a 1-in-6 chance you are the targeted member.