EFU:COR Superstitions Document - Draft / Discussion

[Howlando]

Here is a draft of a document that touches on the different superstitions commonly held to by the residents of the City of Rings. Once I am satisfied with the document, I will post it in our wiki for the benefit of new players. I hope this also clears up some misconceptions by active players.

I welcome thoughts, suggestions, criticism, or additional questions.

The King

"Who is the King you ask? Well, you had better go to his Keep in the center of the City and ask him yourself...."

While it is generally acknowledged that the City is ruled by an ultimate sovereign known as the King, he is a distant ruler and the extent to which he is respected, feared, or hated varies considerably within the City of Rings. According to myth, it is he who (along with the Daring Swords, heroes of legend) defeated the Sibilant Empire and caused the Ring Walls to rise. It is also commonly believed that he dwells within the center of the City, and will grant a wish to those who visit him there.

There are many tales about the King, and much disagreement about who he is and what he wants.

The King himself is never heard from, but he does seem to have various servants. Perhaps most famously there is the voice of the Royal Herald, who regularly announces Dispensaries in which a mixture of treasure, remains of the Royal Feasts, and other curios magically appear in certain key areas after a steady countdown. According to tradition, these "gifts" are normally fought over in a display of non-lethal combat.

Positions such as the Royal Archivist, Royal Inquisitor, Royal Court Wizard and others also exist... although some wonder if these appointments are genuinely legitimate, as these servants do not seem to have any method to directly communicate with their sovereign.

Interpretations of "King's Will" or "King's Laws" varies considerably according to different communities and perspectives. Generally, his will seems to manifest itself most directly through the application of bad luck. Indeed, while the King seems to have few servants who directly enforce his will, there can be no denying the terrible misfortune that appears to fall upon those who are insistent in violating his most important strictures.

The Royal Dispensary

"Little folk of Ring 99, raise your ears to the wisdom of I, Royal Herald of the King..."

While battles during the Royal Dispensary are ferocious, it is generally considered very bad luck and against Royal Will to rob or murder during the course of these contests.

[Note: While this restriction is an IC one, please consult with a DM beforehand if you intend on violating this custom as there may be IC manifestations of Kingly Wrath. This is an example of an IC belief that the DM team also believes contributes positively OOC when adhered to, although there may be some exceptions depending on concept & execution.]

Changelings

"It's a Changeling! Kill it, burn it... drive it away!"

The superstition and hatred against those who change their shape ("Changelings") is quite severe. "Changelings" is a local term that is used to describe a wide range of phenomenon: everything from Druids who know how to transform into Animals, to Arcanists who use magic to do the same, or even monstrous lycanthropes and mongrel-beasts.

Common folk fear them and the bad luck that falls upon those who are near them. The residents of the Peerage do not hesitate to hunt them down and chase them away from their lands.

[Note: Engaging in abilities such as Wild Shape & Polymorph Self may result in PvP and permanent consequences up to and including permanent death for your character! Beware!]

Timekeeping
"Tick... tick... tick..."

The question of timekeeping is one of the most nebulous superstitions in the City of Rings with a considerable range of opinion and application. Many common folk consider it forbidden according to Royal Will, while others simply observe that clocks tend to break and ill fortune falls upon those who pry too deeply into the recording of time.

While it is true that there is no universally accepted system of dates and calendars, a complete ban on all forms of timekeeping does not exist aside from the most fanatic few. Many keep a count of the seasons of their life, or hold to memories of dates from before they arrived to the City (generally the year 1374 according to the FR Calendar). Hours and days are estimated by those whose livelihood depends upon it. Astrologists study the stars and secretly mark the passing of years, and some families keep to their own customs and superstitions. Loremasters carefully attempt to make an accounting of seasons. Even House Sunpurse, one of the most staid and traditional houses of the Peerage, marks the passing of years through a life by the lighting of special candles that burn (so they say) for exactly one year.

Nevertheless, the question of overly detailed timekeeping and record-keeping is popularly considered to be unwise and perhaps even villainous. Indeed, within the City of Rings there is overall a certain aversion to asking too many questions in general as it is a frequently a disreputable and dangerous inclination.


Ringrunning & Ring Knowledge
"The King awaits you, Ringrunner...."

While the vast majority of the inhabitants are content to dwell in their Ward & Ring, or perhaps travel only a few Rings distant, many of the City's most bold and indeed an entire profession of residents dedicate themselves to traveling the Rings, proceeding from one to the next, in arduous travel to the King's Keep. Ringrunners each have their own reasons for running the rings (everything from a desire to return to their home or proving themselves by besting the trials), but all have learned to respect the superstitions and customs of the trade.

Chief among these is an aversion to discussing specifics about what can be found within the deeper Rings. Furthermore, most Ringrunners found it wiser to band together into Ringrunning companies of trusted friends who they can cooperate with to solve the trials of the Rings and safely share information with. Outside of these companies, it is generally believed that it is highly dangerous to discuss specific solutions for passing through Rings or describe in too great a detail of what can be found in the deepest ones

Ringrunners do believe it safe to brag about how deep they've gone, but revealing solutions or knowledge in too great detail seems to bring down terrible ill fortune or even the horror of the Royal Hound.


[Note: This is another example of where the IC restriction matches an OOC expectation. From an OOC level, we fully encourage IC attempts  to gather information and learn more about the setting and for this information to be shared IC with trusted companions. That said, such efforts are best reserved IG and it is important to be careful about what is discussed or revealed OOC'ly as the DM team wishes very much for the experience of new players exploring the world to not be spoiled. Please restrict what is discussed OOC'ly and be judicious and careful about the IG spreading of sensitive knowledge. Feel free to consult with a DM if you are uncertain about something.]

Planar Travel
"It's not the horrible monsters that bothers me.... It's puking-pink from Seamsickness for days after that really gets me down..."

It is a characteristic of the City of Rings that planar portals (called Seams) regularly open and close throughout the City, most frequently in certain disrupted areas but potentially nearly anywhere. These Seams are frequently filled with dangerous monsters, but may also link to or other resources (indeed, the City is in some ways dependent upon the resources brought in through the Seams). It is an unfortunate consequence of entering the Seams that residents of the prime will inevitably catch the disease known as Seamsickness (understood to be a result of planar radiation) which, if left untreated, leads to madness and death. Thankfully, the cure to Seamsickness is simply to wait it out within the City itself and it seems to eventually go away.

While common folk may look down upon those who make a living by entering into the Seams, there is no denying it is a common practice among the bold. Nevertheless, those who become too Seamsick tend to be ostracized and are not welcome in polite society.

Wizards & the Planes
"You're a Wizard? Keep your magic away from me.... Go to the Wizard Warrens where your kind belongs!"

It is a common belief in the City of Rings that Wizards are not generally respectable, and that their form of Arcane Magic is dangerous and disreputable. Whereas a Sorcerer's unusual and innate gifts might be admired, a Wizard's studied art is dangerous and even sickening. Indeed, Wizardly magic (if left unfocused) seems to cause seam sickness in the same way as traveling from the City and into a Planar Fragment does. Wizards are thus frequently looked down upon, although they are not persecuted in the same manner as Changelings are unless they delve too deeply into strictly forbidden magic.

Forbidden Magic
"Get you and your foul magic away from my granny's tomb, you necromancer! Die!"

There are some forms of magic that, even in the absence of a solidified code of laws, is considered by almost all as far too depraved or dangerous to tolerate. Practices such as animating the dead (necromancy) and the conjuration of devils & demons (infernalism) is something that most view as a crime worthy of death. Those who wish to engage in such practices tend to keep such secret and hidden from sight from those who are not trusted fellows in the grim arts.

Delving too deep into familiarity with such dreadful monsters as aberrations, beholders, or slaadi, while perhaps less notoriously dangerous, may also result in similar consequences.

The practice of "shadebinding" (shadow-magic and the binding of shadows) is also similarly dangerous as it bears an association with both evil cults and most fearfully the mysterious and terrifying phenomenon of The Nothing. The Nothing, although poorly understood, is rumored to be a kind of storm of shadows that is gradually dissolving and eating away at the outermost rings and occasionally blows over the City itself, leaving horrors and terrors in its wake. Those who seek to bind its power for their own purposes are sure to suffer swift consequence from those who rightfully fear it.

[Note: Even tolerating the presence of others who engage in such forbidden magic (i.e. questing with a necromancer with undead) may result in consequences, including alignment changes, for other characters.

Monsters
"Men are men. Monsters are monsters."

The City of Rings in all its vastness is full of monsters, but the majority of civilized Wards do not tolerate their presence. Monster-hunters are a respected profession, and few civilized Wards tolerate monstrous visitors unless they are kept in chains.

[Note: Monstrous PCs such as goblins and kobolds exist to be hunted and to die. Application sub-race characters such as lizardfolk, lycanthropes, mongrel folk, or even outsiders such as tieflings, aasimar, and genasi (even if tolerated in hubs) can likewise be legitimately killed and slain just for being what they are.]

Superstition & PvP Cheat-Sheet:

Don't spoil information about the setting or deeper Rings without consulting with a DM
People are frequently superstitious about keeping precise time
Royal Dispensary events should be subdural-only and not an opportunity for stealing unless you consult with a DM
Changelings (both druids & and other character that changes its form somehow) is very dangerous and might get you killed
Animating the dead (zombies, skeletons, spirits....) conjuring devils & demons might get you killed
To a lesser extent, researching or consistently conjuring shadows / aberrations / slaadi might get you killed
Being any kind of application sub-race might get you killed just for being what you are

[wundyboy]

Can you possibly clarify PCs representing the more foul gods, such as Yevethrax, Grandfather, Tchun, etc, and whether they are held to the same stipulations of being KoS like a necromancer / changeling? I see too many times with PCs publicly representing these deities, and people just go 'yeah that's alright, not bothering me none', even though they definitely have nefarious and vile deeds in mind.

[Ironside]

Grandfather is a God who might be privately worshiped, but obviously there is major stigma in public praise for the god of thieves. 

Tchunites are by and large outright evil.  There is no tolerance for them, least of all because of the strange infectious nature of their madness.

Yevethax has been worshiped by lowborn folk as a god of the autumn and harvest, though open necromancy among their faithful is obviously treated as per usual.

[VanillaPudding]

This is awesome. Thank you!

[Lannister]

Perhaps also clarifing the act of hunting golems for their hearts, as being really bad. Maybe "Golems are seen as extremely important for the City and the act of hunting of Golems for their arcane hearts is seen as a taboo and evil act on par with necromancy."

[Fraudster]

Might be worth expanding upon the difference between keystones and key-locked doors, in that it's generally seen as bad luck/DM channel worthy to sneak past/be allowed entrance into a keystone locked door than it is a 'regular' key door. 

[Howlando]

We've made it so that it should be impossible to pass through a Keystone door without a key (although there are probably some doors missing the variable - please remind me if you stumble across any). So, the superstition about it is less important to emphasize and I want to keep the document short and concise for new players.

[SunrypeSlim]

It would be valuable to treat the basic rules around dealing with Peers (be polite, don't be a gnome, etc.) at superstitions, and jot them down.

And a basic gist of this so-called Ticker "rebellion" would be useful background knowledge.

And maybe give the Nothing its own entry, unless it's implied to be a forbidden magic.

Otherwise, thanks so much for this! More Primers all around!

[Damien]

Grandfather is a God who might be privately worshiped, but obviously there is major stigma in public praise for the god of thieves. 

I'd reword that considering there is a guild of Grandfather worshippers in ticker square.  The stigma should be up to the player's views.

Personally I think it would be far more interesting if the saying of "grandfather gets his due" was as commonly believed as 7 is bad luck/death, and it be given the same sense of fear and dread as invoking the hound if they forget to give tithe. That is superstition after all no? And would be in line with people in the rings putting pumpkins down for Yeva.

[zerotje]

It sounds like things should be alot more violent than they currently are. (Necros, infernalists, aasimars, druidmurder).

[Egon the Monkey]

Some of these things have IMO more traction than others.

• Picking up someone's disarmed weaponry at a Dispensary got an immediate DM cursing.
• Summoning a Raskshasa  just got "Oh, it's that dickhead the warlock" not "Major reputational damage to this guy's faction, and everyone piling on him". It didn't feel like Forbidden Magic so much as 'Tasteless Magic'.
• I think a large part is that NPCs with authority don't seem to care. There's no reason for your allies to go "MY WORD? A NECROMANCER? HOW COULD WE HAVE KNOWN" and wring their hands unconvincingly, while handing you over for the crime of Getting Caught. There's not even really anyone to hand you over *to*. Players tend to take their lead from NPC attitudes, as if you can do it in front of NPCs, it must be acceptably non-hostile, right?
• There's standing bounties on changelings, but there aren't bounties on necromancers and infernalists. It's not "Forbidden Magic" if nobody actually forbids it. If it's "forbidden", then doing this stuff should be as troublesome to your group as being undeniably outed as a Werewolf or Knave.

If the idea is that crossing these Superstitions invites conflict, I think that Forbidden Magic isn't quite working out. Without a general code of law, we indeed need things that are considered beyond the pale by any civilised PC. That are ruinous to be caught doing, as they will overrule the usual loyalty to a group member. But that are also tempting and accessible. Then you can break the acceptable rules and piss off *everyone*. And you can expose, blackmail, and/or frame people. Timekeeping isn't useful to most PCs, and "Being a Druid" is neither easily accessible, nor tempting to do. Whereas "undead and fiends" are easy to get hold of, and really useful. So they're potentially great!

For them to feel like Everyone Hates These Things:

• Getting caught doing one of these things means that your own faction(even an Evil one) should see you as a liability and be willing to either throw you under the bus or spend a lot of effort on a plausible cover-up.
• Even in Ticker Square, I wouldn't be able to get away walking around under constant Polymorph Troll, for example.
• Having powerful allies as a necromancer/infernalist should be valuable in terms of "People who will keep their mouth shut, claim witnesses are liars, or intimidate/bribe them into Not Having Seen Any Succubus". Cover ups and denials should be important.
• Being undeniably exposed as doing this stuff should put you on everyone's hit-list, and leave you with little choice but to go outlaw and maybe maintain under-the-table contacts with your old faction.
• Doing the thing should have NPC bounties against it, as a strong incitement to kick off on people for doing that thing.

They don't feel like "forbidden magics" so much as "Evil things that all evil-friendly  factions will openly tolerate because hey they're useful". Unlike popping out some druid spells in the middle of the Peerage.  I think the test for "Is this thing actually transgressive?" is "If you do it in public, will your allies let you get beaten/killed for it?".