Infiniverse Vol. 1, No. 39 " January/February, 1994
"!
INFINIVERSE
C A M P A I G N G A M E
Volume 1, Number 39 January/February, 1994  $3.00
"!
West End Games Proudly Presents &
The World of Indiana Jones The World of Bloodshadows
Travel to exotic lands, challenge It s a mean old world out there. The
CONTENTS ancient mysteries and brave dangers sorcerer upstairs conjures too loud;
beyond imagining with the greatest the guy down the hall drinks blood
hero of them all! The people who from a six-pack; that stiff you left in
brought you Star Wars: The Roleplaying the alley is up and walking around.
Rumor Report
Game now invite you to plunge into a Your best friends are your revolver
and News ....................... 2
world of treacherous spies, thrilling and a load of runeslugs. If you re lucky,
chases, arcane artifacts and non-stop the Guild will pay you for tonight s
Advanced
excitement. work; if you re not, you re going home
Indiana Jones premieres with a 144- in a box. A small box.
Stelae Removal 401 ...... 3
page worldbook, followed by the cam- Bloodshadows takes fantasy out of
paign pack, Indiana Jones and the Rising the moldy old castles and ancient
Lereholm........................ 5
Sun, and then the Raiders of the Lost Ark tombs and brings it back to the black
sourcebook! magic alleys and cheap gin joints where
Dispatches .................... 7
Future supplement will include In- it belongs. And you re not just hunt-
diana Jones and the Tomb of the Templars ing monsters anymore & you re play-
Your Letters ................ 11
and Indiana Jones and the Golden Vam- ing them.
pires. Coming August  94.
Herald Messages ....... 12 The adventure begins August,  94. The World of Bloodshadows.
The World of Indiana Jones. A MasterBook game.
A MasterBook game.
REALITY CHECK by Brian Schomburg
Contributors This Issue:
Who could forget the Bachelor party before the Bride of Darkness adventure?
Michael Annis, Greg Detwiler,
Greg Farshtey, Scott Rosema, Brian
Schomburg
®
20839
Creative Staff:
Fred Jandt, Nikola Vrtis, Scott Palter
Sales Director:
Sue Hartung
Accountant:
Karen Bayly
®, TM & © 1994, 2001 D6Legend Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
West End Games and WEG are trademarks of
D6Legend Inc.
Infiniverse Vol. 1, No. 39 " January/February, 1994
Rumor Report and News
irst Indication reports turn it into a floating battlebase. Holds anyone who helps out will receive
on the newest batch of at True (19). credit toward WEG merchandise.
rumors to which you 2. Ghostdancer movement springs We are also looking for game-mas-
have responded. Con- up among Gaea s Native American ters to run Torg, Shatterzone, and Star
tinuing Report updates population in response to the domina- Wars at GenCon  94 in August.
the rumors as more responses come tion of the Gaunt Man. Big leap to True If you are interested in helping us
in. The Wrap Up gives you the tally (35). out, contact West End Games, RR3
after the rumor has reverberated 3. Negotiations going on between Box 2345, Honesdale, PA 18431.
throughout the Infiniverse for high-ranking cyberpriests and techno- For those of you who were disap-
about three months. The wrap-up demons. Still down there at False (18). pointed at not being able to get into
will be the last report for that ru- 4. Colonel Cairo and Captain Car- your favorite WEG event last year,
mor in Infiniverse. nage (the former Dr. Zap) clash in the take heart  WEG is getting extra
streets of Thebes. Both vanish under a booth space this year so that we can
pile of rubble. Slight jump to True (15). run pick-up games during the show.
Rumor Report
The Wrap-Up: Issue #35
Upcoming For Torg
1. Woman believed to be infected
The results are given a true or
with Comaghaz the subject of a battle
March: The Clerics Sourcebook col-
false, followed by a parenthetical
in Tokyo. Law of Intrigue may be af-
lects all the miracles of the Torg uni-
number. That number represents
fecting Comaghaz cells in Nippon
verse, along with an assortment of
the strength of the truth or false-
Tech. Holds to finish at True (15).
new ones, and details the miracle cre-
hood throughout the Infiniverse.
2. Baseball seen as a symbol of na-
ation system. Can we hear an amen,
For example, a statement which is
tional hope renewed in the wake of the
brothers and sisters?
False (15) is false unless the game-
Possibility Wars. Another precinct
master decides to test the state-
May: Infiniverse Update, Volume III:
heard from, and it finishes at True (19).
ment; on a roll of 15 or better, the
And the first one not written by me!
3. Orrorshan werewolves travel to
statement is actually true. Roll
John Terra leads you through the Pos-
the Land Above to try and gather
again on 10 and 20 when testing
sibility Wars 1994, featuring shocking
Ustanah for use in a new Horror. A
the truth or falsity of a reported
surprises, sinister plots and the return
drop, and it finishes at False (11).
rumor.
of an old and adamant villain (no, it s
4. Backlash against Storm Knights
not Ensign Egypt!)
First Indication: Issue #37 beginning to be seen in some areas of
1. New villain, Dr. Cyclops, appears Core Earth.  Ords Are Heroes, Too
September: City of Pain is the new
in Berlin with the power to shrink his chapter springs up. Ends at True (17).
title for John (Interview With Evil)
enemies. Believed to be collecting 5. Mobius believed to be targeting
Terra s second novel. This book fol-
Storm Knights. Grows to True (20). Spain for invasion. Finishes at True
lows Major Havoc and his band of
2. New and charismatic leader, (19).
Mystery Men into the heart of Berlin,
Doomtak, appears in the Land Below,
where Nile heroes clash with
forging an army of conquest. Dead
Convention News Tharkoldu techno-demons in the dead-
even  False (11).
liest mixed zone of them all.
3. Aliens from Star Sphere send ro- West End Games is looking for
gamers planning to attend Origins 94
bot craft to Earth as part of a trap for
in San Jose, CA in July 7 10. We need
unwary Humans. Rockets to True (15).
people both to run games for us and to
Continuing Report: Issue #36
help us work our booth. As usual,
1. Mobius plans to use reality tree to
convert Iceland to Nile axioms and
2
Infiniverse Vol. 1, No. 39 " January/February, 1994
Advanced Stelae Removal 401
By Michael W. Annis
 All that we are accomplishing here is WAR! here, but being too cautious is almost
putting out the fires on the border of a as bad. Remember, Torg is an adven-
great conflagration. If we would truly ture game. The gamemaster then has
save this forest that is Core Earth, we must to determine whether or not he can
How Do We Win?
take the battle to the realms and, ulti- handle the request. Sometimes my
We win by getting rid of all of the
mately, the High Lords. players want to try things and frankly,
stelae-bounded on the planet. That s
  Reverend Prentiss Trimble, I don t feel up to designing and run-
not about to happen overnight, but
Victorian Expeditionary Force ning, and I ve been an active roleplay-
let s see what we can do to speed up
ing gamemaster since 1978. That  don t
Mobius has expanded into Greece
the process. Safely pulling up stelae
bite off too much rule works for the
and Crete. The Warrior of the Dark has
consists of the following actions:
gamemaster as well as for the Storm
acquired Drakacanus, gained domi-
Knights. Players and gamemaster have
1) Going to the target area;
nant zones in Russia and flipped all
to find a mission that all can agree on.
2) Performing some Glory deeds;
but a few of the Aysle zones to the
3) Planting the seeds;
Dark. Malraux is in the Mediterranean
4) Waiting;
Covering Yourself in Glory
and nibbling on the North American
5) Returning and finding the stelae;
coast. 3327 has only managed one new
Okay, so now we re on-site and
6) Ripping the sucker up.
zone lately, but it includes the city of
trying to give some High Lord a bloody
San Francisco. The Gaunt Man s
Boy, I sure make it sound easy,
nose. We need a couple of good Glory
nappy-time is over and he s hungry.
don t I? Well, maybe it s not as tough
rolls for some story seeds. But what
Hopefully, it ll take him a few weeks
as it looks, if you ve got the right tricks
happens if no one in your group draws
to digest the 18 new dominant zones
up your sleeve.
a Glory card? Well, then you durn well
he s planted since getting loose.
better get one quick! Refilling your
If you can do basic arithmetic, you
Getting There
hand is what Rally and Leadership cards
know that even after almost four years
are for. You get to refill your hand at
of fighting, struggles and death, we of
This one entails some discussion
the end of every scene, too, so if you
Core Earth are losing the Possibility
between players and gamemaster. The
need to, your whole team better go
Wars. The majority of Storm Knight
players try to decide upon a good
through cards as fast as you can until
groups spend most of their time foil- target and what to attack. Picking on
you find the needle in the haystack.
ing the plots of the High Lords, thus
fringe zones is a good idea. You want
So now you re ready. You ve traded
simply trying to contain things, ac- to find a stelae that only bounds one
cards with your teammates to get the
tions my players refer to as  putting
zone, or else you ll have to worry about
most usable hand you can for the great
out brush fires or  fire-stomping. If
preparing more than one zone at the
moment. You look for an appropriate
we seriously intend to win this war,
same time, a much more complex and
action in a good, juicy Dramatic scene
then we had better begin to take the
dangerous undertaking. Get a couple
offensive right now!
Okay, easier said than done, you
tell me. Well, my players and I have
You don t have an eternity shard? Uh-oh, is your
developed strategies and tactics for
the express purpose of hastening the insurance paid up?
end of the High Lords on our globe,
and here and now I will share them
with you. This article may seem to
of singles under your belt before you
(waiting for an up condition is a good
read like a treatise on how to become
go for the big scores. (Operation Cen-
idea, too!), slam your whole hand
a Torg rules-lawyer, but that is not the
tral Fire was a good example of this
down by  playing for the critical mo-
aim. Use these tricks, but don t lose
sort of action, overly optimistic and
ment, whip out your eternity shard,
sight of the fact that this is a roleplay- too risky to the natives.)
milk it for three of four Possibilities,
ing game. Neither should you fail to
Now, pick a target within the zone
spend one of your own, add a Hero
take advantage of them. Don t be
you want to hit. Not biting off more
card or two to boot, and roll the dice.
overly scrupulous. Remember, this is
than you can chew is very important
You can hardly avoid rolling a 60+!
3
Infiniverse Vol. 1, No. 39 " January/February, 1994
Instant Glory event! (What s that you attempt. (If the person gripes that he s
Finding the Stelae
say? You don t have an eternity shard? the one who always has to spend all
Finding a stelae s exact location
Uh-oh, is your insurance paid up? No, the Possibilities, remind him whose
without the Group Power stelae sense
really, if you don t have one, then we damn planet it is, anyway! Then give
is near impossible, harder than the
need to back up and tell you how to get him a few extra points here and there,
needle in the proverbial haystack. I
one,  cause it s really, really tough to because doing the right thing is good
strongly recommend stelae sense. The
pull this stunt off without one.) roleplaying.) Of course, if your only
problem with this is that only one
If you take a good look at the sec- Core Earther has a persuasion of 8 and
eternity shard of all those published
tions of the basic rules that deal with your gypsy soothsayer has a 17, feel
has the stelae sense power, and it s de-
the High Lords, the Everlaws, eternity free to ignore my advice entirely.
scribed in the Storm Knights Guide
shards, group powers, etc., it quickly
(not in an adventure where your hun-
becomes clear that it was the intent of
Waiting
gry Knights can get their grubby little
the designers that a group be able to
paws on it).
Waiting the right length of the time
get ahold of a shard that could be of
for your seeds to mature is very im- To solve this small dilemma, you
reasonably direct usefulness to a party.
gamemasters will have to find your
portant. Too little a wait and you can t
In my campaign, four separate groups
own way of introducing this shard
get the roll you need for the stories to
of Storm Knights have only managed
into your campaign. (I did, you can
take. Too long and maybe you never
to turn up five shards in the two years
too!) Either that or you can alter an
get to go back there because you re
I ve been running. And two of those
existing one to have a different group
dead. Also, maybe the High Lord has
have the  cannot use its Possibilities to
power than as published (I gave stelae
expanded his realm. The area you
harm the other beings restrictions.
sense to Excalibur in my campaign) or
seeded, which used to be a border
You don t need a bazooka, just a way
you could just make up a new shard
zone that could be safely dealt with
to violate that  I can only spend one
entirely.
individually, is now an interior area
Possibility on a given action rule,
that cannot be removed without break-
with more reliability and force than a
ing four to six other zones (which are
couple of Hero cards can give you.
Rip It Up, Tear It Up, Waaaay
not prepared, and thus you ll kill more
Now I m sure that there are
Up
people than you help).
gamemasters who are reading this and
The best thing the boys at WEG
screaming that I m awful free with Finally. It s Act IV, last scene (Dra-
ever gave us for this problem is sitting
giving out goodies to their players. matic, of course). You ve found the
on the very last page of The Cassandra
Not so. I m not suggesting you just damn thing, it s right there, so DO
Files. It s a new Group Power called
give anything away. I am saying it s something about it. The easy way is
comfort and no serious stelae-busters
an integral part of Torg to need a shard, with yet again, another new group
should be without it. Using this power
so write them a good adventure and power, straight from No Quarter Given
get a shard! Make  em sweat for any- can turn a month s wait into a year s
called block. (You know, if I didn t
effect! Find it! Get it! Even if you can t
thing they get. I ran one group through know better, I d think that the WEG
find the only eternity shard that has it,
three whole adventures solely to get guys were trying to help us win &
find another group of Storm Knights
their hands on one shard: one to find Naaaah!)
(other players or gamemaster charac- With block activated, a reality-im-
out that it existed and roughly where
ters) that has the power and spend the
it was, one crash landing/diversion penetrable force-field globe is created
Possibilities to spark some new power- around the stelae. It s then cut off from
on the way to get it, and the last to
bearers in your group.
actually find and recover the thing. I the Darkness Device and the other
(This strategy actually should be
gave them blood, toil, sweat and tears, stelae it might be hooked to. One use
used at every opportunity, for every
and by the time they finally got the of block and you don t need to fool
Sword of the Shogun, they richly de- power you can afford. You don t have
with all those link-breaking reality rolls.
to have a shard to have its Group
served it! Now just apply a generous mea-
Power. You can get  sparked off oth- sure of good old-fashioned brute force
ers who have been  sparked and
and destroy the thing. For a
Planting the Seeds
pretty soon, every Storm Knight could
Cyberpapal altar, use a good-sized
This one is reasonably straightfor- be running around with five or six
satchel charge and run like hell.
ward, so it doesn t require a lot of Group Powers, subject only to his abil- Nippon Tech ATM machine, back off
blather from me. The only recommen- ity to buy into them.)
a ways and use a LAW or Stinger.
dation I will make is don t forget to Accelerating the effectiveness of
Ayslish trades will melt from fireballs,
take advantage of the Core Earth Law story-telling is the only use that com- Living Land body sacks will also burn.
of Glory. If the one who plants the fort has, so your gamemaster should
Dynamite works in the Nile or Orrorsh,
seed (spends the Possibility and makes be willing to let you have it, sooner or
and if that s in short supply, Nile obe-
the persuasion roll) is a Core Earther, he later (better sooner), on the basis that it
lisks and Orrorshan statuary are still
gets a +2 modifier to the persuasion doesn t mess up game balance.
susceptible to being worked over with
a twenty-pound sledgehammer.
Where there s a will, there s a way!
4
Infiniverse Vol. 1, No. 39 " January/February, 1994
Pocket Dimension: Lereholm
By Greg Detwiler
As Orrorsh fans know, the as a transformed guard beast. Due to beast encountered will be a trans-
vampyress Sabathina is one of the the tribes all-meat diet, tightly-orga- formed human, not a true animal. Fi-
Gaunt Man s most trusted servants. nized hunting bands are the closest nally, the fierce winds that constantly
As a reward for services rendered, the thing they have to military discipline. blow discourage research into missile
High Lord has allowed her to reshape weapons such as bows and slings;
a pocket dimension into a virtual du- spears in Lereholm are only for thrust-
plicate of Lereholm, as a  home away ing.
The Spiritual Axiom:
from home between campaigns. Al- Although trees are present on
12
though this Lereholm is but a pale Lereholm, harvesting them is so time-
shadow of its predecessor s glory, it is consuming and difficult that wood-
Lereholm s Spiritual axiom is
still a fair representation of what that working is almost unknown, with bone
slightly higher than its Magic axiom,
world was like. and stone taking its place.
so holy weapons are slightly more
common than their magical counter-
parts. The latter, incidentally, are in-
The Law of
Axioms and World
variably in the form of a bone version
of the tribal holy symbol, the Vassen (a
Community
Laws
circle with a triangle inside it). Fairly
potent miracles are common, due to Due to the fact that tribes must work
the fact that each matriarch is also together to accomplish anything, the
priestess for her tribe. (Sabathina re- Law of Community has evolved so
The Magic Axiom: 11
linquished this power in exchange for that every action has a better chance of
the Gaunt Man s  gifts. ) Lereholm s succeeding if other members of one s
Lereholm s Magic axiom is high
religion is of a shamanistic nature. tribe are present. When a character is
enough to permit the existence of
part of a group of 10 or more, any
undead and other beings that require
action he takes will receive an auto-
magic to survive. Enchanted weapons
matic +1 to succeed. This effect is un-
The Technological
and other tools are possible, but the
conscious; the other members of the
spells cast on them will wear off over
Axiom: 4
group improve the odds by their very
time. Still, the existence of the above-
presence. Due to the small size of most
named creatures ensures that tribal
Lereholm s Tech axiom is the low-
Storm Knight bands, this is an excel-
spellcasters spend most of their time
est recorded thus far, even lower than
lent reason for adventurers to make an
creating magical weaponry and pro-
that of the Living Land. The tribes are
effort to recruit locals (and for the
tective charms. Of the four types of
still in the Stone Age, as well as the Ice
players to engage in roleplaying).
magic, only conjuration is rarely at-
Age, on this frozen world. Stone-
tempted. Alteration magic is extremely
tipped spears, stone knives and dag-
popular, particularly spells that in-
gers, and stone-headed maces and axes
The Law of
volve transforming enemies into crea-
share prominence with clubs as the
tures.
cosm s predominant weaponry. Ar-
Matriarchy
mor consists of hides and furs, and is
worn as much for protection from the As Lereholm s power is concen-
The Social Axiom: 6
weather as from enemies. trated in female hands, the Law of
Several factors conspire to keep the Matriarchy provides an automatic +1
Lereholm s social structure is tribal
axiom low. First, agriculture is all but to any action by a female of an intelli-
in nature. Due to the harsh living con-
impossible on Lereholm: there are no gent species. If the woman is part of a
ditions on this world, discipline is
plants extant which are edible for hu- group of 10 or more, she may boost the
harsher than is usual at this low a
mans. Some of the smaller game ani- modifer to +2 by taking advantage of
Social axiom. Each tribe is ruled by a
mals have been herded into caverns the Law of Community. (She gains no
matriarch. Every member of every tribe
and sealed in until needed, but true additional bonus by being in a group
knows his or her place; they also know
domestication is unknown. Any guard of 10 or more women.)
that they have a place, even if it is only
5
Infiniverse Vol. 1, No. 39 " January/February, 1994
Example: Rhailina is a female war- cosm s animal life was able to evolve ful clawed legs that can deliver a
rior who has been separated from her and adapt with it. All reptiles have deadly kick, and a yard-long hooked
band by a stampeding herd of branch- had their scales modified into a form beak.
tusked mammoths, and she is now of feathers, providing both insulation In addition, there are tiger-sized
being stalked by a hungry hill bear. and armor. Thus, Storm Knights cross- weasels, wolves the size of Kodiak
The beast catches up to her, forcing ing a river are vulnerable to crocodile bears, ox-sized wolverines, and host
her to lash out with her spear in self- attack everywhere; the thing just has a of other reasons why human hunting
defense. She needs a 15 to hit the layer of feathers like those of a pen- parties on Lereholm never go out with
beast, but generates a 13. Her +1 guin, with a roll of blubber under- fewer than10 members, and often a
modifier brings it up to a 14  she neath. good deal more. Fortunately for hunt-
fails! Fortunately, the bear misses ers, prey animals are even more nu-
its first attack as well. merous, and often one kill can feed the
Suddenly, she hears the shouts of entire tribe.
her tribesmen as the reformed hunt- The cosm s high Magic axiom al-
ing band finds her. Soon she is sur- lows for the existence of various Hor-
rounded by a knot of over a dozen rors, who were an invaluable aid to
hunters. She lashes out again, gen- the Gaunt Man when he invaded the
erating a 13  her +1 modifier original. Lereholm s undead are al-
makes it a 14, and the Law of Com- most always of human form, though
munity adds another +1. She hits! occasionally an animal also joins the
The bear is wounded and the other ranks of the reanimated. Air elementals
There have been no complete ex-
hunters move in for the kill. are the most common type of true
tinctions of animal life in the history of
elementals encountered here. In addi-
this pocket dimension, though many
tion, hybrid elementals of snow and
species have had their former range
ice have also been encountered here.
The Cosm
reduced to a single continent. Mam-
mal-like reptiles, dinosaurs, giant
Lereholm is a land of icy wastes,
flightless birds (flight is difficult, if not
vast tundras, snow-covered moun-
Pocket Dimension
impossible, in Lereholm s winds  +5
tains and dark forests of twisted trees.
to flight difficulties), and huge mam-
This world is very much in the grip of Contest
mals all share the cosm. Dinosaurs
an Ice Age, one that has existed for
and mammal-like reptiles now sport
So far, Infiniverse has featured two
tens of millions of years.
feathers or fur (note that this evolution
pocket dimensions from the prolific
The wind always blows here in pow-
does not affect the creature s Tough-
pen of Greg Detwiler. Now it s your
erful gusts, so much so that missile
ness and armor adds. This stat is the
turn  do you have an idea for a
weapons are unreliable. Unless one is
same as before. Thus, gamemasters
pocket dimension that s new and dif-
firing with the wind directly at one s
can hit players with beasts the look
ferent? Or maybe one that s been men-
back, all missile weapons checks will
different, but are really as dangerous
tioned in the Torg canon, but never
have +4 added to their difficulty.
as in the past.) Interestingly, all of
explored or explained?
Rounds from chemically-propelled
Lereholm s creatures are extremely
Then this is your chance to see it in
suffer a +7 to their difficulty of hitting.
large  this is an evolutionary adap-
print! Simply write up a 2000 word
These restrictions do not apply when
tation due to the fact that large ani-
description of the pocket dimension
firing at point-blank range.
mals lose body heat much more slowly
(see details below), and we ll publish
Save for inside the caverns, ranged
than smaller ones.
the four best in Infiniverse! The top two
weapon attacks can only be reliably
Most of Lereholm s humans live on
prize winners will receive free copies
made with enervgy weapons, magic
the continent of Volklandia, the only
of the Berlin Citybook. Third and fourth
and miracles.
one of the six continents to have been
place winners will receive free copies
Many of the mountains are made of
named by the people.
of John Terra s upcoming Torg novel,
limestone and tend to be full of cav-
Many carnivores on Lereholm have
City of Pain.
erns. The folk of Lereholm have ex-
subspecies with sabreteeth. Other un-
Your write-up should include a brief
panded and connected all of these cav-
usual inhabitants include hill bears
introduction to the pocket dimension,
erns and laboriously dug out new ones
(the name refers to the animal s size,
the axioms and world laws (with ex-
as shelter from both weather and
not its habitat) and the branch-tusked
planations and any special rules), and
beasts. Unfortunately, they must of-
mammoth. The latter s tusks have
a description of the dimension and its
ten leave their fortresslike homes in
short, curved branches protruding at
inhabitants. If need be, you should
order to go hunting, so the monsters of
intervals from either side, making them
also provide information on how the
Lereholm have a good chance of get-
cruel but effective slashing weapons.
Storm Knights might get there (is there
ting them almost every day.
There is also the ditracha, a flightless
more than one gate? Where are they?)
Due to the gradual pace at which
bird the height of a four-story build-
Deadline for submissions is June 1,
the Ice Age approached, most of the
ing, with an ostrichlike build, power-
1994.
6
Infiniverse Vol. 1, No. 39 " January/February, 1994
Dispatches and Rumors
Find 8, tracking 8, trick 8 SPIRIT 7
Dispatches
MIND 9 Additional Skills: two at +1 adds
Apportation magic 18, survival Possibility Potential: Some (30)
Powers: Fire blast/fire wall, value
(arctic) 12, test 10
1
STR+10, range 3-10/25/40; Adventure
CHARISMA 7
cost: 5
Taunt 8
A recent sub-zero cold snap in the
Equipment: Thermo-suit (+2 to sur-
SPIRIT 7
Land Above has resulted in the deaths
vival (arctic) checks); KK81, damage
Intimidation 9
of hundreds of Leopard Men, Keefee
value 19, ammo 24, range 3-40/400/
Additional Skills: two at +1 adds
Haroo and other former denizens of
1k; Kocha machinegun, damage value
Possibility Potential: some (20)
the Land Below. Meteorologists have
Arcane Knowledges: water 15 22, ammo 5, range 3-100/600/1k
been at a loss to explain the brutal
Spells:
weather, said to be the coldest to hit
Equipment: Ice club, damage value
2
that geographic area in a century, and
STR+3/18
some have wondered if it might have
Description: Frost Giants look as if
Orrorshan sorcery has recreated the
some connection to the Possibility
they are constructed of ice and snow,
legendary Broth of Oblivion, and al-
Wars.
and perhaps they are. Roughly four
ready it has begun to appear in Tokyo
In fact, it does. The Warrior of the
meters in height, the Frost Giants are
and other havens of the Gaunt Man s
Dark, High Lord of Aysle, obtained
capable of surviving in bitterly cold
the legendary Cask of Ancient Win-
ters through her Norse troops, intend-
ing to use it as a weapon in her siege of
The character loses all knowledge of his
Oxford. But before she could employ
it, it was stolen by a Viking chieftain
identity and role in life.
with ties to the Light. This brave soul
ran the blockade around England and
made it to North America and the
temperatures. They are believed to be enemies.
Land Above.
mute. According to the ancient tales, when
It was there that he was struck down
a damned soul returns to Earth in a
The campaign in the Land Above
by a Darooni Wasp Rider and the Cask
new form, he must first drink of the
has seen the debut of Mobius newest
split open. It remains where it fell, in
Broth of Oblivion. This causes him to
battle unit, the Ice-Squads. These are
the northern reaches of the Land
forget his previous existence and all
shocktrooper companies trained in
Above. Frost Giants in the employ of
knowledge of language.
fighting in winter weather for the High
the Warrior and Nile ice-squads are
The broth created by the Orrorshans
Lords planned eventual conquest of
combing the area, searching for the
has these effects. After consuming it, a
northern Europe.
cask.
character will lose all knowledge of
Critical Event: The Storm Knights
his identity and role in life, although
Nile Ice-Squads
must recover the Cask of Ancient Win-
he will still retain knowledge of his
Reality: Nile Empire
ters before the Ayslish or Nile agents
skills. He will also lose knowledge of
DEXTERITY 9
do. Doing so is a Good result (6 or
language for speaking purposes, al-
Dodge 10, fire combat 11, heavy
better); failing to do so is a Bad result (3
though he will be able to understand
weapons 10, unarmed combat 10
or less).
things spoken to him. In addition, he
STRENGTH 9
will be extremely open to suggestion
Climbing 10
Standard Frost Giant
(attempts at persuasion directed at this
TOUGHNESS 9
DEXTERITY 11
character are at +10).
PERCEPTION 9
Dodge 12, melee weapons 13, un-
The effects of the broth last for one
Find 10, tracking 10, trick 10
armed combat 12
week. In its natural state, it is a sul-
MIND 8
STRENGTH 15 (10)
phurous brew, so sorcerers use other
Survival (arctic) 11
TOUGHNESS 16 (10)
ingredients to mask the smell and taste.
CHARISMA 7
PERCEPTION 7
7
Infiniverse Vol. 1, No. 39 " January/February, 1994
Critical Event: The characters must Preservers resemble distorted, ten- learned of some strange occurrences
travel to Nippon or Orrorsh to obtain driled, two-meter long, open-ended there. Villagers are telling strange sto-
a sample of the broth, either for their cylinders, with six spindly legs. The ries of what appear to be Roman gladi-
own use or to synthesize an antidote. creature attacks by firing a spore cloud ators and strange creatures engaging
Getting some is a Good result (6 or into the face of its target, rendering in combat. A noted historian, Dr.
better); failing to get any is a Bad result him unconscious, then swallowing Constantine Demopulos, has ex-
(3 or less). him whole. The unfortunate then pressed the belief that the creatures
passes through the creature s body that have been mentioned bear some
and emerges in a fluid-filled transpar- resemblance to the hydra, the gorgon
3
ent sac (TOU 10), which the preserver and other creatures of Greek mythol-
drags back to its lair. ogy. Officials are certain that these
Dr. Mobius has triumphed again!
Removal from a sac is almost in- sightings are connected to Mobius
The evil genius has succeeded in
variably deadly. The fluid left in the invasion of Greece.
synthesizing sa, the magical fluid
victim s lungs turns poisonous on con- But others believe there is more
which serves as the blood of the Egyp-
tact with air (damage value 23 per here than meets the eye. After Roman
tian gods. With this at his command,
round). Only the Tharkoldu know how gladiators aren t part of Greek history.
he is able to create super-agents be-
to neutralize this poison. The battles sound more like those
yond anything known before.
fought in the Roman Coliseum!
Critical Event: The Knights must
At his weird science lab in Thebes,
Demopulos organized an expedition
track down and stop the preservers.
Mobius injects selected shocktroopers
to investigate the sightings. They were
Doing so is a Good result (6 or better);
with the concoction, and then bestows
last known to be headed for the island
failing to do so is a Bad result (3 or less).
pulp powers upon them. (The result is
of Aeaea, home of the sorceress Circe
agents who have pulp powers at twice
in Greek myth. The party has not been
Preserver
their normal value, but the same ad-
heard from since.
DEXTERITY 10
venture cost.)
 John Kahane,
Dodge 13, long jumping 14, maneu-
Of course, there is a downside to
Ottawa, Ontario
ver 11, running 14, stealth 16
this formula, one Mobius scrupulously
STRENGTH 9
avoids mentioning. After a week, the
2
Climbing 12
character so  blessed must generate
TOUGHNESS 14
a Toughness total against a value of 15.
PERCEPTION 13
Failure means the character goes up in Whispers on the GodNet:
Find 15, psionic manipulation 16
flames, for human shells were never Blood, Hellfire and Damnation.
MIND 8
meant to house the blood of gods. Something has changed, something
Mindsense 10, psionic resistance 13
If the character succeeds, he gets very terrible. The Inquisition has re-
CHARISMA 5
another day. But he must generate a cently begun a campaign of fear that
Charm (13), persuasion (13), taunt
total of every day, and the difficulty makes the bloody days of the French
(8)
number goes up by +2 daily. Revolution look like a tea party. Whole
SPIRIT 10
towns in southern France are but smol-
Critical Event: The Storm Knights
Faith (Cult of the Dominant) 11,
dering ruins now, burnt to the ground
get a chance to encounter one or more
intimidation (12), reality (Tharkold)
to cleanse the heretics from Cyber-
of Mobius super-agents and learn
13
France. Jean Malraux, after his success
something of the nature of sa. If they
Possibility Potential: All
in Marseilles, is reminding France once
defeat the agents, it s a Good result (6
Natural Tools: paralyzing spore,
again who is in control.
or better); if they learn about sa by
stun damage value 18, range 1-3/6/
Yet there is another reason for this
getting their heads handed to them,
; paralyzing sac fluid, willpower roll of
new aggressive stance. While on an
it s a Bad result (3 or less).
20 to break free; sac, Strength total of 11
expedition into Berlin a few weeks
to escape; running, speed value 11
ago, a high-ranking Inquisitor was
4
Psionic Powers: Psychic Senses
stormed to Tharkold reality. How-
(awareness, lifesense); Telepathy (per-
ever, his faith was of such strength
In the wake of the Los Angeles earth- ception distraction, send thoughts, thought
that he maintained it through the
scan).
quake (and just what were those
storms. Returning to France with a
Orrorshan agents doing in the area
higher Spiritual axiom of his own and
just before that happened), the resi-
a much crueler mindset, the Inquisi-
dents are facing a new terror. A dozen
Rumors
tor, Louis-Nichols de Saigne, set about
of the creatures known only as pre-
improving the Inquisition as he saw
servers have escaped from Tharkoldu
fit. He has also brought at least one
Alpha Ver Churuda s laboratory and
1
Tharkold miracle with him into
are now loose in the back alleys of the
France, that of cyberharmony. De Saigne
shattered city.
is gaining power fast, and any day
Storm Knights traveling through
now may be appointed Grand Inquisi-
the region of the Greek peninsula have
8
Infiniverse Vol. 1, No. 39 " January/February, 1994
tor. He has been told by Malraux that Description: The Weird Sciborg a massive ravagon who claims to be the
as long as he produces results, the was apparently a minor Mystery Men true Sixth Prophet, Sallsboratza. The
Cyberpope will not interfere. captured by Mobius troops. He was previous ravagon claimants of this title,
 Ian J. Stewart, then put through agonizing experi- Gondaratza the Mad One, has dropped
Winnipeg, Manitoba ments and brainwashed by the High out of sight, and it is said the Sixth
Lord himself, along with his crack staff Irishantza slew her for her impudence.
of sadis  er, weird scientists. After Even more disturbing are reports that
3
hooking a number of nasty gizmos to Sarrol, the priestess of the ravagons, has
his body, the subject was then wired returned to Tz Ravok and taken the
Dr. Mobius is furious. It seems that
with a piece of eternium to power him. newcomer s side.
his latest creation designed for use
Inclination: Evil Is this newcomer the Sixth Prophet,
against the Cyberpapacy has been lost.
 Bill Brackeen, or is he an agent from some other High
Mystery Men launched an attack
Jonesboro, AR Lord, sent to disrupt the Gaunt Man s
against the weird science lab where it
power base? Some say he is a renegade
was being assembled, and during the
ravagon backed by one of the other
4
confusion it apparently got up and
High Lords, perhaps 3327. Non-
walked out.
ravagon theories state that he is one of
The scientists in question refuse to Flocks of ravagons have been
the following: 1) an intelligent ptero-
talk, although one was tricked by sighted in Los Angeles, apparently
saur from the Living Land; 2) a fantasy
Storm Knights into revealing that the led by Parok himself. Strangely
creature from Aysle; 3) a demon from
project was not a robot. Word on the enough, the Tharkoldu appear to be
the Cyberpapacy; 4) the result of some
street has it that what walked out of letting them pass freely through the
Nile weird science experiment; or 5) a
the lab was Mobius first attempt at area (providing they do nothing to
genetically engineered creature from
weird science cyberware! provoke the techno-demons notori-
Akasha or Tharkold.
ously short tempers).
Weird Sciborg
Reality: Nile Empire
DEXTERITY 11
Sarrol, the priestess of the ravagons, has returned to
Dodge 13, fire combat 14, unarmed
Tz Ravok and taken the newcomer s side.
combat 13
STRENGTH 11 (14)
Lifting 12
Whatever the  Sallaboratza truly
TOUGHNESS 13 (16)
In fact, this is the going price for
is, he has the potential to turn the
PERCEPTION 9
peace between Tharkold and Orrorsh.
Gaunt Man s strongest and most loyal
Find 11, first aid 10, tracking 11
The Gaunt Man wants Thratchen re-
servants against him.
MIND 8
turned, and with Jezrael refusing to
Medicine 10, science 11, test 12,
openly betray one of her servants (al-
6
weird science 15
beit an untrustworthy one), arrange-
CHARISMA 7
ments were made for Parok and his
SPIRIT 9
flock to hunt him down. Further detailed examination of the
Intimidation 11, reality 12
Or is there more to it than that? Is it 3327 clone has revealed that, though
Possibilties: 25
possible that Thratchen has been work- his DNA does match  Ryuchi
Powers: Super-attribute (x2),
ing in secret for the Gaunt Man these Kanawa, his body is not human! In-
STR+3/14  TOU+3/16; super-skill
past few months, and taking him back stead, he is an artificial being con-
(weird science); Adventure cost: 9
by force is a way to fool Jezrael into structed of pseudo-organic materials.
Equipment: Servo-arm, STR 18;
thinking the High Lord and the techno- At first glance, it appeared that his
hypereye (absolute vision value 18);
demon are naught but blood enemies? cells were human, but under electron
spinal booster (adrenaline power de-
 Greg Detwiler, microscope, it became obvious the ar-
vice wired directly to spine, value 18);
Williamsburg, PA tificial elements  such as plastics 
knuckle-knives (claws, damage value
were present.
17); leg-lifters (jump, value 14); mo-
The implications of this are poten-
tion-motors (running 11); eternium
tially staggering. Was this 3327 an ex-
5
heart, possibilities: many hundreds
ception, or are all the clones actually
(may only be accessed to run gizmos);
artificial men? If so, why and when
Word has passed to Orrorsh from
Kocha machinegun, damage value 22,
were they substituted for the clones?
the far cosm of Tz Ravok that rebellion
ammo 5, range 3-100/600/1k; bullet-
For that matter, is it possible that this
has flared anew among the ravagons.
proof vest, armor value TOU+6/22;
has somehow been done without
No doubt spurred by the collapse of the
first aid kit; various weird science com-
3327 s knowledge? And does the real
Gaunt Man s bridges, the Denyers are
ponents
3327 still exist  or has he, too, been
recruiting many of the tribes to their
replaced?
standards. Worst of all, leading them is
9
Infiniverse Vol. 1, No. 39 " January/February, 1994
Your Letters
I am writing to you to see if you 2. It is fair to make the atheist gen- to Race infiltration of the realm),
could answer some questions we have erate a Perception total to see whether Orrorsh (when they re rebuilt), and
about Torg. We have been roleplay- he notices a miracle being invoked. If Nippon Tech. The Cyberpapacy falls
ing Torg for over two years and enjoy he is blinded, and there is no verbal somewhere in the middle. Keep in
the system very much. But there are component to the miracle being cast, mind that the Living Land and Akasha
some rules we are not 100 percent he would probably be unaware of it. have no bridges.
sure on and need answers to stop 3. No.
confusion, specifically the rules re- 4. No. You have to generate a faith 1. Do the Akashans still have the
garding atheism. total. ability to produce invisibility pow-
1. What is meant by  presence on 5. Yes, it would. der and other trinkets, as found in
page 125 of the Torg Rulebook, when 6. Technically, an argument could The Forever City? And speaking of
it refers to a miracle being invoked in be made for this, since it works much the Forever City, have the Space Gods
the presence of an atheist? How far the same way (the atheist s roll essen- or their client races (or anyone else)
does presence extend in distance and tially has to be simultaneous with the reclaimed it?
diameter? cleric s invocation). However, an athe- 2. Now that rumor #5 of issue #33
2. Is the atheist not considered to ist can attempt to cancel any miracle, is true and the Posse has found the
be present if he is fighting, talking or not just those directed at himself or Sacellum, I ve got some questions.
just not paying any attention to the those that would be harmful to his Since LA is now in a Tharkold pure
invoking cleric? Suppose he is party. So I would say it cannot be zone and faiths other than the Cult of
blinded somehow? considered an active defense. the Dominant and the Way of the
3. Does an atheist automatically 7. Yes. Race must cause a contradiction to
know when a miracle is being per- 8. No. invoke miracles, won t Ord Posse be
formed in his presence? 9. Giants would have problems in shortchanged?
4. Does an atheist s attempt to stop pure zones, since their enhancements  Ralph Dula,
a miracle count as a simple action? are contradictions. Otherwise, they New Cumberland, PA
5. If the answer to 4 is no, would it would never automatically disconnect
1. Yes, it can be assumed that the
be a multi-action to stop multiple just by walking in somewhere.
Akashans can still produce the kind of
miracles being cast in a round?
artifacts found around the Forever City.
6. Does acting to stop a miracle Which maelstrom bridges could
Whether they are or not is another story
count as an active defense? Storm Knights somehow find their
 basically, if you would like to intro-
7. And some general questions: way up? In other words, could you
duce that sort of stuff into your cam-
can you invoke a reality storm on publish a quick breakdown of the
paign, feel free. As far as we know, no
someone who has the reality skill but chances of average Storm Knights
one has claimed the Forever City as yet.
no Possibilities? traveling to other cosms using the
2. Ord Posse members are hosed,
8. Can you invoke a reality storm current bridges?
Ralph. That s certainly the way it looks
on an Ord?  Ian Stewart,
to us. As far as the minority members
9. Do giants automatically discon- Winnipeg, MB
of the Posse go, that s a very interest-
nect if they enter a magic-poor area?
A general rule of thumb is that the ing question.
 Kelvin Powell,
more bridges a realm has, the more By the way, our thanks for your
Napier, New Zealand
likely you ll be able to slip up one unno- letter regarding High Lords Guide and
1.  Presence means the atheist ticed. The two most likely realms are we re glad you liked it so much. To
must be able to see and hear what the Nile Empire, particularly the Hous- answer your questions regarding the
goes on. If there is no verbal compo- ton bridge, and Aysle, and for essen- artwork, it came from the Japanese-
nent to the miracle (the cleric does not tially the same reasons: both are in the language version of Torg they re pub-
need to speak the prayer aloud), then middle of  hot wars and there s a lot of lishing over there. They translate our
he need only see the cleric invoking chaos and confusion. A few well-dis- works but do all their own art. You can
the miracle. That puts the distance at guised faces won t be noticed in a crowd. see more of their version of the Possi-
sight and (if applicable) range of the The most difficult bridges to climb bility Wars in the upcoming Infiniverse
cleric s voice. are Tharkold (very heavy security, due Update, Vol. III, on sale in May.
10
Infiniverse Vol. 1, No. 39 " January/February, 1994
Herald Messages
 May each drop of my blood be as a The reign of the Torg has begun! Someone Akashan technology, the Orrorshan reality
black arrow, straight to the heart of Jean has become the Torg and Ayroa is deter- tree in New Orleans has been destroyed.
Malraux! Father in Heaven, to thee I com- mined to find out who. But if the rumors of  Jim Ogle,
mend my soul  Father Gregory Baruk Kaah s return are true, what is their Socorro, NM
Hildebrand, cyberpriest, before giving his relation to the Torg?
life to destroy a stelae, thus freeing millions  Mike Lenzo, A ledger uncovered in Alexandria claims
from the dominion of Cyberpope. Hudson, OH that a reality shard was stolen from its
 Bill Brackeen, owner in Uruguay by Nile mobsters and is
Jonesboro, AR Cyberpapal plans for New England have for some reason being delivered to Tokyo.
been dealt a severe blow. Storm Knights de- The shard is supposedly a pair of red baby
Core Earth psychics have once again stroyed a coven of gospog in Salem and shoes belonging to the famous Andes sur-
proven their value. Not only did they un- prevented a stelae from being planted in vivors. Anybody out there close enough to
cover the True Death of Sabathina (which southeastern New York. The Storm Knights Japan to check it out?
they put to use), but foretold that Ardinay s survived multiple Nippon assassination at-  Ben Ehrets,
capture was inevitable. Knowing this, they tempts  Kanawa front companies, with aid Allentown, PA
led several devastating strikes against the from the Boston nuncio, have purchased high-
Warrior of the Dark s forces, ensuring she tech companies around Boston to prepare for  Surf s up!
will be unable to capture Oxford in manufacture of Tech 26 equipment, espe-  Richard Lafferty, reluctant vampire,
Ardinay s residence. cially robotics. after seeing the Leviathan blown into a
 Ralph Dula, Through the valiant efforts of occultist thousand bloody, frothing bits in the Chan-
New Cumberland, PA Lord Arthur Baine and with the assistance of nel
11
Brian Schomburg