Atlantis playtest v1.0

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What Is Atlantis?
ATLANTIS is a sword and sorcery game that takes place thousands of years before our own
time. A place where cosmic terrors were bargained with for arcane power and eldritch lore. A time
when heroes solved problems with their wits and a strong sword arm, a time when otherworldly
gods bestowed miracles with one hand and entropy with the other. The player characters are Heroes
living in a new age and world where humanity is new and elder races cling to life as they face their
own extinction. . The heroes will live, triumph, suffer, and eventually die but how they lived is what
is of importance.
ATLANTIS is greatly inspired by the early fantasy writing of the genre before things became
codified and bogged down in overly wrought world building. Fiction that was more interested
in what the hero did rather than how the world around him worked. However, ATLANTIS is not
a fantasy novel but a role-playing game, The world presented in the following pages is here to
facilitate new fiction that springs from the collective imagination sitting around a table.

Twelve Revelations
1.) What is Atlantis about?
A game about the fictional antediluvian pre-history of our own world. A world filled with savage
warriors, power magic and cosmic horrors. A sword and sorcery fantasy game in the vein of the old
TOR and Daw books. The game owes a lot to R.E. Howard, C.A. Smith, Moorcock, and Lieber.

2.) What do the characters do in Atlantis?
The characters all have personal journeys and stories to tell in Atlantis, most personal and self
serving while others are grandiose and world shattering. The antagonist of Atlantis aren’t necessarily
driven to save the world and most are driven by their own ambitions petty and noble.

3.) What is the resolution mechanic of ATLANTIS?
Atlantis incorporates the Omega System that uses a D20.

4.) How does Character Creation in Atlantis reinforce what
the game is about?
The game uses a lifepath system to construct a back story for the players to build on. All
characters in the game are Heroes, and the lifepath helps reinforce this with unique but random story
elements that flesh out the Hero. A lifepath also helps the player to determine his hero’s ambitions
goals and personality. Character creation also helps the player determine how he fits into the game
world and the play group.

5.) How do players contribute to the ATLANTIS story?
The players and Game Master collaboratively create extraordinary stories as they adventure
through the universe of ATLANTIS. Using the rules within these pages, players are able to actively
add to the story and just react to elements the GM throws at them. NO story happens in Atlantis
without the focus being centered on the heroes. Because character creation infuses each character
with multiple plot hooks the players becomes proactive and reactive to the Game Masters pre-
generated plots. The heroes are the story of Atlantis.

6.) How does ATLANTIS’ setting reinforce what the game is
about?
The setting models a fictional antediluvian pre-history of earth with many cultures, races, and
creatures. The world is familiar enough to understand but strange and wondrous enough to be new to
enthrall previous players of Atlantis or Arcanum. The setting is full of strange lands, ancient fallen
civilizations and supernatural wonders that make the world dangerous, terrifying, and exciting to
play in. Along with character creation the setting helps by illustrating who and what the players are.

7.) What should ATLANTIS make the players feel when playing?
Players should get a sense of empowerment and accomplishment when playing their heroes.

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Once their adventures are complete, the players should feel that they were the primary (and most
important) element in the story. To support this, their characters actually have access to mechanics
that allow for permanent change in the game world.

8.) What types of behaviors/styles of play does ATLANTIS
encourage?
The player characters are made in the vein of classic sword and sorcery Heroes; there is a
tragedy for every triumph. Players are encouraged to not only succeed at goals, but to bring their
disadvantages into play. Renown is particularly important, and therefore makes players proactive
rather than reactive. To attain Renown the player characters must accomplish goals or having daring
exploits that catches the attention of their peers and the common man.

9.) Where does ATLANTIS take the players that other games
don’t?
ATLANTIS is a front loaded game where the heroes are accomplished and competent from the
moment play begins. The goal of the game is not to amass power and skill but to use their existing
skill to realize their goals. The game is not interested in the amassing of wealth but the accumulation
of renown tied to great or infamous deeds.

10.) What does ATLANTIS do to engage the players’ attention;
why should they care?
The player characters are the central stars in the game. Nothing of importance happens without
their characters’ involvement. It is impressed upon the players that they are the movers and shakers
in the game world, and that they have the potential to literally change the course of events as it
unfolds. There are subsystems that allow the characters to manipulate and change the social well
being of an entire country. Furthermore, players are motivated by Renown and destiny to move their
character forward through their adventures. Proactive play is rewarded; the penalty for idleness is no
Renown and a forgotten life for their character.

11.) What are the publishing goals for ATLANTIS?
To produce a finite number of books that further detail and expand the game. The line is
envisioned as a three core book set detailing the world, the beast and the player heroes.

12.) Who is ATLANTIS’ target audience?
Goal driven Individuals who favor creative story telling in a new fantasy world not tied to the
Dungeon and Dragons fantasy tropes. Atlantis is not made in opposition to D&D and the derivative
games that came after it but as an alternative play environment and play style for those looking for
something different. In ATLANTIS, Renown takes the place of gold and the Hero’s deeds take the
place of their loot.

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Inspirations
Below is a list of inspirational media that helped in the formation of ATLANTIS.

Books:
Age of Bronze: Eric Shanower’s epic retelling of the Trojan War, produced by Image comics.

Movies and Television:
Conan the Barbarian: the movie adaptation of Robert E. Howards classic hero.
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys: A lighthearted adventure series re-imagining the ancient
myths.
Krull: A group of Heroes band together to fight impossible odds.
Xena: Warrior Princess: A spin-off of Hercules. The warrior princess expanded Hercules’
universe and showed that women are just as capable as men, if not more so.

Music:
Tyler Bates (300 soundtrack)
Jeff Beal (Rome: The HBO Series soundtrack)
James Horner (Krull, Troy, Braveheart soundtracks)
James Newton Howard (Unbreakable soundtrack)
Basil Poledouris (Conan the Barbarian soundtrack)

Games:
Arcanum
Talislanta
Sorcerer and Sword by Ron Edwards
Age of Heroes Campaign Source book by TSR
Exalted by White Wolf
GURPS Atlantis by Steve Jackson Games
Conan by TSR

What Do I Need to Play?
To play this game, you need this book, some paper, something to write with, some twenty-sided
dice, a lot of imagination, and a group of people, one of whom is willing to be the guiding force
in the game. This person is called many things, but “Game Master” serves well as shorthand for
someone who presents information about the game setting and obstacles the other players encounter;
who takes the part of the people the players’ characters interact with; and who adjudicates the rules.
The rest of the group, simply called “the players,” takes on roles of major characters in the stories
that they and the Game Master create together. These stories are called “adventures,” or “scenarios.”
Very short adventures, usually encompassing only one or two obstacles to a simple goal, are referred
to as “encounters.” A series of encounters can become an adventure, while a series of adventures can
turn into a campaign. This book contains a chapter on how to come up with adventures.

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Glossary
These definitions provide you with a general idea of what each term means; they are described in
more detail within the book. Terms italicized within each definition refer to another entry within this
glossary.
Action: A task that the character undertakes or something that the character does, like give a speech or climb a
wall.
Attributes: Attributes represent natural abilities, such as strength, intelligence, and dexterity.
Character: A player’s in-game persona; also referred to as the Hero.
Combat Difficulty: A number representing how challenging it is to attack someone or something. It equals the
active defense value or the passive defense value (usually the opponent’s Evade skill rating).
Creation Points: Points used when designing a character to purchase game characteristics or other features
that represent the character’s abilities, experience, and background.
Critical Failure: A result represented by a 1 or lower on the Result Table roll that indicates something bad has
occurred.
Critical Success: A result of 20 or more on the Result Table roll that indicates something good has happened.
D20 : An abbreviation for “twenty-sided die.” The D20 is the only polyhedron die used in ATLANTIS.
Damage Rating (DR): The basic amount of damage a person or item can do before modifiers such as effect
value.
Damage Total: A number representing how much injury or destruction something has caused.
Defaulting to an Attribute: Using the Attribute when the character doesn’t have the needed skill.
Difficulty: A number representing how challenging it is to perform an action.
Degree of Difficulty (DoD): The bonus or penalty that modifies the D20 roll.
Drachma (dm): The standard monetary unit of the ATLANTIS setting.
Experience Points (XP): Points gained by completing or participating in an adventure. Experience Points are
used to enhance or better one’s character.
Hero: The player character in a game of ATLANTIS.
Hero Point: A bonus representing a surge of adrenaline or that extra luck the main characters of a story seem to
have. Allows the player to add additional points to his D20 roll.
Hit Points: The amount of injury a character can sustain, listed as a number. The damage total is subtracted
from the character’s current Hit Point total.
Intent: Intent is a player’s description of what his or her Hero hopes to accomplish by a particular action.
Free Action: Any action that needs only a few seconds to perform or do, such as taking a few steps or glancing
quickly around a room.
Modifier: A number that is added or subtracted from another number to represent a change in the typical
situation.
Opposed Action, Opposed Difficulty, Opposed Roll: Whenever a character attempts an action that is directly
opposed by another individual or creature, the opponent’s ability rating is used as the Degree of Difficulty
(DoD).
Protection Rating (PR): A number representing the amount of protection a defensive covering provides.
Range (in combat): The distance from the attacker to the target.
Renown: The glory of a Hero measured in points. The more points in Glory, the better recognized the Hero.
Result Table: The universal table used to determine success and failure at an action.
Round: A unit of time equal to six seconds in the game world. Figuring out what happens in a round can take
longer.
Scale: A game mechanic representing opponents of vastly different sizes can affect each other differently in
combat.
Skill Rating: Skills are abilities acquired through training and practice.
XP: Experience points.

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Lessons of the Past
“Tell us a story of the past; tell us of when Atlantis ruled the world.”

The children, scions of the great Atlantean houses, gathered around cross-legged in the ruins of
the open-air theatre that served as Agathon’s school. The old man rubbed the rheumatism from his
knee with one hand, waving the children into silence with the other. The morning sun had yet to rise
above the ruins and the air still held the memory of nights chill.

“Very well, we shall start the lesson today with the story of the world, which is, as you should
know by now the story of Atlantis.”

Agathon looked at his audience; these children would grow up to be statesmen, generals, and
magi. He offered a silent prayer to the Gods that they would remember the lessons of the past.

The Age of Unreasoned Sleep
“The oldest spirits speak of a dimly remembered time called the Age of Unreasoned Sleep. This
was the beginning of everything, when existence flowed from the dreams of the Elder Gods.”

“Who were the Elder Gods?”

Agathon looked down at the student. “A wise question Eridis, the Elder Gods were, and are, the
source of all things, from the air that surrounds us to the time that I waste answering questions that
my students should know I will get to soon enough.” The old man gave a mock scowl then chuckled
at the solemn look on the child’s face. “Patience Eridis, everything comes with time. Now, if I may
continue without interruption?” Eridis nodded eagerly.

“The Elder Gods were beings out of time, endless creatures beyond our feeble capacity to
reason or comprehend. The dreams of these sleeping Titans were enough to ignite suns and set time
flowing in its proper order. It was a time of wonders and horrors beyond comprehension; it was also
the birthplace of the race we now call the Jinn. Today we know the Jinn as mercurial beings with
shifting allegiances and powerful magic. Back then, they were something different, born from the
eyes of a fiery titan and building whole civilisations in the very flesh of the Elder Gods themselves.”

Agathon paused, the children would have seen Jinn before but none would have guessed their
true antiquity. The old man could spot the looks on some of their faces and envied them the sense of
wonder.

“Yes, the Jinn are a very old race, perhaps the first, perhaps not, since the ages of time we know
are but the pale remembrances of beings that, while immortal, only stretch back to the beginning of
the Age of Unreasoned Sleep. Who knows what other things or cycles of time existed before that?
Perhaps the universe has existed countless times before?” Agathon shrugged, it was too early for a
philosophy lesson.

“The spirits tell us that as the Age of Unreasoned Sleep declined, something awoke. Perhaps
this entity was an Elder God, perhaps it was their collective consciousness given form, or maybe it
was just an emissary, the reverse of a dream, sent to our plane of existence by the sleeping titans.
The being named itself Olódùmarè, and choose Demiurge as its title. By this act it gave itself form
and purpose. Olódùmarè became fascinated by the myriad wonders of existence and set itself the
impossible task of cataloguing each and every thing dreamt by the Elder Gods. It was Olódùmarè
that forged order into the universe and gave reason to things. This was the greatest of times but sadly,
as is the way with the world, the peace was not to last.”

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The Age of Screams and Fire
“Olódùmarè was only the first being to awaken, and the most beneficent. By laying down rules
for the universe Olódùmarè inadvertently woke the Elder Gods. These timeless beings did not like
what they saw and set about returning the world to its primeval state through death and fire. The
Jinn, warned by Olódùmarè, persevered themselves by hiding beneath the earth in jars of amber
glass and orichalcum.”

Agathon grinned as he thought of all those gardens that were going to be sacrificed tonight in
the name of finding lost Jinn. As a child he had earned a terrible beating for digging up most of his
mother’s vegetable patch seeking the ancient wonder he knew in his heart was lurking under the next
cabbage.

“The wrath of the elder gods was terrible, and when they were done, all that remained was
blackened stone and ash. As their rage subsided a great weariness overcame the Titans, and
Olódùmarè sang an ancient song that lulled them back to their ageless slumber. With the Elder Gods
asleep once more, Olódùmarè set about restoring the world. But the wrath of the Elder Gods was not
so easily put aside; it had become a distinct entity, and taking the name Nemesis, it burned through
the world slaughtering the new life that Olódùmarè seeded. The last titan would not be so easily
defied however; Olódùmarè captured Nemesis in a box made from the scorched wood of the last tree
in creation.”

“Is that the box that Pandora found?”

A chorus of hisses worthy of an Ophidian opera shushed the questioner into silence.

“No child,” smiled Agathon “that was an entirely different box, one I will tell you about some
other time if you ever let me finish.”

The child huddled down silently, doing a very good impression of a Jinn hiding in a bottle.

“Olódùmarè kept the box under his tongue and after a time his voice seeped into the box,
changing the Nemesis into something new. One day, Olódùmarè awoke to find two small beings
creeping out of his mouth, he named them Set and Ba’al, and gave them the task of aiding him in
rebuilding the world. The three worked ceaselessly to repopulate the world with all manner of flora
and fauna. Much of the life we know today came to us from the hands of these three.”

“It was during this time that Olódùmarè discovered the Jinn, hiding beneath the earth and set
them free. It pleased the ancient god that some part of the former age still walked the Earth. Inspired
by the Jinn, Set strove to create a race of his own, a race with mind and purpose. Set poured his
soul into these beings; gifting them with limitless ambition so that they might surpass the Jinn and
a belief that they were superior to all others. This race he called the Ophidians and moulded their
form to match his own. The Ophidians proved fruitful and spread across the Earth, founding great
kingdoms and forging Empires.”

Agathon sighed. “Set’s gifts would prove to be curses on the Ophidian race; leading them to
war with the peaceful, to enslave those that wished nothing but friendship, and to sunder their own
bloodlines to weed out perceived weakness.”

A hang shot up, Edris again, and the group let out a collective moan. Agathon smiled, “yes
master-questioner?” “Forgive me master, but I thought the dragons came before the Ophidians?” The
old teacher shook his head “No, though this is a common mistake propagated by a dozen or more
writers throughout antiquity. The dragons and the Ahl-At-Rab were spawned much later, the latter by
the Ophidians, and the former, well, I’m getting to that.”

“Ba’al saw Set’s creations and grew jealous. Unable to fashion life whole Ba’al took some of the
Jinn and warped their mercurial forms into shapes he considered beauteous. These creatures became
known as the sons of Ba’al, and rose to terrorise the world, feeding on the Jinn and Ophidians alike.
The very presence of a son of Ba’al was enough to poison the soil and corrupt animal life.”

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“Olódùmarè saw Ba’al’s hateful and corrupted children and grew angry, banishing them from the
world. Ba’al was angered by this and conspired with Set to take Olódùmarè’s power and become the
ultimate creative force of the universe.”

“Ba’al and Set led and army of their creations to attack Olódùmarè while he lay at rest on the
moon. The battle raged for untold ages and scoured all life from the moon’s surface. Finally, through
trickery and the sacrifice of countless minions, the twins of wrath were able to shatter Olódùmarè’s
form into a thousand pieces. Set tore Olódùmarè’s heart-shard and threw it down to the Earth, where
it sank into the rich red earth of a river delta. This was not enough to kill Olódùmarè, as his head
survived, and the thousand shattered pieces were gathered by the eldest of the Jinn, who bound the
shards into the same glass jars that had saved them from the Elder Gods.”

“The shards of Olódùmarè, now beings in their own right, reworked the jars into mirrors to
reflect the divine in all things. Naming themselves Orixa – a name meaning reflections of Olódùmarè
- they confronted an exhausted Set and Ba’al as they argued over what to do with Olódùmarè’s head.
The Orixa took vengeance in Olódùmarè’s name; banishing Ba’al and Set to prisons deep beneath
the earth. Ba’al was imprisoned in a city of brass with his children. Since brass is painful to the touch
for Ba’al and his children the city is a place of eternal torment.”

“The Orixa tore Set limb-from-limb, and threw his serpentine form into the deepest hole they
could find. Set thrashes and rages against his prison to this day; we feel his fury and call them
earthquakes. The blood from Set’s ragged stumps was given form by his rage and desire to escape
birthing terrible creatures of fury bent on destruction.”

Agathon looked expectantly at Edris who supplied an awed “Dragons”. “Yes, the dragons, the
blood of Set, they rose from the darkness, buoyed by Set’s own rage, spreading misery in their wake.
While the dragons raged, the Orixa focused on shoring up the damage to creation wrought by the
battle between Olódùmarè, Ba’al, and Set. With the Jinn too scattered and weak from saving the
Orixa the Ophidians ruled the earth.”

The Age of Water and Reason
Agathon looked around at the sea of faces. A few servants sat at the back, sent by the parents
to make sure their children behaved. The servants seemed to be as engrossed in the lesson as the
children; no doubt they would return to their own offspring tonight and pass on the knowledge.

Agathon picked up the ewer that lay at his feet and splashed the water within onto the dusty
ground. “From the mating of earth and water came a race both bestial and noble.” The old man
cupped his hands either side of the wet earth and brought them together to form a small pile of damp
soil.

“On the Island of Lemuria, from an egg of amber, rose a figure of mystery: the Lawgiver, first of
the Lemurians, and father of their race. The Lawgiver was born immortal but sacrificed this gift to
raise the apes of the Island up so that they became sentient. The truth of the Lawgiver’s origin is lost
to the mists of time and he did not stay long. Before departing, the Lawgiver gifted his people with
an unparalleled understanding of the natural world.”

“The Lemurians travelled the world, thirsting for the knowledge that was their one weakness.
The ape-men created great works of art, built cities that existed in total balance with nature, and
grew to be masters of living in harmony with the natural world. Wherever they went the Lemurians
brought peace until they encountered the Ophidians.”

“Have any of you ever seen a snake in the wild?” Agathon asked. Several children nodded. “And
what was your first reaction?” “I took a rock up and killed it, they’re dangerous” said one of the
older scions. The other children murmured agreement.

“This is exactly what happened when the Lemurians meet the Ophidians for the first time. The

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two races had an instinctive hatred for each other that was beyond all reason. Slaughter and reprisal
was the pattern that defined the relationship between the two races. The Lemurians used their
understanding of the natural world to set it against the serpent-folk, while the Ophidians bred with
dragons to spawn their Ahl-At-Rab soldiers. ”

“The war continued for centuries until the two races exhausted their resources and open warfare
gave way to a simmering cold war.”

Agathon paused and raised and eyebrow…Edris’ hand was up. “But master, what about the
Atlanteans? My father says that our first Empire blossomed while the apes and serpents fought?”
The child’s brow furrowed as he tried to reconcile the two accounts. “Quite so,” Agathon replied
“sometime during the Golden age of Lemuria the Atlanteans emerged fully-formed from a river bank
in Gondwanna. The Atlanteans built a civilisation in Gondwanna unnoticed by the warring Lemurian
and Ophidian peoples.”

“The Atlanteans were a noble people, and finding another race like their own to the East of their
lands they took them under their tutelage, instructing and guiding them as I do you. This race was
humanity, given life it is said, by the breath of Olódùmarè himself. Some humans regard this time
as a period of slavery where the Atlanteans dominated them, but our relationship was beneficent and
much of their culture and technology came from us. Gondwanna had barely been explored before
the serpent wars and was almost completely untouched, allowing the Atlanteans and humans free
reign to expand and develop their civilisations.”

“It was during the lull in the serpent war that the Ophidians first became aware of the Atlanteans.
Scouts from the Eastern Ophidian Empire, seeking new resources to restart the war, encountered
the human civilisations in Eastern Gondwanna. A massive Ophidian army marched on Gondwanna
hoping to enslave humanity but unaware that the humans were under Atlantean protection. The
Ophidians had some early successes, overrunning the human’s coastal settlements and enslaving the
populations. The Atlanteans were outraged and, raising an army, struck back hard. The Ophidian
forces, used to combating the patient Lemurians, were not prepared for the speed of the Atlantean
strikes and quickly retreated from Gondwanna never to return.”

A small cheer rose from the assembled children. Agathon smiled grimly; Atlantean thoughts went
easily to the glories of the past, living as they did in the crumbling cities their ancestors built when
Atlantis ruled the world.

“Now we turn back to the Lemurians, the gentle ape-men were rebuilding their civilisation when
disaster struck. A terrible plague, of incredible virulence all but annihilated the Lemurian people.
Entire cities were scoured of life and the few remaining ape-men fled back to Lemuria, abandoning
their outposts and colonies.”

The Rise of Atlantis
“With the Lemurians gone and the Ophidians recovering from centuries of warfare the Atlanteans
were able to stride from Gondwanna unhindered. Early in their explorations the Atlantean scouts
discovered a rich and fertile land like nothing they had seen before. It took less than a century for the
entire Atlantean population to migrate to this vast continent, giving it the name Atlantis.”

“Not content with seeding their homeland, the Atlanteans became traders and conquerors,
spreading their empire throughout the world. It wouldn’t be long before Atlantis came into conflict
with the remnants of the Ophidian Empire. Although greatly diminished the Ophidians were well
versed in the ways of war, had massive slave armies, and possessed potent black magic. The
Ophidians called upon the Sons of Ba’al for aid and the demons willingly answering the serpent-
men’s call, if only to escape the torment of the city of Brass. Countless Atlanteans lost their lives as
cities burned and whole colonies were sacrificed to Set.”

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The Beast Wars
“For a time it looked like the Ophidians would overrun Atlantis itself. As things looked their
blackest Atlantis’ great sorcerer-scientists uncovered the secrets of Alchemy and Vril. The Atlanteans
used these twin powers to create the Nethermen. These savage monster-men repelled the Ophdian
invaders from the shores of Atlantis though it quickly became apparent that they could not be
controlled. A mass Nethermen rebellion cost Atlantis dearly and forced the Altanteans to drive away
or slay all Nethermen on Atlantis.”

“The sorcerer-scientists returned to their laboratories, this time giving life to the Andaman; a race
born of the mixture of animal and human. The Andaman could be given a host of different forms to
suit any given terrain, allowing the Atlanteans to deploy their troops anywhere. The Andaman were
more intelligent than the Nethermen and revered the Atlanteans as their makers. The Andaman also
lacked the fecundity of the Nethermen; meaning that they were unlikely to breed in massive numbers
and overcome their Atlantean masters.”

“The Atlanteans bred entire legions of Andaman, sending them into battle against the Ophidian’s
Ahl-At-Rab and dragons. The hosts of Atlantis won the day and the Ophidians retreated from their
strongholds, hiding in the farthest regions of the Earth. Never again would the Ophidians rise to
threaten Atlantis.”

Another cheer welled up from the listeners but Agathon ignored it and continued.

The Golden Age
“For five centuries Atlantis’ star rose until it shone over the entire Earth. Vril pyramids captured
the Earth’s lifeblood and channelled it for the glory of Atlantis. Flying ships and shunt-gates carried
Atlantean explorers and armies to the farthest corners of the world and beyond. Great glass roads
connected golden cities and no Atlantean wanted for anything.”

“As with all Empires there comes a time when the fires of exploration and conquest burn low
and the smoke of politics and corruption rises in thick clouds. So it was that after five centuries of
burning bright the fires of Atlantis became embers and ash.”

The Fall of Atlantis
The faces of the children grew solemn and sorrowful. They all knew the next part of the tale, of
the paranoia of kings, the immorality of the people, and the twisted will of the sorcerer-adepts.

“In the last Century before the great Cataclysm the Atlantean people fell to corruption and
madness. The high magic that created the Andaman was perverted to create all manner of twisted
creations and monstrosities. The sorcerer-scientists experimented on the populations with impunity
and only those of pure Atlantean blood were free from their meddling. Those not of Atlantean blood
were little more than slaves, and treated worse than animals. No perversion or corruption was too
great for the Atlanteans to indulge in.”

“While the laboratories of the sorcerer-scientists spewed forth horrors, the slave pits and
gladiatorial arenas ran red with the blood of innocents. The princes of Atlantis grew increasingly
paranoid as assassination and border wars replaced diplomacy. Great weapons were constructed
in the name of peace, armies were trained, and vast armament stockpiles created. Suspicions grew
with each weapon forged and recruit signed up. Spies fermented rebellion and finally one of them
succeeded in triggering a rebellion in the city of Antilla. This seemingly minor rebellion was the
beginning of the end.”

Agathon trailed off, everyone knew the rest of the story. They knew that the gods had punished
the Atlanteans for the hubris. Autochthea had sunk beneath the waves and the Vril that was the

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lifeblood of Atlantis had turned against them ravaging the land. The high Atlantean sorcery had
become unstable and brought only destruction. Finally, as Atlantis had crawled its way out of a
centuries-long Dark Age the Hesperian’s had launched an invasion that came close to destroying the
Atlanteans once and for all. Nobody wanted to hear that story.

The sun rose above the lip of the ancient amphitheatre and soon it would become unbearably hot.
“Enough for today,” the old teacher called, “tomorrow we shall discuss what happened in the wake
of the Cataclysm.”

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The Hero’s Journey
Character Creation
To be a god
First I must be a god-maker:
We are what we create.
James Oppenheim,

Creating a Hero in ATLANTIS is a bit different than in most games using the Omega system. In
keeping with the feel of Sword and Sorcery Fantasy that ATLANTIS is trying to emulate, the system
has been geared to give the game and the characters more of a Sword and Sorcery-inspired feel.
Heroes all have at least one thing in common; they are in some way touched by greatness. This
touch may be favoritism by the gods, an auspicious birth, or a burning drive to achieve immortality
through the fame one’s deeds produce. Whatever the case may be, the characters are a step above
normal everyday folk, and their backgrounds and histories portray that, setting them apart from the
rest of the Humans.
First time character creation may take quite some time as the players as a group are collectively
creating a history and shared narrative.

Hero Creation
Step One: Choose a Race
· The first step in creating an ATLANTIS player character is to select the character’s race or
culture. This choice will determine the character’s general outlook on life. Additionally,
each race will have a list of base Attribute ratings, and special abilities open to characters of
the race. These serve to differentiate the races and cultures from each other.

Step Two: Choose a Culture
· Where is the hero from? What part of the world? The hero’s land of birth will determine his
base skills and possible his outlook on life.

Step Three: Choose a Profession
· What does the hero do for a living? There are four core professions to build a character
from. Once he has his general profession it is encouraged that a hero embellish her a bit to
make the hero unique.

Step Four: Walk Life Paths
· Where has the hero been, what has he done and seen in his time before the start of game?
By randomly rolling on the Callings Paths charts, the player will further enhance and enrich
the Hero with events, dramas, and tragedies that will round out and help define the Hero.

Step Five: Other Details
· Next the Hero will spend a 30 Customization Points to customize his character further.
· Determine age and name. Once the Customization points are spent the player determines
his Hero’s Hero Points, Hit Points, and age.

12

What Players are creating
Players are creating a Hero that is favored to achieve his destiny and hopefully escape his
fate. The player characters are special in some way, a cut above the rest, and a paragon of what it
means to be a Human. The Hero is unique. He is not like Batman™, Doc Savage™, a Ninja, Han
Solo, a Cleric, or a Fighter; he is a Sword and Sorcery Hero.
The characters should be painted with broad colorful strokes, leaving the subtle details to be
filled in during play. The Life Paths may look daunting but they are there to give your character a
bit of shared history between them.
Create a character that is truly deserving of the mantle of “Hero,” who brings Renown to you
and your gods. It is your destiny!

Character Creation as a group activity
The character creation method presented is more fun when not done in a vacuum. All
interested parties should sit together and discuss who and what they want to play. This will give
everyone a chance to talk about how and why their characters know one another.

The Life Path is the player’s muse.
Hearing where the Life Paths take a character will give everyone at the table ideas, and the
suggestions will start flying as to how to intertwine character histories. There are hundreds if not
thousands of twists and turns the paths can take, and connections can be made anywhere along the The Shakers of
path. For example, a player character may have met one of the other characters long ago, if they the World
by chance rolled the same life event. The following
rules are not meant to
create the normal and
mundane people of
Attributes Antediluvian world
Below are the 10 Attributes used to determine the abilities and prowess of a Hero in ATLANTIS. (the NPCs) but the
Movers and Shakers
who alter the world
Intelligence (INT) and leave change in
A measure of the individual’s intellect and powers of reason. Intelligence is the deciding factor their wake.
whenever an individual attempts to deduce the basic meaning of obscure or unfamiliar maps, Mundane peoples
dialects, or writings, appraise the relative value of goods, solve puzzles and mysteries, and so forth. of a particular race do
-8: Insect, -7: Most Animals, -5: Social Predator (e.g. Wolf), -3: Dolphin, -2: Simpleton, +0: not have all the special
Average Human, +3: Genius, +5: Polymath abilities and noted
under the races and
are described in the
Adversary chapter
Perception (PER)
A measure of the individual’s sensory awareness, taking into account the abilities of sight,
hearing, smell, taste, and touch, plus such intangibles as instinct, intuition, and psychic talents.
Perception is the deciding factor whenever an individual attempts to detect unseen presences or
ambushes, detect illusions, locate lost or hidden articles, notice important details or changes in
surroundings, or utilize any sensory ability.
-5: Mole, +0: Average Human, +4: Most Herbivores, +6: Fox, +8: Owl

Will (WIL)
A measure of the individual’s willpower, determination, faith, and wisdom. Will Rating
determine show well a character is able to resist temptation, bribery, seduction, torture, coercion,
interrogation, or influence.
-3: Human Child, +0: Most Animals, +2: Stubborn or Tenacious Wild Animals, +3: Dedicated
Philosopher, +5: Oracle

13

Charisma (CHA)
A measure of the individual’s powers of persuasiveness, including such intangibles as leadership
and the ability to command the respect of others. Charisma Rating affects a character’s ability to lead
or persuade other individuals, make a favorable impression, negotiate, bargain, or haggle.
-5: Repellent Boor, -3: Sullen Introvert, +0: Average Human, +3: Natural Diplomat, +5: Inspiring
National Leader

Strength (STR)
A measure of an individual’s physical power. Strength Rating determines how much weight a
character can carry or lift, how much damage a character does with a hand-held weapon, and so
forth. It is also the deciding factor in attempts to bend or break objects; force open or hold shut a
door, and restrain other characters or creatures.
-8: Mouse, -6: Domestic Cat, -4: Eagle, -2: Preadolescent Human, +0: Wolf, +3: Donkey, +5:
Lion, +8: Bull

Dexterity (DEX)
A measure of the individual’s agility, coordination, and maneuverability. Dexterity Rating is an
important factor in most physical skills and determines how well a character can perform acts of
manual dexterity, dodge or evade an attack, keep his or her balance, or catch a thrown object.
-3: Domestic Cattle, -1: Domestic Sheep, +0: Average Human, +2: Athlete, +4: Gymnast, +7:
Squirrel

Constitution (CON)
A measure of the individual’s endurance, stamina, and durability. Constitution Rating determines
how well a character can resist the effects of disease, wounds, poisons, toxins, exposure, hunger, and
thirst.
-4: Phthisis (“Consumption”) Sufferer, -2: Indolent Epicurean, +0: Average Human, +2: Athlete,
+4: Wild Boar, +5: Champion Marathon Runner, +8: Elephant

Speed (SPD)
A measure of how swiftly an individual is capable of moving, either on land, in the water,
through the air, or by other means. Speed Rating determines Initiative in combat, as well as attempts
to pursue others or escape pursuit.
-5: Immobile, -4: Tortoise, -2: Mouse, +0: Average Human, +3: Serpent, +5: Champion Sprinter,
+7: Fox, +10: Horse, +12: Deer, +14: Hare

Combat Rating (CR)
A measure of a character’s natural ability in combat situations. It reflects a combination of
physical and mental attributes, cultural and social factors, biological traits, and personal inclination.
Combat Rating serves as the modifier for most combat-related skills. Combat Rating affects a
character’s ability to attack as well as defend.

Magic RATING (MR)
The Attribute unlocks the inner power of the Hero to manipulate the universe.

14

The Root Races of the
Antedeluvian World
The history of the earth can be divided up into five eras, each one dominated by a distinct “root
race.” According to the great Atlantean scholar Petranova there will ultimately be seven root races,
though it remains to be seen which two will close out the cycle: one of the existing races, or one as
yet unknown.

The First Root Race (the Elder Gods)
The first root race was comprised of the Elder gods born in the primordial cosmic energies of the
planet. These aetheric beings coalesced into abstract thoughts and ideas and made their home in a
great tower on the volcanic mountain of Meru, from where they built and shaped the earth while it
was young and they could take advantage of its wild magical energies. Folding ideas and concepts
into shapes and forms the Elder gods raised land from the volcanic sea and made atmosphere from
the caustic miasma swirling in the great tempest.
Once the Elder Gods were done they slept, and from time to time their fevered dreams created
beasts and plant s of unimaginable description. It is said that once in every twenty-four thousand
years of slumber, they would awake occasionally to see what their chaotic imaginations had created,
toying with and in some instances destroying them.
Some of these dream-constructs banded together and sought refuge far away from their dreaming
progenitors; these formed the pantheons of gods we know today. Others were more wild and
malleable in their nature and were not easily destroyed; these Jinn existed in the folds and crevices of
the Elder Gods as they slept and fed on the dream potential of these cosmic dreamers. In their time
on earth, these “Endless Ones” as they were called created many wondrous things and infused much
with their mercurial potential.

The Second Root Race (the Saurians)
There are several very distinct subspecies of the third root race, which arose and lived on the
continent of Mu. Dragons were the first and most glorious of the saurians and took flight to dominate
all for corners of the earth. All other life paid homage to the dragons and brought tribute to their
mountain fortresses, although the dragon lords allowed the other lesser saurians to do as they pleased
as long as they were left alone in their solitude to dream like the elder gods and travel the cosmos.
The Makara ruled the seas, while the Naga ruled the land of Mu with their Ahl-At-Rab servants.
During the thousands of years they controlled the earth they warred against one another and
played with dark magic, perverting the abundant Vril energies. They would still rule to this day if not
for the God Wars that took the greatest toll on the saurians and their dragon masters. During the wars
the Naga turned on the dragons and sided with the gods, hunting the dragons or tricking them into
coming to their own slaughter. The remaining dragons hid in far away lands, but the saurians as a
whole never recovered their former grandeur. Now only pockets of their civilization remain as proof
that they once stood glorious on the earth.

The Third Root Race (The Lemurians)
The first of the third root race is said to have hatched from a golden egg on the continent of
Lemuria. The Lawgiver, as he was called, watched over the rest of his race as they came out of the
trees and became a race of great apes which spread out and colonized the other continents, creating
pockets of civilization on all the corners of the earth. The Lemurians warred against the Naga and
their thrall race the Ahl-At-Rab and tried in vain to exterminate the Makara who preyed upon their
sea colonies. Not being a match for the Naga’s use of Vril and magic the Lemurians eventually
turned toward technology that utilized powerful energies, and became potent adversaries. In the last
days of their dominance on the earth most of the great apes were wiped out with a plague that killed
thousands, including the Great Lawgiver. Devastated, the Lemurians isolated themselves on their
island and now look inward, studying their technology and philosophies in seclusion.

The Fourth Root Race (the Atlanteans)
The fourth root race was born amidst the God War that devastated the first three races, rising
whole along a forgotten river that empties out into the ocean off the eastern coast of Gondwana.
They built many cities there before moving on to the island of Atlantis, and it is from this rich fertile
land that they grew an Atlantean empire that expanded and created colonies throughout the world.

15

For a thousand years the sea empire expanded in the face of the waning third races. During the
time of the first Beast War the concerted effort of the third races pushed the Atlantean colonies back
and cooled their ambitions, but this would only last until attention was focused elsewhere. With the
advent of the fifth root race the Atlanteans began to expand again, and during the second and third
Beast Wars the Atlanteans cemented their place in the world and ruled unchecked for a thousand
years, creating several slave races to serve their needs even as the humans slowly rebelled. They
were ultimately unseated by their own hubris, magical experimentation, and civil war.

The Fifth Root Race (Humans)
The youngest race in the antediluvian world and the one with the most promise, the humans have
sprung up and spread across the world with amazing speed. They seem to be the least connected
to other root races, but shared many common traits with the Atlanteans, who abused rather than
Half Breeds
embraced them. The humans soon found the yoke of an Atlantean master unbearable, bringing about
At some
several slave revolts and finally freedom.
point during the
The humans seem destined to rule the world as those before them have, especially as the older
game a player may
races slowly die or fade into memory. The other races wonder why this small young race has the
be tempted to play a
ability to dominate all four corners of the world, and some believe that this is just a passing age
mixture of two races.
where they too will ascend and fall spectacularly from grace. Only time will tell…
This is possible to an
extent but most of the
races will breed true.
As a rule, a root
race can breed with
Step One: Choose a Race
the root race below
them. The union will RACES
produce a member of
Below is a list of the races available and the special talents attributed to them. Note that these
the newest race. The
are just general overviews of the race, and that many different variations exist throughout the world;
child may have some
there many human cultures, for example, and not all of them look or behave identically.
of the features of both
Each race is described in more detail on the pages that follow.
parents but only the
· Ahl-At-Rab
abilities of one parent.
Example: A · Andaman
Human can breed with · Atlanteans
an Atlantean and is · Humans
considered Human · Jinn
for game purposes. · Lemures
An Atlantean and · Nethermen
Lemurian can breed
but the union only
produces an Atlantean.
Th Andamen
and the Nethermen
can breed with
only humans and
of those union only
sterile Andamen or
Nethermen will be
produced.

16

Ahl-At-Rab
(A.K.A. Lizard Men, Snake Men, Saurians)
Ahl-At-Rab (or “sand devils”) are a warlike species of saurians who populate certain deserts and
barren wastelands. They are a nomadic race and continually move from place to place in search of
food. They are believed to be distantly related to the sea-dwelling Makara and are known to have
been the one time slaves of the Naga.
Although they are not builders, the Ahl-At-Rab are fairly skilled at making weapons and crude
implements mostly of copper or obsidian. Some tribes have succeeded in domesticating certain types
of reptiles, such as vipers, sand boas, and the ponderous lizards the Ahl-At-Rab call “sand dragons.”
The Ahl-At-Rab use these giant creatures as steeds and burden beasts, and often train them to fight
along with their riders. Mounted on their “sand dragons,” Ahl-At-Rab are able to travel up to twenty
miles per day through most types of desert or barren terrain.
The Ahl-At-Rab live for combat, and will attack even large groups of armed men without hesitation.
Though they possess ample natural weaponry Ahl-At-Rab usually prefer using spears, obsidian
clubs, and war whips made of sand dragon hide in battle. Both their spears and clubs function as
missile weapons, as well as hand-held weaponry. The Ahl-At-Rab occasionally use copper or reptile-
hide shields and breastplates, and sometimes affix such protective devices on their sand dragons.
Unless they are hopelessly out-classed or outnumbered, Ahl-at-Rab will fight to the death. As they
are carnivorous creatures, Ahl-At-Rab usually devour those they slay in battle, but will not stop to
do so until all fighting has been resolved. They will take prisoners, both for use as slaves and as a
hedge against times when food becomes scarce. For the latter reason, prisoners of the Ahl-At-Rab
are usually not mistreated unless they are believed to be spies.
Though once quite numerous, the Ahl-At-Rab are believed to be a dying race. Few existing tribes
number greater than forty to fifty warriors, plus a like number of females, young, and old ones. On
rare occasions, two or more tribes will join forces and travel en masse, but most of the time the Ahl-
At-Rab tribes are too busy warring against each other to bother with treaty-making.
Ahl-At-Rab love the beauty and honesty of violence in all its aspects and some even elevate it to
an art form. Some consider the Ahl-At-Rab brutish but they perform very elaborate plays during
ceremonies and religious gatherings. The plays are gut wrenching tales of tragedy, unrequited love
and black betrayals. Many great works of the antediluvian world are believed to be taken from these
plays and re-imagined by other races.

Physical Description:
Humanoid in form, Ahl-At-Rab are slow-moving but powerful creatures. They average about 2m
in height, though 2.25m males are not uncommon. All have scaly hides which range in color from
tan to dark brown. A fin-like crest runs from the center of the forehead to the base of the neck, and
is believed to help maintain body temperature. Females of the race have a fan of brightly colored
feathers starting at their temples and stopping at the back of their necks. Like all reptiles, Ahl-At-Rab
are cold-blooded creatures. Because of their often violent lifestyle, Ahl-At-Rab generally live for
about 45 years.

Personality:
The Ahl-At-Rab are a serious and stoic people who assess every living thing as either a threat,
a pack mate, or food. The language of the Ahl-At-Rab has seventeen words for survival but none
for friendship. The Ahl-At-Rab are harsh in their dealings with others, and consider a full belly and
a dead enemy a good life, hoping that when they meet their end it will be upon a heap of broken
enemies. The Ahl-At-Rab do not fear death but accept it as the logical conclusion to living; they do
not run from death but advance towards it hissing battle cries in defiance, hoping to drag whatever
opponent they face into the abyss with them.

18

Racial Attributes:
INT PER WIL CHA STR DEX CON SPD CR MR
+0 +1 +0 +0 +2 +0 +3 -1 +1 -1
Hit Points: 20

Racial Ātman
+1 Fire

Racial Abilities
Cold Blooded
Ahl-At-Rab need very little water to survive and are almost immune to extreme heat. Ahl-At-Rab
characters receive a bonus of triple their CON (minimum of +3) to any CON resistance check for
heat exposure. Versus cold exposure and cold based attacks the Ahl-At-Rab suffer a penalty of -3 to
resist and a penalty to their SPD of -3 for CON-7 rounds.
Acute Sense of Smell
Ahl-At-Rab smell by using their forked tongues to collect airborne particles. When making a
perception check based on smell an Ahl-At-Rab may add triple their PER to the roll (minimum of
+3).
Natural Weapons
(If it’s the first attack in the round for the hero the Ahl-At-Rab may use the claws to attack twice without a
multiple action penalty)
Ahl-At-Rab heroes are born with fearsome fangs and clawed hands. Bite DR 3, Claws DR 3
(armor piecing).
Poison Spray
Ahl-At-Rab may spit a burning poison at a foe blinding them for a number of rounds equal to the
hero’s CON minus their opponents DEX (minimum of one round). The foe will suffer a penalty to all
actions that require sight equal to the Ahl-At-Rab’s CON (minimum of minus one).
The Ahl-At-Rab must make a successful to hit roll using the athletics skill+CR for the poison to
land and if the target is wearing a helmet of some sort that reduces the amount of time the poison is
active. The range of this attack is equal to the hero’s STR in meters.
Example: an Ahl-At-Rab with a CON+4 spits at a target with a DEX +0. the venom would
normally blind the target for 4 rounds but fortunately for the victim he has a helmet with a PR 2
protection. The target would only be blinded for 2 rounds.

19

Andaman
(A.K.A. Beastmen, Werebeasts, Chimeras)
The Andamen are a race of humanoids created long ago by the Atlantean sorcerers of the First Age
to fight the Beast Wars against the Naga. Once said to be quite numerous, the so-called “beast-men”
are now considered a dwindling race. Each race was formed for a certain task and used as slaves
and soldiers for their eldritch masters. Once the Atlanteans saw no need for the beastmen they were
abandoned and left to fend for themselves. Some embraced their bestial nature while others formed
societies and civilizations of their own.
There are several distinct sub-species of Andaman, each created through numerous attempts at
cross-breeding and magical experimentation. The lion-men (Nemeans), jackal-men (Anubim), wolf-
men (Garou), Jaguar-men (Balam), Owlmen (Uluka), Gillmen (Tritons), and Bull-men (Taurans
or Minotaurs). Regardless of type, all Andaman are physically altered to suit the needs of their
Atlantean creators and are physically distinct from their baseline human source.
Though most Andaman choose to make their home in wilderness regions, some have no qualms
about living amongst civilized folk. Accordingly, it is not especially uncommon to find small groups
of Andaman living in or nearby certain of the larger cities and settlements. Due to their natural
abilities, Andaman are in demand in some regions, where they are sought after as skilled guides,
scouts, hunters, and so on.
The Andaman all share a common origin but have since then becomes quite unique in their thinking
and philosophy. Below is listed the largest and most common groups of beastmen

Blood of the Andaman
The blood of an Andaman is potent with the magics that first lifted them from all fours to walk
like men. When the blood is mixed in sufficient quantities with milk and fed to animals it gives the
Andaman a bond with the beast. This makes the animal loyal to the Andaman and pliable to taming
and training. The blood will only work to make the beast loyal to the giver of the blood, and only
beasts that are of the same ilk as the Andaman may be enthralled so. A hawkman could never tame a
lion and a wolf could never be tamed by a triton.
Enough blood must be administered (5 hp a day) for a week to tame the beast (giving a bonus
of +10 to animal handling roles). Once the animal is tamed the beast will consider the Andaman its
friend.


Anubim (the Jackal Men)
Used as guards and enforcers for the Atlantean generals during the Beast Wars the Anubim were
loyal and quick to action. Standing over 1.5m tall with a wiry lean build and the heads of jackals,
Anubim are covered in a short fine fur ranging in color from jet black to a dusky gold. Most Anubim
adorn themselves in gold and lapis jewelry that contrasts their fur.
Personality:
Anubim are serious and even-tempered individuals who do what they say and always keep their
word. Anubim are loyal to those they call friends and would lay down their life for a loved one
without hesitation. If an Anubim considered you a brother you know that he will follow you to the
ends of the world and expect the same from you.
Anubim are also the most clever and wise of the beast men and were used as assistants to the
Atlantean magi they served. In that time they quietly learned the ways of magic and hid this from
their masters.
Racial Attributes:
+1 +2 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +1 +1 +0
Hit Points: 18

Racial Ātman
+1 Water

20

Racial Abilities
Natural Weapons
Anubim are born with fearsome fangs. Bite DR 4.
Beast Language
Anubim have the ability to communicate with jackals, dogs, wolves and similar creatures to a
limited degree. This gives them a bonus equal to the CHA +3 (minimum of +3) to animal handling
skill rolls involving wolves and dogs.
Anubim have an enhanced sense of smell. When making a perception check or tracking roll
based on smell the hero may add double their PER to the roll (minimum of +2).
Mans Best Friend
Of all the Andaman the Anubim are the most closely allied with humans. When acting in a
coordinated effort the human and the Anubim both gain a bonus equal to the hero’s PER (minimum
+2). Everyone involved in the effort (maximum number equal to twice the hero’s INT, minimum of
2) must spend an action the previous round coordinating their actions.

Balam (Jaguar Men)
Large and powerfully built the spotted bodies of the warrior Balam stand over 1.8m tall,
weighting 80-90kg. Most males wear necklaces made from the teeth or bones of dead ancestors. In
some families, prized or great ancestors’ bodies are stripped at death for the sacred bones.
Personality:
Balam are crafty and clever people constantly on the look out for ways to better their situation.
Incurably selfish the Balam focus almost entirely on their needs and wellbeing. Quick to anger, they
solve most of their problems with physical force; fools and the weak are never suffered.
Racial Attributes:
+0 +0 +0 +0 +2 +0 +1 +2 +2 -2
Hit Points: 18

Racial Ātman
+1 Fire

Racial Abilities
Natural Weapons
(If it’s the first attack in the round for the hero the Andaman may use the claws to attack twice without a multiple
action penalty)
Balam are born with fearsome fangs and claws. Bite DR 3, Claws DR3 (armor piecing)
Cat Prowess
Balam have the ability to leap a number of meters into the air equal to their STR+SPD.
When falling the hero has the natural ability to fall on her feet, and subtracts her DEX in meters
(minimum of 2 meters) for the purpose of determining falling damage.
Night Vision
The hero’s eyes amplify existing ambient light, allowing him to see well in conditions of
darkness. Normal penalties for darkness are halved and the hero receives a bonus to perception rolls
equal to triple his PER (minimum of +3). In pitch darkness the hero is as blind as anyone else.
Climber
Balam are excellent climbers and user their clws and natural deftness to make easy work of
most vertical surfaces. When climbing a Balam may add twice their DEX (minimum of +2) to the
Athletics rolls.

21

Garou (Werewolves)
The wolf men range in colors from black and dark brown to pale gray and white (the most rare).
Standing 1.8m tall and weighting over 115kg the Garou are powerful trackers and warriors.
Personality:
The Garou are relentless when angered and will hold a grudge until the sun burns out. The Garou
are a practical people who live in societies based on strength and cunning. The largest and most
powerful wolf must also be the most clever in order to lead. Garou do not respect weakness and only
lament the dead for an instant when a loved one is lost.
Racial Attributes:
+0 +0 +1 +0 +1 +0 +1 +2 +2 -2
Hit Points: 20

Racial Ātman
+1 Earth

Racial Abilities
Natural Weapons
action penalty)
Garou are born with fearsome fangs and claws. Bite DR 3, Claws DR3 (armor piecing)
Relentless
When pursuing quarry the Garou will endure and keep going. Once per game the Garou may add
triple their WIL (minimum of +3) to any roll as long as it pertains to their target.
Garou have an enhanced sense of smell. When making a perception check or tracking roll based
on smell the hero may add double their PER to the roll (minimum of +2).
Wolf Pack
The hero fights best in a group of like minded individuals. When a hero is with a group that it
considers its “pack” he may provide a bonus (if he is the Alpha or leader) equal to twice his PER
(minimum of +2) to all damage done to a single target. The group must be surrounding the target and
make a concerted effort at attacking it.

22

Owlkmen (a.k.a Birdmen, Flyers, Uluka)
Used as aerial forces the owlmen closely resembled normal Atlanteans in the beginning with dark
skin and large powerful wings on their backs. Soon the magics that created them took hold tightly
and formed them closer to the beast they were bred with. Now Uluka are covered in a light coat of
feathers ranging in color from black to brownish red. The Owlmen are lithe and wiry standing 1.5-
1.75m tall, typically weighing 45-50kgs.
The Uluka took the last of the Atlantean’s sky fortresses as their home and built and expanded
the keep into a small city held together by adamantine chains and connected by ornate rope bridges.
The magic that keeps the city afloat is slowly failing and all know that soon the drifting city will fall
to the ground. Currently the Uluka are looking for a place to settle their city high in the mountains.
Personality:
The Uluka are a quiet and introspective people who are honest and plain spoken. They are always
clear in how they feel and straightforward in how they express it. Other races find this troubling or
off-putting since the ugly truth is sometimes hard to stomach.
The Owlmen are a peaceful people but this does not mean they are pacifists. They will pursue
every avenue to a non violent solution but when all corridors to peace are blocked they will fight
with a furor and savagery that would make a netherman ashen with fright.
Racial Attributes:
+1 +1 +1 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2 +0 +0
Hit Points: 18

Racial Ātman
+1 Air

Racial Abilities
Lords of the Sky
The Uluka are winged creatures who are at home in the sky. When flying Uluka move at triple
their SPD (minimum of +6).
Beast Language
Uluka have the ability to communicate with birds to a limited degree. This gives them a bonus
equal to the CHA +3 (minimum of +3) to animal handling skill rolls involving avian life.
Owl Perception
The hero has incredible perception and may hear and see at greater than normal distances with
amazing clarity. The hero receives a bonus to sight and sound based perception checks equal to triple
their PER (minimum of +3). All sight based range penalties are reduced by one range step when
targeting with a ranged weapon.
Rarified Air
The Owlmen are used to operating in very thin air and do not suffer as badly as others in such
environments. In thin atomospheres the hawkman may operate normally and when holding his
breath may do so for twice as long as a normal person.

23

Nemeans (Lion Men, King of Beasts, Feral Lords)
The generals of the beastmen armies during the war with the Naga, the Nemeans are almost
always gold in color but occasionally a rare instance of a black furred Nemean is seen. Both males
and females are fierce warriors of this species and all are known for their commanding roar and how
the other beastmen defer to them (perhaps something imbued in them by the Atlantean masters).
Nemeans are known for their arrogance and demand that they be considered first in status. Nemeans
stand 1.75-2.25 tall and weight 95-130kgs.
Personality:
The Nemeans are born with an innate sense of entitlement and assume that other Andaman will
defer to their regal nature. Haughty and full of themselves the lion men are quick to anger when they
are crossed but are patient enough to wait for the right moment to exact their revenge. Their regal
and conceited nature is repellent to most but lion men see this as jealousy at their inborn greatness.
To a friend the Nemeans are loyal and will do everything including sacrificing their life to help.
Racial Attributes:
+0 +0 +1 +2 +1 +0 +1 +0 +2 -2
Hit Points: 20

Racial Ātman
+1 Earth

Racial Abilities
Natural Weapons
action penalty)
Nemeans are born with fearsome fangs and claws. Bite DR 4, Claws DR3 (armor piecing)
Lord of the Beastmen
Among the Andaman the Nemeans are kings. All social interaction with other Beastmen has a
bonus of triple the hero’s CHA (minimum of +3).
Beast Language
Nemeans have the ability to communicate with any canine, feline, aquatic, or avian life to a
limited degree. This gives them a bonus equal to the CHA (minimum of +1) to animal handling skill
rolls involving many creatures.
Lions Roar
The roar of a Nemean is used both to inspire allies and strike fear into enemies. When used to
inspire the roar gives the hero’s allies a bonus to one dice roll (designated by the hero) equal to twice
his CHA (minimum of +2).
When used to inspire fear, those opposed to the hero must make a WIL roll with a DoD equal
to triple the CHA (minimum of +3). If they fail, they suffer a penalty equal to the Hero’s CHA for a
number of rounds equal to the Hero’s CON+1
The Lions Roar is taxing and may only be used (in either capacity) a number of times of day
equal to his CON (minimum of once a day).

24

Taurans (Minotaurs)
The large bull men are feared for their great strength and infinite rage. Standing 2.25-2.5m tall
and weighing 136-181kgs the Taurans are the largest of the beastmen and are known as bullies. All
Taurans have horns and the larger the horns the more prestige they enjoy in their society. Tauran
horns are adorned with many rings (the more the better), and they wear gold horn-rings, ear-rings,
nose-rings, and torcs as a sign of status. The saying “Neck as strong as a bull” comes from the fact
that Taurans wear so much gold that a normal neck would snap under the weight.
Personality:
Boastful and lusty, the Taurans live life to the fullest and expect those around them to do so as
well. Taurans eat, drink, slay and love with equal zeal and never a day goes by that they do not do
one of these things in excess.
Racial Attributes:
-1 +0 +0 +0 +4 +0 +2 +0 +2 -2
Hit Points: 25

Racial Ātman
+1 Earth

Racial Abilities
Natural Weapons
Taurans are born with prodigious Horns. Horns DR5
Bull Charge
Taurans mayattack an emnemy by charging at him with his horns. The attack suffers a -5 penalty
above what is needed to hit but if successful he hits his opponent for 15 Points+STR and knocks his
opponent off his feet. The target must spend an action to regain his footing.
If the Tauran fails in the attack he looses an action next round and on a critical failure he hits
something hard with his head and must make a CON roll with a DoD -10. If he fails he suffers a -2
penalty for CON-6 rounds.
Strong as a Bull
Tauran strength and stamina is legendary. The hero may take damage that would kill another
being (zero hit points) and continue to stay on his hooves and be active for a number of round equal
to twice his CON (minimum of 2 rounds).

25

Tritons (Gill Men, Mermen)
Used in the Beast Wars to fight against the Naga leviathans and Makara forces, in the beginning
the Tritons resembled closely the normal humans from which they were birthed but he alchemical
magics soon twisted them into the form they hold today. Now unsuited for the surface world, Tritons
must wear special apparatus at their necks to breathe out of water.
Tritons stand 1.5-1.8m and weight 68-90kgs. Their skin ranges in color from green to blue, with
accents of reds and gold on scales that shimmer with a metallic sheen. Their large black eyes are
well-suited for the aquatic depths they reside in.
Personality:
The Tritons are clear and even-tempered thinkers that act in the best interest of their society.
They are never eager for violence but act with efficiently when presented with hostility. Triton
diplomats and tacticians are sought after all over the world.

Racial Attributes:
+2 +0 +1 +0 +0 +1 +0 +2 +0 -1
Hit Points: 18

Racial Ātman
+1 Water

Racial Abilities
Aquatic
The Tritons are born of the water and are at home in the crushing and cold depths of the sea. In
water the Triton may move at triple his SPD (minimum of +3) and may breathe freely. When on dry
land the Triton is awkward and unaccustomed to land movement acting as if her SPD is -1 (only for
distance moved and not initiative).
Tritons may only survive outside of water for CON+1 hours (minimum of 1 hour) before
suffocating. To counter this all Tritons are given a small water bladder apparatus that fits to their
neck. The device must be refilled every 4 hours to work properly and with it a Triton may stay out of
water indefinitely.
Beast Language
Tritons have the ability to communicate with aquatic life to a limited degree. This gives them a
bonus equal to the CHA +3 (minimum of +3) to animal handling skill rolls involving sea life.
Night Vision
The hero has the ability to amplify existing ambient light allowing him to see. Normal penalties
for darkness are halved and the hero receives a bonus to perception rolls equal to triple his PER
(minimum of +3). In pitch darkness the hero is as blind as anyone else.

26

Atlanteans
(Little gods, God-Kings, Noble creators, Lords of the Earth, Man Shapers)
Though they are but the fourth root race of seven, to hear the Atlanteans speak it they are greater
than all the others before them. They were not a construct of any of their predecessors, instead
seeming to come into existence on their own (an oft-spoken and oft-denied rumor is that they
came from some other world or dimension, escaping some great cataclysm or other). They did not
experience an early period of growth or evolution—physical, mental or social—but instead always
were exactly what they are: a confident, arrogant race that presumes themselves superior to all
others, and has generally had the talent and strength to back up such claim.
The Atlanteans are known for many things, all of them done seemingly without any sense of
humility, shame, or fear of failure. And when seeming defeat has come their way, the Atlanteans
have always been quick to argue it was all part of the plan. When they chose to create an empire, it
spanned the world and rivaled all others before or since, and when that empire was gradually pushed
back, it was done with a sense that such a tactical retreat was in the Atlantean interest.
Although they no longer hold the position of superiority they once did—that mantle belongs
now to humans—the Atlanteans still argue that the future is theirs to grasp. Some claim that they
are already constructing yet a new slave race to help them recapture what was once theirs; others
say that Humans are in fact that race, secretly being manipulated from behind the scenes by these
cunning taskmasters. Whether or not this is the case, and whether or not the Atlanteans truly believe
any of it—or are merely pretending—is unknown. Just how they like it.

With skin the color of polished mahogany or deep bronze, the statuesque Atlanteans stand above
all other men on earth. They wear their kinky hair in long wavy locks, oiled with exotic fragrance
and sprinkled in gold and silver flakes. Their eyes are the color of gold or emeralds (sometimes
a mixture of both) and their inviting lips the color of pitch. The Atlanteans are all beautiful and
gracefully built, the idea of perfection in a primitive world. All Atlanteans stand at least 1.8m tall
with weights around 68-90kgs.
Whenever possible, Atlanteans wear fine clothing made from exotic fabrics from far off lands,
arms, hands, legs, and feet adorned with precious metals and gems.

Personality:
Most other cultures think the Atlanteans arrogant, cold and condescending, always looking down
their noses at the other races as if they are beneath them. The Atlanteans would say this is true and
that most other races are like children to them, lost in the world and likely to remain so without their
seneschals to look after them.
The Atlanteans believe it is their destiny to rule, a right given them by their god. What some see
as cruelty they see is compassion and a steady hand.
Most of the races see them as depraved and hedonistic but the Atlanteans see the world as
something to be explored and brought low before its rightful masters. Sex is casual and meant to
be explored, drugs expand and enlighten, and food and wine is to be consumed. The world is their
paradise.

Names
Atlanteans share the naming practices of their two greatest colonies; the Hellenes and the
Acherons.

28

Racial Attributes:
+1 +0 +0 +0 -1 +0 +0 +0 +0 +5
Hit Points: 20

Racial Ātman
+1 Empyrean

Racial Abilities
Aura of the Gods
Atlanteans get bonuses in social situations because the world has been conditioned to deal with
them. They receive a bonus equal to double their CHA to leadership rolls.
Unearthly Beauty
They can never be mistaken for anything but an Atlantean. They are always in some way
beautiful. The hero adds double his CHA (minimum +2) to any social situation where physical
beauty may be an advantage.
Vril Masters
They alone can control Vril to its maximum effects. Vril items add the hero’s MR rating
(minimum of +2) to the Vril level of the item.
When drawing power from a Vrill enriched area the Atlantean hero may double his MR for the
sake of the amount of Hero Points drawn.
Beast Lore
Because they were the original seneschals of the earth, they know the names of every beast that
crawls, swims or fly (INT roll with a DoD determined by the GM). This also gives them some slight
authority over the beast-men they created. When encountering an Andaman they will be the last to
ever be attacked and in social situations they gain a bonus of 2+CHA (minimum of 2 does not stack
with the Aura of the Gods ability).
Vice
All Atlanteans have some sort of vice that holds them in its thrall. Some indulge in drinking or
another intoxicant, while others embrace the pleasures of the flesh. The hero must indulge in his
vice once per day to keep his soul sated. If he cannot, his mind becomes addled and his disposition
becomes foul. The hero’s INT, WIL, MR, and CHA are reduced by one per day that the hero must go
without. Once he has quenched his “thirst” his attributes revert to normal.

29

Humans
(A.K.A. men, the earth children, children of edom)
Humans work the land in every nation, comprising the majority of the world’s population. They
are slaves and serfs, beggars and bandits. They are also alchemists and scholars, nobles and kings.
Many humans harbor hatred or mistrust for the “lesser” races and monsters. In some nations,
this attitude is more pronounced than in others, just as such a demeanor often depends on a person’s
education, religious beliefs or social rank. In all things, humans are a race most affected by the
events around them. Just as the highest king or queen deals in war and the intricacies of the courts,
so does the lowest peasant listen for news of a coming battle or seek signs to indicate the quality of
a harvest. Humans are unique among the races, for they are not shut away from world – they are the
world. Kingdoms rise and Empires fall by the actions of all men and women.

Human adults generally range between 1.5-1.8m in height, weighing between 56-60kg, although
there are many larger and smaller, lighter and heavier humans. Those who live without the need for
toil or effort are often prone to corpulence and fatness, while a peasant who works hard and a soldier
that practices with the blade will be able to keep themselves reasonably healthy for their whole lives,
short of suffering injury or illness.

Personality:
The diversity among humanity varies among the nations of the Second Age. The Atlanteans and
other humans such as those of Khemit, Minoa or Khitai live fairly safe lives. They want for little
save ever increasing wealth and power. Others, not fortunate enough to be born in such civilized
places, must struggle simply to survive; they are one drought or monster raid away from starvation
and death. The nations of men and women battle each other just as often as they stand united.

Racial Attributes:
+0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0
Hit Points: 20

Racial Ātman
+1 to Element of his choice

Racial Abilities
Inheritors of the Earth
Some say that the humans will eventually inherit the earth. To represent this human heroes may
allot their 5 points in attributes any where they see fit. They may also reduce an attribute to negative
numbers and add the points to another attribute as a positive number (up to a maximum of -2). Once
this is done the Human receive an additional +2 to add to any attribute as a gift from the gods. This
gives humans a total of +7 to add to attributes or a +9 if negative attributes are taken.
Zeal
All humans are born with a fire in their belly and a drive to succeed where others would fail The
hero may add double his WIL (minimum of +2) to a number or rolls per adventure equal to his CON
(minimum of once per game)
Tyche
Being the favored of the gods (at least at present), Humans are allowed in a small way to enforce
their personal will upon the universe. They can force a re-roll of any dice action that affects them
directly a number of times a game session equal to their WILL (minimum once per game). The roll
need not be made by the Hero and may affect rolls made by the GM or other players when it pertains
to the character. The re-roll only affects the Hero and may not manipulate fate for the benefit of
others.

30

Note: The ability to affect rolls only applies to the Hero and never the group when a situation
occurs that could affect more than one person.
Example: The Hero may affect the throwing roll of a fireball when an adversary makes an attack
but all others must use the original roll and gain no benefit from the Hero’s Tyche ability.

31

Jinn
(A.K.A. Elves, Tree Folk, the Others, the Little People, Fey, Moon Children, people under the
mound)
To try and define what the Jinn are is to try and define creation itself, for the Jinn are quite
literally the stuff from which the world was shaped by the elder gods, the first root race. To them the
world is full of nothing but possibility, just as they are. In some ways, it is easier to define what they
are by defining what they are not.
The Jinn never ruled over the earth like many of the other races, nor did they ever seek to do so.
How can one rule over something that one is a part of? And to what purpose? The machinations of
the Atlanteans in particular were both amusing and confusing to the Jinn. What would you do with
the world once you had it in your grasp?
The Jinn have also not engaged in massed warfare like many of the other races. This is not to
say that they are incapable of violence, but rather that they have little inclination to try to take from
others by force. If there are desirable things, there are much better ways of grasping those things;
warfare is easy in the short term, but pointless in the long run, and the Jinn are in no hurry.
The Jinn are also not (or at least not apparently) able to produce offspring of their own; no young
Jinn have ever been seen, and while Jinn are known to enjoy all things—including sex—the subject
of procreation is not one that they generally care to talk about. That they exist is enough for them,
and will have to be enough for others.
The Jinn are a disappearing race. In the golden age a Jinn was a common sight but now fewere
and fewrer Jinn are seen in the world. Some say that they are all going back to the safety of their jars
while others says that the race is slowing vanishing and being forgotten that he wild dreams they are.
Now Jinn are a sight seen perhaps once in a lifetime for most and a large group of 20 or so is very
rare indeed. On the continenet of Atlantis scholars estimate the population at a little over a 1,000 and
the global population at one million.

Jinn have skin the color of old parchment or coal and hair the color of white gold usually worn
long and braided, bound with hoops and pins. The eyes of the Jinn are black with a spot of light in
the center that glows different colors depending on their mood (blue for extreme elation, black for
hate, red for rage, and green for all other emotions). Jinn vary in height from 1.25-2.13m and weigh
anywhere between 35-90kgs. One notable oddity of the Jinn is that their shadow is only cast in
moonlight and seems to move independently.

Personality:
The Jinn live and speak as if in a lucid dream. When expressing themselves they will sometimes
trail off a sentence into a smile and a hand flourish assuming the other knows what they mean, or
begin a conversation with the end of a thought as if they have already spoken the beginning. To
the outside world this may seem madness as they mumble, giggle, whimper, cry, or dance without
provocation, but to a Jinn the world is an ever shifting realm of colorful smoke and disjointed
harmonies. Most Jinn try to accommodate the younger races and speak in a coherent but often
cryptic manner, but some simply don’t bother to fit in.
The Jinn enjoy dance, singing and any form of creation that requires and expression of the
soul. Even bad performances are something appreciated by the Jinn who find valid enjoyment in
a perfectly executed dance or the wailing of a newborn child. The Jinn will watch with the same
fascination the slow torture and execution of a thief or the lovemaking of a couple in a spring rain.

Racial Attributes:
+0 +1 +2 +0 -1 +0 +0 +0 +0 +3

Hit Points: 20

32

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