The room was empty, no living thing stirred inside its stone walls, but something seemed to breathe. Maybe it was the room itself. Strange containers and jars of unknown liquids sat in stacks. Strange formations of bones hung from long sinewy strings above the large wooden tables. All of this was enough to make you want to leave, but it was the far wall that held your attention. Strange runes and sigils fill the wall, painted with a dark red liquid. What did it say? It seemed to pulse as you stared at it. You lean closer to get a better look. How did you get over to the wall? Had you walked or had it drawn you in? A pulsing in your head like the beat of a drum, echoing down from a forgotten dream. The words… the words seemed to etch themselves into your mind, their meaning lost, but their form, their embrace. Your mouth opens to scream but nothing comes out. The sigils begin to move and all fades to a red mist.
A Twisted World
Horror rules in SagaBorn attempt to simulate the inner workings of a character’s mind as they deal with the strange world of the Dark Return.
There are two reasons we think this is an important addition to the SagaBorn core game. The first is to illustrate the difficulties for the characters as they encounter the bizarre and often terrible things happening around them. The first time the undead rise up to fight might be a mind-numbing event, not just a combat encounter. Or, opening and reading a Grim Mortis warps the character’s perspective of the universe. Thus, keeping track of these horrors becomes a scale trying to balance the hero’s mind amidst the horrors that Atheles contains.
The second is to add consequences to overt violence. We don’t have alignments in SagaBorn, but acts of unwarranted violence are considered evil. When one commits these acts, they erode the barriers that separate them from being more than brutish animals. In a tabletop game where we are simplifying a complex world into a world built on numeric formulas, these rules will allow players to have their characters deal with the loss of compassion and understanding.
These rules are not necessary for the core game, but a Gamemaster and players can choose to incorporate them into their game.
Horror
Horror is a build-up of trauma that the heroes encounter in their adventures. Horror is tracked by point, which gradually accrues based on their encounters. As an adventurer’s Horror Points grow, so do the consequences. These points are inflicted through encounters with the supernatural, horrific, or violence. They can be lost by spending downtime to rest and relax and bonding with teammates.
An adventurer starts with 0 Horror. When a hero gets the following total of Horror Points, they receive these Conditions.
At 25 points:
The character gains the following Condition until their Horror is reduced below 25 points.
Anxious – The character suffers anxiety and takes -1 to all rolls.
At 50 Points:
The character gains the following Condition until their Horror is reduced below 50 points.
Shaken – The character or creature takes a -2 penalty to all rolls.
At 75 Points:
The character gains one of the following Conditions until their Horror is reduced below 75 points.
Roll 1d10
1 Cower – The character is frozen in fear and can take no actions. A Cowering character takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class and loses their Dexterity bonus (if any).
2 Nauseated – The character or creature experiences gastric distress, and may also vomit up the contents of their stomach. Nauseated creatures are unable to attack, cast spells, concentrate on spells, or do anything else requiring attention. The only action such a character can take is a single move action per turn.
3-4 Panicked – A Panicked creature must drop anything it holds and flee at top speed from the source of its fear, as well as any other dangers it encounters, along a random path determined by the GM. It can’t take any other actions. If cornered, a Panicked creature is also considered to be Cowering. The character or creature takes a -2 penalty to all rolls while Panicked.
5-7 Scared – The character or creature flees the source of their fear in a direction of their choosing. They use any abilities that aid in escape. If they can not move at least 40’ away from the source of their fear, they are considered Cowering. The character or creature also takes a -2 penalty to all rolls while Scared.
8 -10 Stressed – The character takes a -3 penalty to all rolls.
At 100 Points:
The character slips into Cosmic Horror, and it would take a miracle to save their mind.
Gaining Horror
There are many ways a hero may gain Horror Points. When a hero encounters a supernatural encounter, a horrific demon from the other side, or commits unwarranted violence, the GM may request a Horror check. A Horror Check is Will vs. a Horror Save DC
On a successful check, the character either gains no Horror points or loses only a minimal amount. Potential Horror is usually shown as two numbers or die rolls separated by a slash, for example “0/1d4.” The number before the slash indicates the number of Horror points gained if the Horror check succeeds (in the previous example, zero); the number after the slash indicates the number of Horror points gained if the Horror check fails (in the example, between 1 and 4 points depending on the dice roll).
Environmental
When a character encounters a gruesome, unnatural, or supernatural situation, the GM might require the player to make a Will Save vs a Horror Save DC. They may not experience this every time they encounter these examples, and it is up to the GM to make that decision.
Horror Severity Chart
| Severity Level | Horror Save DC | Horror | Examples |
| Minor | 10 | 0/1d2 | Finding a dead body, a stream of blood, encountering a minor demon, translating another’s spellbook. |
| Moderate | 12 | 1/1d4 | Being buried alive, witnessing a friend’s death, encountering a ghost, harming an innocent. |
| Significant | 15 | 1/1d8 | Being tortured, seeing a ritual to raise the dead, killing an innocent. |
| Severe | 20 | 2/2d8 | Assassinating someone, taking part in a dark magic ritual, torturing someone. |
| Extreme | 28 | 2d10/2d100 | Meeting a Great One from the Navirim. |
Creatures
Some creatures and monsters have abilities, or even their mere presence, that cause Horror. A monster with
“First Encounter” as a Horror ability means that the first time this creature is encountered by a hero, they must make a Horror check. Other abilities may be marked in the creature sheet that says when other Horror checks take place. A creature’s Horror can be gauged by its CR. The DC to save vs a Creature’s Horror is 10+ the creatures CR.
Creature Horror Effects by CR
| Creature CR | Horror Save DC | Horror |
| <1 | 10 | 0/1 |
| 1 | 11 | 0/1d2 |
| 2 | 12 | 0/1d3 |
| 3 | 13 | 1/1d4 |
| 4 | 14 | 1/1d4 |
| 5 | 15 | 1/1d6 |
| 6 | 16 | 1/1d6+1 |
| 7 | 17 | 1/1d8 |
| 8 | 18 | 2/1d8+1 |
| 9 | 19 | 2/1d10+1 |
| 10 | 20 | 2/1d12+1 |
Spells
Some spells cause a Horror check when a person or creature is the target of one. Other spells cause a Horror check to the mage when they are cast.
Horror Spell Chart
| Spell | Horror |
| Cause Fear | 1/1d6 |
| Doom | 1/1d6 |
| Scare | 1/1d6 |
| Fear | 2/1d8+1 |
Dark Spells
Some spells automatically take a mental toll on the caster. These spells cause Horror with no chance of a Horror Check.
| Spell Mana Cost | Horror Cost |
| 1 | 1 |
| 3 | 1d3 |
| 5 | 1d6 |
| 7 | 1d8 |
Forbidden Knowledge
A standalone skill, Forbidden Knowledge is gained by research into the dark world. Forbidden tomes, ancient artifacts, or forgotten temples can allow a person to gain Forbidden Knowledge. For each point in Forbidden Knowledge, an adventurer can add a point to their Affliction Threshold as a Misc bonus, as well as add a +1 expertise to any Knowledge check involving dark lore.
Researching Forbidden Knowledge is a dangerous and mind-bending task. There are high risks to gain Forbidden Knowledge points, greatly risking your Health and Horror.
The highest Forbidden Knowledge score a character can have is +5.
Examples of sources of Forbidden Knowledge:
| ExaminationPeriod | Knowledge DCto Research | Number of Spells to be Gained | InitialHorror | HorrorUpon Completion | Forbidden LoreRanks Gained |
| 1 week | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1d4 | 1 |
| 1 week | 20 | 1 | 1d4 | 1d4 | 1 |
| 1 week | 25 | 2 | 1d4 | 2d6 | 1 |
| 2 weeks | 25 | 1d4 | 1d6 | 2d6 | 2 |
| 2 weeks | 25 | 1d6 | 1d10 | 2d6 | 2 |
| 2 weeks | 25 | 3 | 1d6 | 2d6 | 2 |
| 2 weeks | 30 | 1d6+1 | 1d6 | 2d6 | 3 |
| 3 weeks | 20 | 1d4+1 | 1d10 | 2d6 | 2 |
| 3 weeks | 25 | 1d6 | 1d6 | 2d10 | 2 |
| 3 weeks | 30 | 1d4+5 | 1d10 | 3d6 | 3 |
Losing Horror
Immediate help
A companion or NPC can try and use their Persuasion or Survival skill to help someone when they reach 75 Horror. They must succeed at a DC 17 skill check. If successful the one in need has their Horror reduced to 74. A companion may try to help once per day.
Downtime
Downtime = 1 week
Players lose 7 horror points for each week of downtime when they do nothing else.
Players lose 3 horror points for each week when they do small tasks, such as crafting or directing allies.
Players lose 1 extra horror points per Stronghold level for each week of downtime, even if doing other activities.
Players can spend the week with a companion. Both heroes who spend a week of downtime recuperating, lose 14 + combined CHA bonus in horror points.
Spell Book
Spell Summaries – Detailed spell descriptions in the following section.
1 Mana
Blood Wave A wave of blood trips opponents and makes the ground slippery.
3 Mana
Bleed A victim bleeds from all orifices.
Phantom Hooks Hook-ended chains lash out of the mist to grapple the victim.
Speak to the Dead Allows caster to speak to a deceased sentient creature.
5 Mana
Break Caster breaks one of the victim’s hands or feet.
Cause Madness Target gains Horror.
Flay 2d6+1 damage and the skin peels back on the victim.
7 Mana
Circle of Death Kill creatures within a 40’ radius.
Nightmare Terrain Area turns into a nightmarish landscape.
1 Mana Spells
Blood Wave
Mana: 1
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 15’ cone
Target: Cone-shaped burst
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will negates
Horror Cost: 1
The mage pricks their hand and using their own blood, expands it into a giant wave of blood that crashes out 15’. Those within the area of effect must succeed at a Heroic action vs. the caster (DEX vs. Spellcraft) or be tripped and end up prone. The area covered by the cone remains slick for 1 round, requiring a successful DC 10 Acrobatics check from any creature attempting to move within or out of it.
3 Mana Spells
Bleed
Mana: 3
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 30’
Target: 1 creature
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will half
Horror Cost: 1d3
Blood seeps from all orifices of a victim doing 1d8+1 in damage, 1 Bleed, and 1d3 Horror damage if they fail their Horror check.
Phantom Hooks
Mana: 3
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 30’
Target: 1 creature
Duration: 1d4+1 rounds
Saving Throw: Reflex half, see text
Horror Cost: 1d3
Mist surrounds the target from which hooked chains fly towards the victim. The hooks embed themselves in the target, pulling skin loose and slowing movement. The target receives 1d3 Horror damage if they fail their Horror roll. If they fail their reflex save, the hooks grapple the victim and do 1d6+1 damage. If grappled, the target can not move. If they succeed at the initial Reflex save, the target is still hooked, but only suffers half the damage and can move at half-speed. Each round the spell lasts the target may attempt a Heroic Action (DEX vs. Spellcraft) to escape, which allows them to move at full speed.
Speak to the Dead
Mana: 3
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Touch
Target: 1 dead sentient creature
Duration: 1 minute per level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Horror Cost: 1d3
You grant the semblance of life and intellect to a corpse, allowing it to answer several questions that you put to it. You may ask one question per two caster levels. Unasked questions are wasted if the duration expires. The corpse’s knowledge is limited to what the creature knew during life, including the languages it spoke (if any). Answers are usually brief, cryptic, or repetitive.
This spell does not let you actually speak to the person (whose soul has departed). It instead draws on the imprinted knowledge stored in the corpse. The partially animated body retains the imprint of the soul that once inhabited it, and thus it can speak with all the knowledge that the creature had while alive. The corpse, however, cannot learn new information. This spell does not affect a corpse that has been turned into an undead creature.
5 Mana Spells
Break
Mana: 5
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 100’
Target: Single creature
Duration: Instant
Saving Throw: Will, see text
Horror Cost: 1d6
The mage breaks their target’s hand or foot, caster’s choice, its digits shattering and twisting backwards. This causes 2d8+1 damage plus renders that extremity useless. This means they can not wield a weapon, use an object, or hold anything with a hand. With a broken foot, they can only move at 1/2 speed, and it is with great suffering that they do move. The victim must roll a Horror save, and if failed, they suffer 1d4 Horror damage.
A successful Will save means the victim takes half damage and they can use their extremity.
Cause Madness
Mana: 5
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 100’
Target: Single creature
Duration: Instant
Saving Throw: Will partial
Horror Cost: 1d6
The spellcaster causes the target to experience their greatest unknown fear. They will lose 2d8 Horror unless they successfully save, instead taking only 1d6 Horror damage.
Flay
Mana: 5
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 100’
Target: Single creature
Duration: Instant
Saving Throw: Will partial
Horror Cost: 1d6
The spellcaster causes the target’s skin to peel back from their body. This causes 2d6+1 damage, 3 Bleed, and 1d6 Horror damage if they fail their Horror save. A will save halves the damage and negates the need to roll a Horror save.
7 Mana Spells
Circle of Death
Mana: 7
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 100’
Target: Several living creatures within a 40-ft.-radius burst
Duration: Instant
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Horror Cost: 1d8 (+1 per creature slain)
The spell slays 4 HD worth of living creatures per caster level. Creatures with the fewest HD are affected first; among creatures with equal HD, those who are closest to the burst’s point of origin are affected first.
Nightmare Terrain
Mana: 7
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 100’
Target: Several living creatures within a 40-ft.-radius burst
Duration: Instant
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Horror Cost: 1d8
The mage contorts the terrain to look, sound, and smell like something out of a nightmare. Writhing vegetation, disembodied limbs, animated corpses, and smoking pits cover every surface. Dank mist fills the area, and the stench of death fills the air.
The nightmare terrain created is mostly illusory, but the obstacles are partially real. Creatures within, entering, or viewing the area can make Will saves to discern the illusion. Creatures that fail their saves become entangled and must make a Horror save. If they fail the Horror check, they suffer 1d8+1 Horror damage.
Dark Rituals
Summon Greater Navirite
Casting Time: 10 hours
Duration: 1 hour
Materials: A single candle whose wax is mixed with the blood of the caster(s), silver wire (400 gp), 5 gold runestones (200 gp), amarnium hooks (2,000 gp)
Skill Checks: Fortitude DC 2 first hour, each hour after reroll DC adds a +1. At the apex of the spellcasting ritual, a cost of 40 mana as well as a DC 40 spellcraft check (mana is subtracted from the group of casters, and each caster rolls a Spellcraft check and they are all added together)
Cost: Each spellcaster suffers one temporary negative level. Each day the spellcaster can try to regain the lost level with a DC20 Will save.
Failure: Gain 1 phobia
Horror Cost: 2/3d4
The circle is drawn in a place untouched by sun or moon. The single candle is lit on the northern side. A net is woven of the silver wire, with the amarnium hooks attached. The five runestones are set equidistant apart along the circle.
The casters begin the ritual, weaving the magic to enchant the net to hold the greater being. As they weave, they begin to tear a rift to the Navirim.
If the ritual is successfully cast, the creature is bound in the net. They will remain prisoner for one hour, and will be subject to answer questions or be bound by another ritual to serve the mages. After the hour, the Navirite will return to the Navirim, unless it succeeds at a DC 35 Will save. If it makes the save, it can break free of the circle and remain in this plane.
Bind Greater Navirite
Casting Time: 30 minutes
Duration: Permanent unless binding item is broken
Materials: An expensive necklace, ring, or something the owner can wear to control the demon plus the item needs to be covered in the blood of a person sacrificed for the purpose, which would cause Horror damage to the killer.
Skill Checks: DC 60 Spellcraft check added together from all participating.
Cost: Each spellcaster takes 2d6 ability damage to their spellcasting Primary Ability score, which returns at the rate of 1 point per week. The spellcaster(s) also lose the knowledge of 1d6 spells chosen randomly that must be relearned.
Failure: Bond reverses and the casters are bound to the service of the demon.
Horror Cost: 4/2d8 plus sacrifice Horror loss.
An artifact, or artifacts are imbued with the power to bond a summoned spirit. This takes no mana, but creates a bond between the item and the creators. The demon can not remove the bonding item, and those who bound the demon must also continually wear their items or lose power over the demon. If half or more of the bonding items are removed or destroyed, the demon becomes free.
Magic Items
Mind’s Eye Amulet – This ancient amulet was made to protect mages while experimenting with unknown magics. This gives the wearer +5 to their starting Horror while it is worn. When the amulet is first worn, it adds the +5 to the wearer’s base Horror bonus as well as allowing them to regain 5 Horror points. If removed, the wearer loses the +5 bonus as well as losing 5 points of Horror.
Psyward – This item can come in many forms, but it shields the mind of the wearer against mental attacks. The wearer gains a +1 to their Horror Resistance.
Grim Mortis, Minor – A Grim Mortis contains ancient knowledge that conveys Forbidden Knowledge to any who dare read it. 2000 gp
Minor Grim Mortis
| ExaminationPeriod | Knowledge DCto Research | Number of Spells to be Gained | InitialHorror Loss | Horror LossUpon Completion | Forbidden LoreRanks Gained |
| 1 week | 20 | 2 | 1d4 | 2d6 | 1 |
Grim Mortis, Major – A Grim Mortis contains ancient knowledge that conveys Forbidden Knowledge to any who dare read it. 5000 gp
Major Grim Mortis
| ExaminationPeriod | Knowledge DCto Research | Number of Spells to be Gained | InitialHorror Loss | Horror LossUpon Completion | Forbidden LoreRanks Gained |
| 2 weeks | 22 | 3 | 1d6 | 2d6 | 2 |
Diary of Daloron the Leech – Daloron was the right hand of the Warlock King. He performed unimaginable experiments of both science and magic.Though his research he was able to extend his own life and that of the Warlock King by several centuries. His works involved the unnatural combination and breeding of man and beast, and the summoning of creatures from dimensions outside of our own. His diary allegedly holds the coded secrets to these dark experiments.
Diary of Daloron
| ExaminationPeriod | Knowledge DCto Research | Number of Spells to be Gained | InitialHorror Loss | Horror LossUpon Completion | Forbidden LoreRanks Gained |
| 3 weeks | 28 | 1d4+5 | 1d10 | 3d6 | 3 |
Sample Legacy Items
Mother’s Guard – This amulet was created to protect their child as magic returns. At level 2 it protects the bearer against the Daze spell, giving the bearer an 80% chance to negate the Daze spell if they failed their save. At 4th level, the amulet allows a reroll on a Horror check once per day. At 8th level, it gives the bearer a +5 to their Affliction Threshold and they gain back 2 Horror per day.