Aethercliffe: Hearth, Kith and Kin

PTFO Stonetop Spin-off: Session00 pt.2

This Week

We build out Aethercliffe proper,answer family questions, and set the social and emotional landscape of our NPCs and PCs alike. You can checkout last week below.

Setup

I want to reiterate some of the grounds rules before we jump into things.

• I'll be using some parts of the Freebooters on the Frontier 
• Legacy Life Among the Ruins and its Family rule system. As I rather enjoy those family, clan dynamics. 
• This is a Homebrew World, Game etc. So this is my Stonetop [Aethercliffe], my Lygos [Lykost], reflavoured and recontextualized for My setting
•MYTHIC GME 2e is a treasured friend.

Now what does all of this mean? Well we are hacking a bunch of stuff together as per usual here at The Bone Brew. So let's touch on the Agendas and get some broadstrokes. Give you a peak into how I homebrew.

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As an aside I'm always open to ideas, suggestions or just down right geeking out over homebrew hacks. Love as much as I do drop me a comment below with your wildest hacks!

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Stonetop GM Agenda

•Portray a rich, mysterious world

•Punctuate the PC’s lives with adventure

•PTFO

Legacy GM Agenda

•Make the world seem real

•Make their lives historic

•PTFO

While it seems unimportant the Agenda of each game could change things drastically so we are going to be taking bits and pieces from both to recontextualize our Agenda for Aethercliffe.

Make the world seem real vs. Portray a rich, and Mysterious world

Legacy prompts us first and foremost to keep things grounded and focused on the human element even in fantastical situations. While Stonetop encourages us to showcase the misunderstood and weird side of the fantastical for a people concerned with the mundane. These might seem far crys from each other but the both focus on bonds, humanity, and relationships. As the old adage goes “character is story”, no?

I shall refine this by stating our first bullet as Craft Tenuous Ties in a Breathing World.

The Sands of Aamsk are dangerous, the world filled with creatures of might, and marked by the Arcane. But in the midst of it all it is the people that thrive through it all. I want to tell stories about the ties that bind, the rivalries that make us better and the feuds that shaped landscapes. Starting with characters and setting their wants, emotions and motives opposed to each other creates that feeling of a breathing landscape in part because the world is filtered through a relatable lens.

Lives of Historic Adventure

Punctuation the Characters lives with adventure and Making their lives historic are one in the same, for our purposes. Legacy games zoom in and out on grand scale spanning generations. Stonetop, could very well be the same as you play season after season, shaping your steading and the world around you. Your adventures slowly becoming the history of your characters and in a sense your world.

I would love to say that this will be a long running game with 100s of sessions; that I am unsure of. However, I do want to keep the generational mindset ever prevalent. While we may not always come back to these characters, Aethercliffe is now cemented in the Sands of Aamsk. Coming back to it generations later, to see remnants of things we've done I think could be amazing. From a mechanical stand point there are some things I'll add to our winter ends to implement this generational mindset.

Thus our Second bullet point is restated as Lead Lives Of Historic Adventure

PTFO

As always we do not preplan outcomes. We play to find out, very simply put.

Now these are all things I want to pursue and achieve during play. But the how of doing that 🤔? Those are our what PBTA calls Principles.

I won't list them all but a few here

BEGIN AND END WITH THE FICTION

BE A FAN OF THE CHARACTERS

EVOKE THE PAST, THINK TO THE FUTURE

NAME PEOPLE, KNOW WHO BACKS THEM

NOTHING IS ETERNAL

Show us what’s important to you

Have goals and pursue them

Be bold, take risks

Embrace setback and failure

BEGIN AND END WITH THE FICTION

Each of these could be an article unto themselves. If that’s something that interest you, hearing my thoughts on these principles in action drop a comment below.

I won’t go over each of these but thought it important to note. Games built on the Pbta system offer fantastic play advice and I shall be implementing a lot more throughout play. These principles will guide us, even as we go through our steading creation.

Stonetop Aethercliffe

Stonetop opts to have a full blown steading playbook. While this is useful and will be something we pull from for questions and the like. I couldn’t help but hack something together.

In true Bone Brew fashion, we’ve taken the solid bones of Stonetop’s steading rules and mixed in a little Legacy spice to create something uniquely Aethercliffe. The sands of Aamsk aren’t just a backdrop; they’re a living, breathing entity that shapes the lives of everyone within this village. So, why not let those shifting sands play a role in how we build and interact with the steading itself? 🌵

The Core Stats: Unity, Resources, Defense, and Wisdom

We start with the basics—four core stats that define the health and direction of Aethercliffe. These are the pillars that hold up our steading, each one representing a vital aspect of village life. We will be using a stat array.

U | R | D | W
-1  0  +2  +1

When we look at the stat array for Aethercliffe, we see a village that’s more than just a sum of its parts—it’s a place of contrasts and imbalances. Our stat array is +2, +1, 0, and -1, reflecting the unique strengths and vulnerabilities of the village. Also keeping it streamlined since I want to track as little as possible. Aethercliffe’s greatest asset is its Defense, sitting at a solid +2. The people here are well-prepared for the harsh realities of the Aamsk desert, ready to fend off both external threats and internal strife. Wisdom follows with a +1, indicating a deep well of knowledge and ancient traditions that guide the village through troubled times. Resources are at 0, a neutral ground where survival is possible but not without challenges. The real struggle lies in Unity, marked by a -1. The three major families—Tafai, Karnok, and Jyvin—each with their own ambitions and agendas, have created a rift in the village that could become its greatest weakness if left unchecked. This stat array isn’t just numbers on a page, it reveals where the village stands strong and where it teeters on the edge.

Unity: Unity is the glue that holds the community together. High Unity means the village stands strong against external threats, while low Unity...well, let’s just say the cracks start to show when the going gets tough.

Resources: This stat covers everything from food and water to the tools and supplies that keep the village running. A healthy Resource pool ensures that Aethercliffe doesn’t just survive—it thrives.

Defense: Defense isn’t just about walls and weapons; it’s about the village’s ability to protect itself from whatever the desert throws its way. A strong Defense stat means Aethercliffe can weather any storm or enemy.

Wisdom: Wisdom is the stat that reflects the village’s ability to make informed decisions, to think ahead, and to adapt to whatever the future holds.

Doctrine and Lifestyle: The Heart of the Families

But we didn’t stop at just the basics. To truly capture the essence of Aethercliffe, we added two more layers: Doctrine and Lifestyle. These aren’t just abstract concepts—they’re the lifeblood of each family, guiding their actions and influencing how they interact with the rest of the village. Mechanically you can think of them as tags or descriptors on a basic level. However, these can also affect the village at large as families seek to hold true to their doctrines and/or lifestyle.

Doctrine: Every family in Aethercliffe has a Doctrine—a set of beliefs that defines their values and decisions. Whether it’s a Doctrine of Preservation, holding fast to the old ways, or a Doctrine of Protection, emphasizing the village’s survival, this shapes how a family operates. It can boost their Wisdom or Resources, but it can also create friction with others, affecting Unity.

Lifestyle: How a family lives day-to-day speaks volumes about their place in the village. A Lifestyle of Austerity might make a family resource-rich, but it could also isolate them from those who live more lavishly. On the other hand, a Lifestyle of Discipline could enhance Defense while potentially straining Unity within the village.

Treaty: The Currency of Influence

Treaty isn’t a stat persay but the core of Aethercliffe’s social web. Every favor, every alliance, is a thread woven into the fabric of the village. But this web is delicate—pull too hard on one thread, and the whole thing can unravel. Families who understand the art of Treaty know how to secure their future; those who don’t risk getting caught in a tangle of debts and broken promises. Picture the Tafai family, keepers of ancient wisdom, suddenly finding themselves indebted to the more assertive Karnok family. When those spiritual secrets are called in as payment, the stakes aren’t just high—they’re game-changing. One misstep, and the entire balance of power in Aethercliffe could shift, rippling through every facet of village life.

Building Aethercliffe: Questions That Define the Steading

So, how do we take these rules and apply them to building Aethercliffe? It all starts with asking the right questions. In Stonetop, the process of creating a steading is guided by a series of prompts that help shape the village’s identity. We’ve taken those questions and recontextualized them for Aethercliffe, adding our own flair to reflect the unique challenges of the Aamsk desert. Here are some of the key questions we asked ourselves:

What is the size of Aethercliffe, and how does its population affect resources and defense?

Aethercliffe is a medium-sized village, home to about 300-500 people. The population is concentrated within three major families—Tafai, Jyvin, and Karnok—each with several branch families. This size allows for a strong sense of community, but also creates competition over resources, especially water from the sacred oasis. Defense is robust due to the village’s role as a spiritual center for the Cnyn Folk, necessitating protection against both external threats and internal power struggles. Joza Dajmar, our sandscarred sheriff, plays a crucial role in maintaining this defense, ensuring that all threats are met with strength and resolve.

What is the history of Aethercliffe, and what significant events have shaped its development?

Aethercliffe was founded by merchants way laid storm, who discovered a sacred oasis of the Cnyn Folk. The Cnyn Folk saw the settlers’ arrival as a sign. Some thought it a great omen of good fortune others as a warning. Either way the Cnyn Folk began to intermingle with them, leading to the village’s founding. The Tafai family, one of the first settlers, played a key role in establishing the village as a spiritual center. Significant events include the return of Roik, Joza’s father, a Cnyn Folk chief blessed of the elders, called back to lead his tribe. This solidified the alliance between the village and the Cnyn Folk, creating a lasting bond that continues to influence the village's direction.

What are the key resources that Aethercliffe relies on for survival in the Aamsk desert?

The sacred oasis is Aethercliffe’s most critical resource, providing both water and spiritual significance. The village also trades in Nightglas, although their availability has diminished over time. The Tafai family’s preservation of ancient knowledge,overseen by figures like Master Ziana, and the Jyvin family’s control over medicinal herbs like Brakmirk Root, are vital to the village’s survival. Rad Ehzt, although from a less influential branch of the Jyvin family, has connections that help keep the village’s trade networks open, ensuring the flow of necessary goods.

Who are the notable figures or families in Aethercliffe, and how do they influence the village’s direction?

• Tafai Family: As spiritual leaders, the Tafai family preserves the village’s connection to ancient knowledge and rituals, influencing decisions related to tradition and arcane matters. Zaj Tafai, a former student of the Lykost Arcanum Pnyx Lycaeum, is a key figure within the family, known for their deep connection to mystical forces.

• Jyvin Family: Known for their expertise in healing, herbology, and trade the Jyvin family plays a crucial role in maintaining the village’s health,well-being, and trade ties. Their control over medicinal resources gives them significant influence. Nia, a wise and observant member of the family, is particularly trusted for her knowledge and insight.

• Karnok Family: Warriors and protectors, the Karnok family ensures the village’s defense. Their leadership in matters of security and conflict resolution, guided by Kord Karnok, makes them indispensable to Aethercliffe’s survival. Joza’s strength and resilience have earned her a place of honor, despite the scars—both physical and emotional—that mark her journey.

What major threats does Aethercliffe face, both from within and outside its borders?

Aethercliffe faces external threats from rival tribes and factions seeking to control the sacred oasis. Internally, the biggest threats come from the potential for conflict between the three major families, each vying for control over the village’s limited resources and influence. The spiritual significance of the oasis also attracts mystical dangers, as old-world powers and spirits may seek to reclaim what was once theirs. Zaj Tafai’s possession of the Soul Library, an artifact of the old world, could potentially draw unwanted attention, putting the village at risk.

How does Aethercliffe interact with neighboring tribes, towns, or factions?

Aethercliffe maintains a complex relationship with the neighboring Cnyn Folk tribes, who view the village as a spiritual center. While respected, Aethercliffe must navigate the differing views of various tribes, some of whom may not fully agree with the village’s role. The village also trades with nearby towns, facilitated by Rad Ehzt and his network of contacts, but these relationships are often strained by Aethercliffe’s unique position and the envy it inspires.

Crafting the Families: The Heartbeat of Aethercliffe

With the steading questions answered, we turned our attention to the families—those who breathe life into Aethercliffe. Aethercliffe’s social structure is deeply rooted in its three major families: Tafai, Karnok, and Jyvin. Each of these families is further divided into branches, creating a complex web of alliances and rivalries that shape village life. The Tafai family, spiritual leaders and preservers of ancient knowledge, has three branches, each dedicated to upholding different aspects of their sacred duties. The Karnok family, known for their warrior spirit and focus on defense, is the most extensive, with eight branches. Among them is the Dajmar family, known for producing some of Aethercliffe’s fiercest defenders, including Joza Dajmar. The Jyvin family, healers, caretakers and merchants, consists of five branches. The Ehzt family, one of these branches, is crucial for maintaining the village’s trade networks. These branches aren’t just family lines— each is a microcosm of the village itself, with its own Doctrine, Lifestyle, and set of challenges. To build these families, we asked:

What is your family’s Doctrine, and how does it guide their decisions in the Aamsk desert?

• Tafai Doctrine: Doctrine of Preservation - The Tafai family is dedicated to preserving the ancient knowledge and rituals that define Aethercliffe as a spiritual center. Their decisions are guided by a deep respect for tradition, even when it conflicts with the village’s more practical needs.

• Jyvin Doctrine: Doctrine of Healing - The Jyvin family believes in the power of healing, both physical and spiritual. Their doctrine focuses on maintaining the well-being of the people. Their use of medicinal herbs and ancient healing practices, which they guard fiercely.

• Karnok Doctrine: Doctrine of Protection - The Karnok family upholds the belief that Aethercliffe’s survival depends on its ability to defend itself. Their doctrine emphasizes the importance of strength, discipline, and strategic alliances to ensure the village’s safety.

What is your family’s Lifestyle, and how does it shape their day-to-day life in Aethercliffe?

• Tafai Lifestyle: Lifestyle of Austerity - The Tafai family leads a life of simplicity, focusing on their spiritual duties and the preservation of knowledge. This lifestyle keeps them somewhat isolated, but it also allows them to conserve resources and maintain their spiritual authority.

• Jyvin Lifestyle: Lifestyle of Care - The Jyvin family lives modestly but with a focus on nurturing and healing. Their day-to-day life revolves around the cultivation of medicinal herbs and the care of the sick and wounded, making them beloved by many in the village.

• Karnok Lifestyle: Lifestyle of Discipline - The Karnok family lives a strict, disciplined life, with a focus on training and preparedness. Their lifestyle ensures that they are always ready to defend the village, but it can also make them appear rigid and unyielding.

What legacy did your family inherit, and how does it affect their current position in Aethercliffe?

• Tafai Legacy: The Tafai family’s legacy as the spiritual leaders of Aethercliffe gives them significant influence in matters of tradition and ritual. However, this legacy also places a heavy burden on them to maintain the village’s spiritual integrity, sometimes at the cost of progress. Zaj Tafai’s role as the keeper of the Soul Library underscores this legacy, as they strive to protect the village’s ancient secrets.

• Jyvin Legacy: The Jyvin family’s legacy is one of healing and care, passed down through generations. This legacy makes them indispensable to the village, but it also means they must constantly balance the demands of their healing duties with the need to protect their knowledge from those who would misuse it. Nia’s wisdom and observant nature help the family navigate these challenges, ensuring their legacy endures.

• Karnok Legacy: The Karnok family’s legacy is that of defenders and warriors, a role that has earned them both respect and fear. Their legacy of protection ensures their central role in the village’s defense, but it also means they must constantly prove their strength and resolve. Joza’s scars and her reputation as a fierce protector are living reminders of the family’s legacy.

What resources does your family control, and what do they need to secure their future?

• Tafai Resources: The Tafai family controls the village’s archives and sacred relics, including ancient texts and artifacts. To secure their future, they need to gain the trust and support of the younger generation, who may not fully appreciate the importance of preserving the past. Zaj’s stewardship of the Soul Library is crucial to this effort, as it represents the family’s most significant link to the old world’s knowledge.

• Jyvin Resources: The Jyvin family controls the village’s supply of medicinal herbs, including the valuable Brakmirk Root. To secure their future, they need to expand their knowledge and resources to better serve the village, while also protecting their healing practices from exploitation. Nia’s role in this effort is vital, as she ensures the family’s healing arts are respected and safeguarded.

• Karnok Resources: The Karnok family controls the village’s armory and training grounds. To secure their future, they need to recruit more warriors and strengthen their alliances, both within Aethercliffe and with the Cnyn Folk tribes. Joza’s leadership in training the village’s defenders and her connections to the Cnyn Folk are key to maintaining the family’s strength.

Who are your family’s allies and rivals within Aethercliffe?

• Tafai Allies: The Tafai family is allied with the village elders and those who value tradition and spiritual preservation. Their main rivals are those who seek to modernize or change the village’s ways, particularly elements within the Jyvin family who prioritize healing over ritual. Zaj Tafai’s strained relationship with the Lykost Arcanum Pnyx Lycaeum further complicates the family’s alliances.

• Jyvin Allies: The Jyvin family is allied with the healers and caretakers of the village, as well as those who benefit from their medicinal knowledge. Their main rivals are the more militant elements within the Karnok family, who may see the Jyvin’s focus on healing as a weakness. Nia’s efforts to bridge the gap between these factions are crucial in maintaining the family’s influence.

• Karnok Allies: The Karnok family is allied with the village’s warriors and those who prioritize Aethercliffe’s defense. Their main rivals are those who focus on diplomacy or trade over strength, particularly within the Tafai and Jyvin families. Joza’s leadership and her ties to the Cnyn Folk tribes give the Karnok family a strategic advantage in these alliances.

How does your family contribute to the village’s Unity, Resources, Defense, or Wisdom?

• Tafai Contributions: The Tafai family contributes to the village’s Wisdom, preserving ancient knowledge and ensuring that Aethercliffe remains a spiritual center.

• Jyvin Contributions: The Jyvin family contributes to the village’s Resources and Unity by maintaining the health of the community and providing essential medicinal support.

• Karnok Contributions: The Karnok family contributes to the village’s Defense, maintaining order and protecting Aethercliffe from both internal and external threats.

Steading and Family Moves: The Actions that Shape Aethercliffe

With the families established and their roles defined, it’s time to look at the moves that will guide Aethercliffe through the challenges it faces. These moves are the mechanisms by which the village and its families interact with the world, respond to threats, and influence the course of their own history.

Steading Moves

These are the actions Aethercliffe as a whole can take to protect its people, gather resources, and preserve its way of life:

Defend the Oasis: When Aethercliffe’s warriors mobilize to protect the sacred oasis from an external threat, roll +Defense.

• On a 10+, the village repels the invaders without significant losses.

• On a 7-9, the village holds the line, but at a cost—choose one: lose a resource, suffer casualties, or strain Unity.

• On a 6-, the defense fails, and the invaders breach the village’s defenses.

Gather Resources: When the village works together to gather resources (food, water, medicinal herbs), roll +Resources.

• On a 10+, the village’s stores are replenished, and morale is boosted.

• On a 7-9, resources are gathered, but there’s a trade-off—choose one: strain Unity, reduce Defense, or face a future scarcity.

• On a 6-, the effort fails, and resources are lost or depleted.

Preserve the Ancient Knowledge: When the village’s elders and scholars work to preserve and pass down ancient knowledge, roll +Wisdom.

• On a 10+, the knowledge is safely preserved, and the village gains insight that could benefit it in the future.

• On a 7-9, the knowledge is preserved, but a question arises—was something important overlooked or misunderstood?

• On a 6-, the knowledge is lost or corrupted, leading to future challenges.

Strengthen Unity: When the village works to resolve internal conflicts or forge stronger bonds among its families, roll +Unity (even with a negative modifier).

• On a 10+, the village comes together, and Unity improves.

• On a 7-9, Unity is maintained, but tensions still simmer beneath the surface.

• On a 6-, Unity is further strained, and a new conflict arises.

Family Moves

Each of Aethercliffe’s major families brings something unique to the table, influencing the village in ways that reflect their core values and doctrines:

Tafai Family Move - Invoke the Ancestors: When the Tafai family seeks guidance from their ancestors through ritual and meditation, roll +Wisdom.

• On a 10+, the ancestors’ guidance is clear, and the family gains a powerful insight or blessing.

• On a 7-9, the guidance is cryptic, and the family must interpret its meaning carefully.

• On a 6-, the connection is severed, and the family risks angering the spirits.

Karnok Family Move - Muster the Warriors: When the Karnok family calls its warriors to arms, roll +Defense.

• On a 10+, the warriors are ready and eager, and the village’s defenses are bolstered.

• On a 7-9, the warriors answer the call, but morale is shaky—choose one: suffer a loss of resources, strain Unity, or face dissent among the ranks.

• On a 6-, the call goes unanswered, and the family must deal with the fallout.

Jyvin Family Move - Heal the Wounded: When the Jyvin family works to heal the sick, injured, or to repair relations roll +Resources.

• On a 10+, the healing is successful, the relationship is reconciled, and the patient recovers fully.

• On a 7-9, the healing works, but at a cost—resources are depleted, the healer is left exhausted, or the person ask for something.

• On a 6-, the healing fails, the reconciliation fails, and the patient’s condition worsens.

Special Move: Exotic Voices

The people of Aethercliffe speak Zhi, a special desert patois that isn’t just a language but a shield against outsiders. This linguistic quirk makes documents from the area hard to read and causes spies to stick out like sore thumbs. When the village leverages this unique language to its advantage, the Exotic Voices move comes into play:

• On a 10+, the language barrier works perfectly—outsiders are baffled, spies are exposed, or crucial documents remain secure.

• On a 7-9, the language serves its purpose, but there are complications—outsiders grow suspicious, some information slips through the cracks, or an insider begins to question their loyalty.

• On a 6-, the move backfires—miscommunication leads to unintended consequences, such as a diplomatic incident, or an outsider manages to blend in and gather sensitive information.

This is getting long, and we still haven’t even gotten to the fiction yet. Apologies for the lengthy preamble, but PBTA games are still somewhat new to me, and I’m learning as I go. Even though I’m hacking away at these systems, I want to make sure I’m showcasing exactly how I might go about it—step by step, detail by detail. My goal here is to give you a clear picture of how Aethercliffe comes to life, both mechanically and narratively. But don’t worry, we’ll soon be diving into the stories that these systems are built to tell! So let us wrap up this week, here and jump into things more deeply next week. Until then make sure you drop any questions, thoughts, or comments down in the comment section below. How would you build Aethercliffe differently? How might you go about implementing family elements and moves? What part of family dramas compell you most?! Drop it below!

Next Time

Since things went so long we stick to our core Principle next week and Begin with the Fiction! No massive preamble we jump straight into Aethercliffe as it is known outside its high canyon walls and secluded Vista. We will, be given a brief peek into each of our PCS lives, and the workings of the Families at large. Hope to see you then! Also a huge thank you to

SGH

for his continued inspiration and phenomenal story telling. If you have any suggestions for other great Soloist shout them out! Need to get caught up? Click