Running the Story
Many great books, podcasts, and videos are already out there helping you become a great Gamemaster (GM), so this section will focus on helping you create, run, and enjoy SagaBorn and Dark Return games. In SagaBorn, we call the GM the StoryGuide (SG). The following are suggestions and optional rules, but they can be used to set the foundational guidelines for your games.
The Story Guide Motto for SagaBorn:
The StoryGuide (SG) is a fan of the player. The StoryGuide should make rulings in favor of the players during ties, rules interpretations, and cinematic flair.
Running in the World of the Dark Return
Atheles has long suffered under the shadow of many catastrophes, and its cultures and people reflect that. They have long been afraid of what might come in the next cycle or what lurks out in the dark, empty woods between settlements. You should convey this to your players as they begin their adventure. Those who brave the wilds have just as often disappeared and then returned.
In addition, the past 30 years have seen the Dark Return of magic and monsters. Seven hundred years ago, the Disappearance occurred, leaving Atheles barren of arcane and mystical forces, artifacts, and creatures. Species bound with magic just vanished. Slowly, they have begun to creep back into the world, returning from the misty limbo between the worlds, throwing Atheles into chaos and turmoil. The actions of the player-heroes, the SagaBorn, will define and characterize this world and its stories.
Adventure Hooks
The world of Uteria is fraught with crises and conflicts, any of which is a dire threat to the peoples of the lands.
Invasion From the Navirim
Eldritch horrors and bloodthirsty demons find their way into the world from the Navirim. Stopping their invasion might be a fool’s errand, but you are among the few who stand against the onslaught nonetheless.
The Return of Magic
The return of magic has brought peril and uncertainty to some and power to others. Will a hero who employs magic be hunted by the powerful or pious for their arcane usage? Will the local people suffer under the new yoke of an all-powerful sorcerer-queen/king?
The Uthgard Empire
A rising new star in the north, a new King has begun amassing power for the old Kingdom of Uthgard. His armies defeated the invading giants from the tundra, and he has now turned his attention to the lands in the South that once swore fealty to his throne.
Rebellion in Kowal
The city of Kowal has recently sworn allegiance to the Uthgard Kingdom. A catastrophe ended the old power structures, but a new one, emboldened by the Ministry of the Arts and the Uthgard Royal Army, has brought an iron fist down on the city. The Duke enjoys the wealth of the metalwork factories relighting their fires. Still, whispers of rebellion skitter along the avenues and alleys of the grey city.
Demons From the Never
As magic has returned, so have the fae and elves. But that is not all: demons and other Navirites have made their way from beyond the veil and invaded Atheles. The dark places of the world now have new inhabitants.
Storms and Disaster
The Dark Return has brought massive storms to the continent. Acid rain that burns the skin or storms whose green lighting turns vast swaths of land to waste pummels the land relentlessly. The ecological fallout from these storms is enormous, and scholars have no idea how to combat them.
Non-Player Characters
Stats for NPCs
These are base numbers that can be assigned to your non-player characters (NPCs).
SagaBorn (reserved for rare encounters or story arc villains): 19 points; +4, +2, +1, +1, 0, -1 PLUS standard legacy items; Treasure x4
Heroic: 19 points; +4, +2, +1, +1, 0, -1; Treasure x2
Standard: 15 points; +3, +2, +1, 0, -1, -2; Treasure x1
Commoner: 12 points; +2, +1, 0, 0, -1, -2; Treasure x1/2
Horde Rules
Hordes are groups of low hit-point creatures that hinder adventurers due to their numbers. They are intended to be used in groups, and they always have 1 hit point.
In most myths and stories, the heroes must face hordes of minions they must slay to escape, or the “Big Bad” has henchmen who make the battle more treacherous. This can be very difficult to simulate with baseline creatures, hence these Horde Rules. A horde can be an encounter on its own meant to give characters fear and an ego boost or additional mobs in a “boss” fight.
Horde Initiative
All the creatures in a Horde Group share the same initiative. Each member of a Horde Group gets its two actions but must take them in succession.
Horde Stats
A horde creature has the same stats as the base creature, but only 1 HP. Horde creatures are always 1 or less Challenge Rating than the party’s average level. A horde creature only gets one attack per round.
Horde Treasure
Horde equipment is often overly used, rusted, cracked, or in disrepair. Any items taken from a horde mob are worth only 1/4 of their normal cost.
Making Adventures Fun
Skill Challenge
A skill challenge is a way to handle a non-combat encounter, allowing the players to use their characters’ skills to overcome obstacles. It can be used as a way to describe traveling, handling large social encounters, or events such as a chase scene.
The SG will set a DC (Difficulty Class), and the players must roll skill checks to beat the DC. The SG determines the number of skill rolls needed to overcome the challenge. The resulting number of successes and failures of these rolls defines the outcome of the challenge. More successes mean the players have an easier time with the encounter, and more failures mean a harder encounter.
When making a skill challenge check, no player can go twice in a row, and no player can use the skills they’ve already used until at least 3 separate skills have been used. A player must explain how that skill is being used to overcome the challenge.
- Standard DC for a moderate skill challenge is DC 13-15
- A standard number of rolls is 3 or 5, , assigning an odd number, so there is always a tiebreaker.
Example Skill Challenge rolls for Traveling:
5 rolls, DC 14
5 successes – Beneficial encounter, merchant, find extra treasure
4 successes – Routine travel, arrive on time
3 – Easy encounter
2 – Moderate encounter
1 – Hard encounter
0 – RUN AWAY!
Luck
Sometimes a player just needs to see how lucky they are. We often use this randomly to see if the players get a benefit when the odds are stacked against them. A simple d20 roll, high being beneficial and low being negative.
Rewards
Treasure
Treasure is based on a challenging encounter equal to the character level. This is an average, suggested amount of treasure. Items and equipment count towards this total as retail cost.
| Encounter Level | Treasure Value |
| 1 | 100 gp |
| 2 | 300 gp |
| 3 | 450 gp |
| 4 | 600 gp |
| 5 | 800 gp |
| 6 | 1,000 gp |
| 7 | 1,300 gp |
| 8 | 1,700 gp |
| 9 | 2,250 gp |
| 10 | 2,900 gp |
| 11 | 3,750 gp |
| 12+ | 5,000 gp |
Types of Rewards
- Gold, of course
- Spells
- Charged Magic Items
- Expertise
- Renown
Story Guide Reward Checklist
Start of Session:
- Starting Saga Point
After or During Session:
Encounter XP
- Extra Saga Points
- Expertise
- Renown
Economy
The economy in the world of Atheles is a struggling one, with most people relying on agriculture, fishing, and hunting to make a living. The wealthy and powerful people in the world hold most of the wealth, and the poor and downtrodden are often left to fend for themselves. The warring factions fight over resources, which further destabilizes the economy. Inflation is rampant, and many find it difficult to make ends meet.
How to deal with treasure in Atheles:
- Make money worth something
- Goods are scarce; not every shop has everything adventurers want. Many shops have little operating funds, and thus a smaller selection of items. Make the adventurers covet good gear and goods.
- Money can be spent on finding equipment, building strongholds, and paying allies.
Spell Worth
What is a spell worth? You may find a scroll in a treasure hoard or ask a trusted mentor to teach you a spell. These spells have a value that may fluctuate but generally follow the chart below in average cost.
| Mana | Cost |
| Variable | 600 gp |
| 1 | 25 gp |
| 3 | 150 gp |
| 5 | 300 gp |
| 7 | 500 gp |
Traps
Traps as Puzzles
We suggest running traps in Sagaborn as puzzles as opposed to a “gotcha” moment. No one likes a bunch of boulders just dropping on their head without a chance to discover that in advance or how to avoid triggering it. Traps should make the experience fun and discourage players from slowing down gameplay with their constant fear of traps. A common occurrence we have seen is that once a player encounters a trap, they spend the rest of the night tapping every stone with a 10’ pole. That is decidedly not fun for anyone.
The best way to counter this is to treat the trap as a puzzle for the players to solve. We want to build a sense of wariness, mystery, and suspense, but we don’t want wariness devolving into tedium. The mechanical change we have made to trapfinding is that the SG initiates the search for the trap rather than the players, an approach that is very different than other d20 systems.
When a trap is in an area, the SG should call for an Awareness check. If there is a rogue in the party, they should be the first to search (Rogues can also use their Thievery skill instead of Awareness). Otherwise, the party picks someone in their group to roll the check. If the roll is equal to or greater than the trap’s Awareness DC, they are aware of the trap and given a clue as to how it works. The party can now determine if they want to try to circumvent the trap or attempt to disable it.
Example: Success in Discovering a Trap
The adventurers are heading down a narrow hallway, with Krimson the Rogue is second from the lead. There is a poisoned dart trap in the hall. The SG calls for an Awareness check and states that Krimson may use his Awareness or Thievery as he wishes. Krimson chooses Thievery and rolls a 23, which beats the trap’s DC. The SG tells Krimson he sees three small, round openings in the wall and that the floor looks different under those holes. Krimson inspects the trap and sees that it is a poisoned dart trap with a pressure plate. The problem is the pressure plate is as wide as the hall and six feet in length. Either he disables the trap, which then uses the trap’s disarm DC, or the party tries to jump over it. Good luck.
Example: Failure in Discovering a Trap
Using the example above, Krimson rolls a 15 Thievery check, failing to spot the trap. Milentus, in the lead, walks onto the pressure plate and springs the trap.
Basic Trap Stats
| Challenge Rating (CR) | Average Damage | Base Attack | Base Skill DC (Awareness, Thievery) | Base Cost |
| CR1 | 1d6 | +10 | 16 | 100 gp |
| CR2 | 2d6 | +12 | 20 | 200 gp |
| CR3 | 3d6 | +14 | 22 | 300 gp |
| CR4 | 4d6 | +16 | 24 | 400 gp |
Poisons and Disease
Poisons
Poison
When a character takes damage from an attack with a poisoned weapon, touches an item smeared with contact poison, consumes poisoned food or drink, or is otherwise poisoned (by a venomous creature or environmental hazard), they must make a Fortitude saving throw. If they fail, they take the poison’s initial damage (usually ability damage). Even if they succeed, they typically face more damage 1 minute (10 rounds) later, which can also be avoided with a successful Fortitude saving throw. Delivery methods and damage are summarized in the Table Poisons below.
One dose of poison smeared on a weapon or some other object affects just a single target. A poisoned weapon or object retains its poison until the weapon scores a hit or the object is touched (unless the poison is wiped off). Any poison smeared on an object or exposed to the elements in any way remains potent until it is touched or used.
Poisons can be divided into four basic types according to the method by which their effect is delivered, as follows.
Contact
Merely touching this type of poison necessitates a saving throw. It can be actively delivered via a weapon or a touch attack. Even if a creature has sufficient damage reduction to avoid taking any damage from the attack, the poison can still affect it. A chest or other object can be smeared with contact poison as part of a trap.
Ingested
Ingested poisons are virtually impossible to utilize in a combat situation. A poisoner could administer a potion to an unconscious creature or attempt to dupe someone into drinking or eating something poisoned. Assassins and other characters tend to use ingested poisons outside of combat.
Inhaled
Inhaled poisons are usually contained in fragile vials or eggshells, effective upon aerial release. They can be thrown as a ranged attack with a range increment of 10 feet. When the vial strikes a hard surface (or is struck hard), the container releases its poison. One dose spreads to fill the volume of a 10-foot cube. Each creature within the area must make a saving throw. Holding one’s breath is ineffective against inhaled poisons; they affect the nasal membranes, tear ducts, and other parts of the body.
Injury
This poison must be delivered through a wound. If a creature has sufficient damage reduction to avoid taking any damage from the attack, the poison does not affect it. Traps that cause damage from weapons, needles, and the like sometimes contain injury poisons.
Poison Characteristics
Type
The poison’s method of delivery (contact, ingested, inhaled, or via an injury) and the Fortitude save DC to avoid the poison’s damage.
Effect
The effect the character takes immediately upon failing the saving throw against this poison. Damage is done to the Ability modifier. Ability damage is temporary unless marked with an asterisk (*), in which case the loss is a permanent drain.
Price
The cost of one dose (one vial) of the poison. It is not possible to use or apply poison in any quantity smaller than one dose. The purchase and possession of poison are always illegal, and even in big cities, it can be obtained only from specialized, less-than-reputable sources.
Poison Immunities
Creatures with natural poison attacks are immune to their own poison. Non-living creatures (constructs and undead) and creatures without metabolisms (such as elementals) are always immune to poison. Oozes, plants, and certain kinds of outsiders are also immune to poison, although conceivably special poisons could be concocted specifically to harm them.
Table: Poisons
Basic Poisons
| Poison | Type | Fort DC | Onset | Effect | Cure | Price |
| Konk | Ingested, Inhaled, Injury | 12 | Instant | Fall asleep for 2 minutes | Successful save | 40 gp |
| Bloodboil | Ingested, Inhaled, Injury | 12 | Instant | 1d6 damage | Successful save | 40 gp |
| Wooley Eye | Ingested, Inhaled, Injury | 12 | Instant | Dazed for 3 rounds | Successful save | 40 gp |
Harvested/Extracted Poisons
| Poison | Type | Fort DC | Onset | Effect | Cure | Price |
| Death’s Eye Spider | Injury | 12 | Instant | 1 Str | Successful save | 40 gp |
| Duskmoss | Inhaled | 13 | Instant | Unconscious 1 hr | Successful save | 120 gp |
| Ettercap Poison | Injury | 15 | Instant | 2d3 Dex | Successful save | 750 gp |
| Feyroot | Injury | 11 | Instant | 1 Con | Successful save | 40 gp |
| Giant Centipede Poison | Injury | 13 | Instant | 1 Dex | Successful save | 80gp |
| Grelm Saliva | Injury | 14 | Instant | 1 Con | Successful save | 490 gp |
| Neela Leaf Extract | Contact | 16 | Instant | 1 Con | Successful save | 300 gp |
| Sleepstill Weed | Injury or Ingested | 14 | Instant | Sleep 10 minutes | Successful save | 200 gp |
| Snake Venom | Injury | 11 | Instant | 1d3 Con | Successful save | 130 gp |
| Tentacle Crawler Poison | Injury | 16 | Instant | 1 Str | Successful save | 500 gp |
| Wyvere Vemon | Injury | 17 | Instant | 2d3 Con | Successful save | 3,000 gp |
Disease
When a character is injured by a contaminated attack, touches an item smeared with diseased matter, or consumes disease-tainted food or drink, they must make an immediate Fortitude saving throw. If they succeed, the disease has no effect—their immune system has fought off the infection. If they fail, they take damage after an incubation period. Once per day afterward, they must make a successful Fortitude saving throw to avoid repeated damage. Two successful saving throws in a row indicate that they have fought off the disease and recover, taking no more damage.
If a disease is Permanent, it can only be cured with a cure disease spell. Most permanent diseases have herbal medicines that can negate the ill effects for a limited time.
These Fortitude saving throws can be rolled secretly so that the player doesn’t know whether the disease has taken hold.
Disease Descriptions
Diseases have various symptoms and are spread through a number of vectors. The characteristics of several typical diseases are summarized on Table: Diseases and defined below.
Type
The disease’s method of delivery—ingested, inhaled, via injury, or contact. Keep in mind that some injury diseases may be transmitted by as small an injury as a flea bite and that most inhaled diseases can also be ingested (and vice versa).
DC
The Difficulty Class for the Fortitude saving throws to prevent infection, or (if the character has been infected), to prevent each instance of repeated damage, and to recover from the disease.
Incubation Period
The time before damage begins.
Effect
The ability damage the character takes after incubation and each day afterward.
Table: Diseases
| Disease | Type | Fort DC | Incubation | Frequency | Cure | Effect |
| Blinding sickness | Ingested | 16 | 1d3 days | 1/day | Two consecutive saves | 2 Str |
| Cackle fever | Inhaled | 16 | 1 day | 1/day | Two consecutive saves | 3 Wis |
| Daevar Fever | Injury | 13 | 1 day | 1/day | Two consecutive saves | 1 Con, 1d3 Str |
| Demon fever | Injury | 18 | 1 day | 1/day | Two consecutive saves | 2 Con |
| Devil chills | Injury | 14 | 1d4 days | 1/day | Three consecutive saves | 2 Str |
| Filth fever | Injury | 12 | 1d3 days | 1/day | Two consecutive saves | 1 Dex, 1 Con |
| Ghoul Fever | Injury | 12 | 1 day | 1/day | Two consecutive saves or 2 weeks time | 1d3 Con, 1d3 Dex |
| Mindfire | Inhaled | 12 | 1 day | 1/day | Two consecutive saves | 2 Int |
| Mummy rot | Contact | 16 | 1 day | 1/day | Remove curse, remove disease | 2 Con, 2 Cha |
| Neem Disease | Injury | 17 | 7 days | 1/day | Remove disease, seppa root medicine | 2 Con, -3 to Fort saves |
| Red ache | Injury | 15 | 1d3 days | 1/day | Two consecutive saves | 3 Str |
| Shakes | Contact | 13 | 1 day | 1/day | Two consecutive saves | 4 Dex |
| Slimy doom | Contact | 14 | 1 day | 1/day | Two consecutive saves | 2 Con |
Weather
The weather in Atheles is erratic and dangerous. One day the sun can bake the lands, leaving nothing behind dust and cracked mud. The next, a raging acid rain storm moves through, burning the characters and any animals caught out in it.
Spring/Summer, % roll
- 1-50: Clear
- 51-70: Overcast, Slight chance of rain.
- 71-85: Rain
- 86-95: Heavy Thunderstorm
- 96: Dust Storm
- 97: Tornado
- 98-99: Acid Rain Storm – 1d6 damage per hour in the rain.
- 100: Acid Rain electric storm – 1d6 damage per hour in the rain, massive lightning. 50% Chance for Demon Spawn.
Fall/Winter, % roll
- 1-25: Clear Moderate
- 26-50: Clear Cold
- 51-59: Overcast, Slight chance of rain. Cold but tolerable.
- 60-70: Overcast, Slight chance of freezing rain. Cold. Biting Wind.
- 71-85: Rain
- 86-95: Thundersnow
- 96: Blizzard
- 97: Tornado
- 98-99: Acid Snow Storm – 1d6 damage per hour in the rain.
- 100: Freezing Acid Rain electric storm – d6 damage per hour in the rain, massive lightning. 60% Chance for Demon Spawn.
Social
Bonding
As adventurers travel together, they talk, help, console, or annoy each other. When long periods of downtime or travel occur, they often Bond. An adventurer chooses someone else in the party, rolls d20 plus Cha, and refers to the chart below.
17+: Bonding
8-16: Reveal
7 or lower: Enmity
Bonding: The chosen character bonds with the other over a specific event or discussion.
Reveal: The chosen character reveals something about themselves to the other.
Enmity: The chosen character upsets the other with an action or conversation.
These interactions should be recorded in the Notes section of the player’s character sheet.