Wither Tokens Copy link
Wither represents corruption, instability, and the lingering influence of Vel upon reality.
Unlike Fatigue, Conditions, or Wounds, Wither is not a temporary burden—it is a permanent fracture that slowly reshapes a Hero from within.
WITHER SEEDLING
Tracked outside the bag · no Performance value
[FRONT & BACK]
WITHER-SEEDLINGS
Wither begins as Wither-Seedlings.
Seedlings represent small cracks in the soul where corruption has begun to take root. They are tracked outside the bag and do not directly affect Performance.
Heroes gain Seedlings through exposure to corrupted Threads, Wither-tainted creatures, dangerous locations, divine backlash, or other sources of corruption.
SEEDLING THRESHOLD
Seedling Max follows Origin Seed: Astralkin 5, Nuhlrin 4, Vathian 3, Orvah 3. Zaltar are immune and cannot gain Seedlings or Wither Tokens. When a corruptible Hero reaches their Seedling Max:
• Remove all Seedlings.
• Gain 1 Wither Token.
• Reset Seedlings to 0.
WITHER
0P & TRIGGER [FRONT & BACK]
WITHER
Wither Tokens enter the Performance Bag.
Each Wither Token:
• Provides 0 Value.
• Triggers a corruption effect when drawn.
Wither cannot be removed through ordinary rest or recovery.
Origin | Seedling Max | Wither Max |
|---|---|---|
Astralkin, except Zaltar | 5 | 3 |
Nuhlrin | 4 | 3 |
Vathian | 3 | 3 |
Orvah | 3 | 3 |
Zaltar | Immune | Immune |
STAGES OF CORRUPTION Copy link
1 Wither — Tainted Copy link
Reality flickers around you.
2 Wither — Corrupted Copy link
Your mind, emotions, and Threads become unstable.
3 Wither — Unmade Copy link
You are consumed by corruption and transformed into something from below.
Your Hero is lost.
PURIFYING WITHER Copy link
Seedlings may be removed through sanctuaries, rites, sacrifice, Sanction, or powerful divine intervention.
True Wither is far more difficult to remove and typically requires extraordinary effort, rare boons, or major story events.
PURITY · THE BURDEN OF THE PURGECopy link
After an Astralkin purifies Wither, add a Purity token to that Astralkin’s Hero Bag. It is the burden left by the purge, not a Boon, a Reserve, or a new Wither Token.
Purity has value 0 (0V). It occupies an ordinary draw slot and contributes no Power when drawn. It remains through three resolved Major Time draws, then evaporates and is removed from the bag. If already part of a locked or resolved Performance, remove it at Reset after that Performance finishes.
Purity does not replace Potential, erase Seedlings by itself, or grant automatic immunity. The purification action must still be possible under its own rules. The zero-value burden is separate from the act that removes Wither.
