Paths¶
Paths are a Hero’s way of being. They are a balance between a nature and a role.
Role the Hero fills in the story the group is creating.
The Path of the Thief or the Path of the Believer fit into this category.
What the Hero is.
Path of the Artist or Path of Greed fit into this category
The Hero’s position in the world.
Path of Membership or Path of the Commander fit into this category.
Many paths blur the line between the three categories. Although many paths are listed, they are just examples. Players and groups are encouraged to create their own paths that fit their own needs. Custom paths should force the Hero to interact with Creation, they should never be purely internal.
When a Hero performs an act in furtherance of one of their paths they are considered to be Walking the Path. The first three times a Hero walks each of their paths in session, the Hero gains a Favor.
A Hero may also Step off a Path when they perform some action counter to the path they can choose to remove the Path from the Hero and receive three Favor.
Lastly, at an appropriate moment, the Hero may Complete the Path. Completion happens when the path has run its course and Hero chooses to shift their attention to something else. A thief may make a score and choose to complete their Path of the Thief and focus on something else. The triggering event should be some sort of high point along the path, which differentiates from Stepping off a Path.
When a Hero Completes a Path, they gain a new Path. Not all Paths have an obvious way they can be Completed.
The Hero starts the game with one free path. Additional paths can be acquired by spending 5xp.
Sample Paths:
Path of Faith
The Hero is a pious believer and defender of their faith.
Walking the Path: Convert someone to the Hero’s faith, defend the faith in the face of consequences.
Stepping off the Path: Renounce the faith.
Path of the Guardian
There is someone important to the Hero whom the Hero is sworn to defend and whose wellbeing the Hero puts above their own safety.
Walking the Path: Make a decision to safeguard the person instead of another course of action or the Hero puts themselves at risk to ensure the safety of the person.
Stepping off the Path: Choose not to protect the person.
Completing the Path: The person (or someone who can) releases the Hero from their duty.
Path of the Revolutionary
The powers that be have done the Hero or their loved ones wrong, and they will overthrow them or die trying.
Walking the Path: The Hero puts themselves at risk to oppose the status quo.
Stepping off the Path: Accept favors from the rulers for the Hero’s support/action/inaction on their behalf.
Complete the Path: Overflow the rulers.