Emblems of their Dying Breaths Quickstart: VERT SCALE MANSION

VERT SCALE MANSION is a free quickstart adventure for Emblems of their Dying Breaths, an action-exploration roadtrip RPG by Aaron Jolliffe. 

Emblems of their Dying Breaths is a tabletop role-playing game inspired by video games like Metroid and Persona 5 Strikers. In Emblems, you play as a group of Scavengers; powerful, capable explorers who hunt for magical relics called Emblems by delving into impossible structures formed by supernatural energy radiating through the landscape. By entering these "hideaways" and finding the Emblems that formed them, you turn their powers into your own.

VERT SCALE MANSION is designed to teach a group of players all the basics of Emblems organically through play. Think of it like a "tutorial level" for the full game. This adventure will take you and your group through character creation and guide you through a complete hideaway, introducing the rules one step at a time so that you can learn as you play. By the end, you'll have a full crew of Scavengers that you can carry directly over to the full game!

Emblems of their Dying Breaths releases on May 24th, 2022!

Mechanics

This game is Illuminated, and is made using the LUMEN system created by Spencer Campbell of GilaRPGs. This game is not affiliated with Gila RPGs.

The LUMEN system is inspired by video games like Destiny, Overwatch, and Diablo, and how those games give players a small but powerful set of unique abilities to tear through waves of enemies. 

The rules for Emblems of their Dying Breaths and VERT SCALE MANSION are quick and easy to learn. Actions are resolved using a simple d6 pool system or through a Scavenger making use of one of their Powers. Combat is fast and flashy, with conflicts constantly changing and evolving.

For this demo adventure, we've laid out an entire hideaway to help teach you the basics, but in the full game, hideaways are built and expanded as the Scavengers explore them, so there's no need for any prep work before the group starts playing.

Credits

Layout, writing, game design, and graphic design for VERT SCALE MANSION and Emblems of their Dying Breaths were done by Aaron Jolliffe.

This game is Illuminated, and is made using the LUMEN system created by Spencer Campbell of GilaRPGs. This game is not affiliated with Gila RPGs.

It was created for the LUMEN Jam 2, which is filled with other action-packed and wildly impressive games. Be sure to take a look!