Cairn: Cosmic Edition System Reference Document

Cairn: Cosmic Edition is an adventure game for one facilitator (the Warden) and at least one other player. Players act as adventurers wandering the deadly yet wondrous Stars, plumbing the depths of the Forest of the Stars for glory, knowledge, or fortune. Whatever their reasons, they must brave the many perils of this un-wood, and hope that they may return alive.

Index

• Overview
• Principles for Wardens
• Principles for Players
• Character Creation
• Equipment
• Rules
• Bestiary
• 100 Spells
• Rules Summary

Overview

Cairn: Cosmic Edition keeps these design philosophies in mind:

Neutrality

The Warden’s role is to portray the rules, situations, NPCs, and narrative clearly, while acting as a neutral arbiter.

Archetypes

Archetypes reflect your role in the world, and offer a justification for why you can access the Stars. They are meant to shine light on a specific facet of your character, and give you prompts (but not definitions) and possible perspectives as to the identity of that character.

Death

Characters may be powerful, but they are also vulnerable to harm in its many forms. Death is always around the corner, but it is never random or without warning.

Fiction First

Dice do not always reflect an obstacle’s difficulty or its outcome. Instead, success and failure are arbitrated by the Warden in dialogue with the players, based on in-world elements.

Growth

Characters are changed through in-world advancement, gaining new skills and abilities by surviving dangerous events and overcoming obstacles. This is enhanced by archetypes (both gaining an archetype and advancing within one), which represent set methods of advancement that should be coupled with in-world, narrative and diegetic triggers.

Player Choice

Players should always understand the reasons behind the choices they’ve made, and information about potential risks should be provided freely and frequently.

Principles

The Warden and the players each have guidelines that help foster a specific play experience defined by critical thinking, exploration, and an emergent narrative.

Shared Objectives

Players trust one another to engage with the shared setting, character goals, and party challenges. Therefore, the party is typically working together towards a common goal, as a team.

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Principles for Wardens

Information

• Provide useful information about the game world as the characters explore it.
• Players do not need to roll dice to learn about their circumstances.
• Be helpful and direct with your answers to their questions.
• Respond honestly, describe consistently, and always let them know they can keep asking questions.

Difficulty

• Default to context and realism rather than numbers and mechanics.
• If something the players want to do is sincerely impossible, no roll will allow them to do it.
• Is what the player describes and how they leverage the situation sensible? Let it happen.
• Saves cover a great deal of uncertain situations and are often all that is necessary for risky actions.

Preparation

• The game world is organic, malleable and random. It intuits and makes sharp turns.
• Use random tables and generators to develop situations, not stories or plots.
• NPCs remember what the PCs say and do,and how they affect the world.
• NPCs don’t want to die. Infuse their own self-interest and will to live into every personality.

Narrative Focus

• Emergent experience of play is what matters, not math or character abilities. Give the players weapon trainers and personal quests to facilitate improvement and specialization.
• Pay attention to the needs and wants of the players,then put realistic opportunities in their path.
• A dagger to your throat will kill you, regardless of your expensive armor and impressive training.

Danger

• The game world produces real risk of pain and death for the player characters.
• Telegraph serious danger to players when it is present. The more dangerous, the more obvious.
• Put traps in plain sight and let the players take time to figure out a solution.
• Give players opportunities to solve problems and interact with the world.

Treasure

• A Treasure anything that attracts the players. This can mean information, sources of power, literal wealth, or valuable artefacts.
• Treasure is highly valuable, almost always bulky, and rarely useful beyond its worth and prestige.
• Relics are not Treasure, though they are useful and interesting.
• Use Treasure as a lure to exotic locations under the protection of intimidating foes.

Choice

• Give players a solid choice to force outcomes when the situation lulls.
• Use binary " so, A or B?" responses when their intentions are vague.
• Work together with this conversational progress to keep the game moving.
• Ensure that the player character’s actions leave their mark on the game world.

Die of Fate

• Occasionally you will want an element of randomness (e.g. the weather, unique character knowledge, etc.).
• In these situations, roll 1d6. A roll of 5-6 or more generally favors the players. 3-4, trouble or bad luck on the horizon. 1-2, trouble around the corner.

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Principles for Players

Agency

• Attributes and related saves do not define your character. They are tools.
• Don’t ask only what your character would do, ask what you would do, too.
• Be creative with your intuition, items, and connections.

Teamwork

• Seek consensus from the other players before barreling forward.
• Stay on the same page about goals and limits, respecting each other and accomplishing more as a group than alone.

Exploration

• Asking questions and listening to detail is more useful than any stats, items, or skills you have.
• Take the Warden’s description without suspicion, but don’t shy away from seeking more information.
• There is no single correct way forward.

Talking

• Treat NPCs as if they were real people, and rely on your curiosity to safely gain information and solve problems.
• You’ll find that most people are interesting and will want to talk things through before getting violent.

Caution

• Fighting is a choice and rarely a wise one; consider whether violence is the best way to achieve your goals.
• Try to stack the odds in your favor and retreat when things seem unfavorable.

Planning

• Think of ways to avoid your obstacles through reconnaissance,subtlety,and fact-finding.
• Do some research and ask around about your objectives.

Ambition

• Set goals and use your meager means to take steps forward.
• Expect nothing. Earn your reputation.
• Keep things moving forward and play to see what happens.

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Character Creation

Name, Background & Traits

First, choose or roll a name for your character from the Name & Background tables, then their background, which informs their knowledge and potential skills.

Next, roll for the rest of your character’s traits (appearance, speech, mannerisms, beliefs, reputation, etc.) on the Character Traits tables.

Finally, roll for their age (2d20+10).

Ability Scores

Player Characters (PCs) have just three attributes:
Strength (STR), Dexterity (DEX), and Willpower (WIL). When creating a PC, the player should roll 3d6 for each of their character’s ability scores, in order. They may then swap any two of the results.

Example:
Ines rolls for her character’s STR, resulting in a 2, a 4, and a 6 , totaling 12. The next two ability rolls result in a 9 for DEX and a 13 for WIL . She decides to swap the 12 and the 9 , for a character with 9 STR , 12 DEX and 13 WIL.

Hit Protection

Roll 1d6 to determine your PC’s starting Hit Protection (HP), which reflects their ability to avoid damage in combat. HP does not indicate a character’s health or fortitude; nor do they lose it for very long (see Healing). If an attack takes a PC’s HP exactly to 0, the player must roll on the Scars table.

Inventory

Characters have a total of 10 inventory slots: a backpack with six slots, one slot for each hand, and two slots for their upper body (such as the belt, chest, or head). The backpack can also double as an emergency sleeping bag but only if emptied of its contents.

Most items take up one slot, and small items can be bundled together. Slots are abstract and can be rearranged per the Warden’s discretion.

Bulky items take up two slots and are typically two-handed or awkward to carry. Anyone carrying a full inventory (e.g. filling all 10 slots) is reduced to 0HP.

A PC cannot carry more items than their inventory allows. Carts (which must be pulled with both hands), horses, or mules can increase inventory. Hirelings can also be paid to carry equipment.

Starting Gear

All PCs begin with:

• Three days’ rations (one slot)
• A torch (one slot)
• 3d6 gold pieces

Roll on the Starting Gear tables to determine your PC’s armor, weapons, tools, and equipment. If indicated, roll on the Spellbooks table with a d100 (or roll 2d10, using one die as the ones place,and one as the tens place).

See the Equipment List for related armor, damage, and slot values. Smaller items can sometimes be bundled together into one slot.

If you would like something closer to traditional classes, refer to the list of Optional Gear Packages.

Name & Background (d20)

Female Names

Male Names

Surnames

Background

Character Traits (d10)

Physique

Skin

Hair

Face

Speech

Clothing

Virtue

Vice

Reputation

Misfortunes

Starting Gear (d20)

Armor

Helmets & Shields

Weapons

Expeditionary Gear

Tools

Trinkets

Bonus Item (roll on table indicated)

Spellbooks (d100)

Equipment List (Prices in Gold Pieces)

Armor

Weapons

Gear & Tools

Optional Gear Packages

Dowser

Dwarf

Elf

Fighter

Friar

Knight

Magic User

Thief

Ranger

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Rules

Abilities
Each of the three abilities are used in different circumstances (see saves , below).

Strength (STR): Used for saves requiring physical power, like lifting gates, bending bars, resisting poison, etc.

Dexterity (DEX): Used for saves requiring poise, speed, and reflexes like dodging, climbing, sneaking, balancing, etc.

Willpower (WIL): Used for saves to persuade,deceive,interrogate,intimidate, charm,provoke,manipulate spells,etc.

Saves
A save is a roll to avoid bad outcomes from risky choices and circumstances. PCs roll a d20 for an appropriate ability score. If they roll_equal to or under that ability score_, they pass. Otherwise, they fail. A 1 is always a success, and a 20 is always a failure.

Example: Bea encounters a group of heavily-armed Goblins standing guard before a tunnel entrance. Her player carefully plots a course, recognizing that her 13 DEX makes sneaking past the guards the best option. She rolls a d20, and resulting in a 10 – a success!

Deprivation & Fatigue
A PC deprived of a crucial need (such as food or rest) is unable to recover HP or ability scores. Anyone deprived for more than a day adds Fatigue to their inventory, one for each day. Each Fatigue occupies one slot and lasts until they are able to recuperate (such as a full night’s rest in a safe spot).
PCs can also gain Fatigue by casting spells or through events in the fiction.

Healing
Resting for a few moments and having a drink of water restores lost HP but leaves the party exposed. Ability loss can usually be restored with a week’s rest facilitated by a healer or other appropriate source of expertise. Some of these services may be free, while more expedient or magical means of recovery may come at a cost.

Armor
Before calculating damage to HP, subtract the target’s Armor value from the result of damage rolls. Shields and similar armor provides a bonus defense (e.g. +1 Armor), but only while the item is held or worn.
No one can have more than 3 Armor.
Shields, gauntlets, and helms may provide additional benefits according to their use.

Reactions
When the PCs encounter an NPC whose reaction to the party is not obvious, the Warden may roll 2d6 and consult the following table:

Morale
Enemies must pass a WIL save to avoid fleeing when they take their first casualty and again when they lose half their number. Some groups may use their leader’s WIL in place of their own. Lone foes must save when they’re reduced to 0HP. Morale does not affect PCs.

Hirelings
PCs can hire hirelings to aid them in their expeditions. To create a hireling, roll 3d6 for each ability score, then give them 1d6 HP and a simple weapon (d6), then roll on the Character Creation tables to further flesh them out. Hirelings cost between 1-3gp per day, or a share of whatever treasure the party obtains.

Wealth & Treasure
The most common coin is the gold piece (gp), which is equal to 10 silver pieces (sp) and 100 copper pieces (cp).

Treasure is highly valuable, usually bulky,and rarely useful beyond its value.It can be a lure, taking PCs to exotic and even dangerous locations, and is often under the protection of intimidating foes.

Villages,strongholds, and ports of call barter and trade based on the local rarity and value of an item or commodity.

Spellbooks & Scrolls
Spellbooks contain a single spell and take up one slot. They cannot be transcribed or created; instead they are recovered from places like tombs, dungeons, and manors.

Spellbooks sometimes display unusual properties or limitations, such as producing a foul or unearthly smell when opened, possessing an innate intelligence,or being legible only when held in moonlight.

Spellbooks will attract the attention of those who seek the arcane power within, and it is considered dangerous to display them openly.

Scrolls are similar to Spellbooks, however:

• They do not take up an inventory slot.
• They do not cause fatigue.
• They disappear after one use.

Casting Spells
Anyone can cast a spell by holding a Spellbook in both hands and reading its contents aloud. They must then add a Fatigue to inventory, occupying one slot. Given time and safety, PCs can_enhance_a spell (e.g., affecting multiple targets, increasing its power, etc.) without any additional cost. If the PC is deprived or in danger, the Warden may require a PC to make a WIL save to avoid any ill-effects from casting the spell. Consequences of failure are on par with the intended effect, and may result in added Fatigue, the destruction of the Spellbook, injury, and even death.

Relics
Relics are items imbued with a magical spell or power. They do not cause Fatigue. Relics usually have a limited use, as well as a recharge condition. A few examples:

Honeyclasp , 3 charges. A rusted ring that shrinks the bearer to 6"tall. Recharge: place in a thimble-sized cup of royal jelly.

Falconer’s Friend , 1 charge. A bolt-shaped wand carrying the _Haste_spell. Recharge: fire from a crossbow and recover.

Staff of Silence , 1 charge. This blackened rod temporarily disables all magic within 50ft. Recharge: bathe in the light of a full moon.

Leycap , 1 use. Anyone ingesting this green-flecked mushroom loses a Fatigue, but is then required to make a WIL save to avoid its addictive properties. A fail leaves the PC deprived and unable to focus until they can eat another leycap, providing only a brief reprieve from the addiction.

Combat

Rounds
The game typically plays without strict time accounting. In a fight or circumstance where timing is helpful, use rounds to keep track of when something occurs. A round is roughly ten seconds of in-game time and is comprised of turns.

Actions
On their turn, a character may move up to 40ft and take up to one action. This may be_casting a spell, attacking, making a second move, or some other reasonable action.

Each round, the PCs declare what they are doing before dice are rolled. If a character attempts something risky, the Warden calls for a save for appropriate players or NPCs. All actions, attacks, and movements take place simultaneously.

Turns
The Warden will telegraph the most likely actions taken by NPCs or monsters. At the start of combat, each PC must make a DEX save to act before their opponents.

Example: Bea has accidentally stumbled onto the stomping grounds of a massive Wood Troll. In order to make a move before the Troll, she makes a DEX save. She fails, and the Troll gets to attack first.

Attacking & Damage
The attacker rolls their weapon die and subtracts the target’s armor, then deals the remaining total to their opponent’s HP. Unarmed attacks always do 1d4 damage.

Example: The Wood Troll roars, swinging its club at Bea, who has 5 HP. The club does 1d10 damage and the Warden rolls a 4. They subtract 1 to account for Bea’s leather armor, leaving Bea with 2 HP remaining.

Multiple Attackers
If multiple attackers target the same foe, roll all damage dice and keep the single highest result.

Attack Modifiers
If fighting from a position of weakness (such as through cover or with bound hands), the attack is impaired and the attacker must roll 1d4 damage_regardless_of the attacks damage die.

If fighting from a position of advantage (such as against a helpless foe or through a daring maneuver), the attack is enhanced , allowing the attacker to roll 1d12 damage instead of their normal die.

Dual Weapons
If attacking with two weapons at the same time, roll both damage dice and keep the single highest result.

Blast
Attacks with the blast quality affect all targets in the noted area, rolling separately for each affected character. Blast refers to anything from explosions to huge cleaving onslaughts to the impact of a meteorite. If unsure how many targets can be affected, roll the related damage die for a result.

Scars
When damage to a PC reduces their HP to exactly 0, they are sometimes changed irrevocably. See the Scars for more.

Critical Damage
Damage that reduces a target’s HP below zero decreases a target’s STR by the amount remaining. They must then make a STR save to avoid critical damage. Additionally, some enemies will have special abilities or effects that are triggered when their target fails a critical damage save.

Any PC that suffers critical damage cannot do anything but crawl weakly, grasping for life. If given aid and rest, they will stabilize. If left untreated, they die within the hour.

Ability Score Loss
If a PC’s STR is reduced to 0, they die. If their DEX is reduced to 0, they are paralyzed. If their WIL is reduced to 0, they are delirious. Complete DEX and WIL loss renders the character unable to act until they are restored through extended rest or by extraordinary means.

Unconsciousness & Death
When a character dies, the player is free to create a new character or take control of a hireling. They immediately join the party in order to reduce downtime.

Detachments
Large groups of similar combatants fighting together are treated as a single detachment. When a detachment takes critical damage, it is routed or significantly weakened. When it reaches 0 STR, it is destroyed.

Attacks against detachments by individuals are impaired (excluding blast damage).
Attacks against individuals by detachments are enhanced and deal blast damage.

Retreat
Running away from a dire situation always requires a successful DEX save, as well as a safe destination to run to.

Scars
When an attack reduces a PC’s HP to exactly 0, they are uniquely impacted. Look up the result on the table below based on the total damage taken:

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Bestiary

Root Goblin
4 HP, 8 STR, 14 DEX, 8 WIL, spear (d6)

• Avoid combat unless they have the advantage (such as greater numbers).
• Guard their stolen goods to the death.
• Prize Spellbooks; willing to trade.

Hooded Men
12 HP, 9 STR, 12 DEX, 14 WIL, leystaff (d8), a Spellbook (Choose one: Charm, Hypnotize, Push/Pull, Shield)

• The Watchers of the Wood; a cult that derive their power from leylines, rune stones, and the like.
• Critical damage: leech a part of the victim’s soul (1d4 WIL damage).

Cobblehounds
12 HP, 2 Armor, 14 STR, 1 DEX, 8 WIL, bite (d10)

• Immobile constructs typically used as guardians to great tombs or artifacts.
• Unaffected by mundane persuasion techniques - but do love a goodb one.

Wood Troll
12 HP, 15 STR, 12 DEX, 7 WIL, claws and bite (d8+d8 blast)

• As an action, can recover lost HP.
• Critical damage: moss and twigs begin growing out of target’s wounds.

Frost Elf
14 HP, 1 Armor, 8 STR, 13 DEX, 14 WIL, icicle dagger (d6), a Spellbook (Choose one: Sleep, Teleport, Detect Magic)

• Beautiful, amoral, andlong-lived.
• Resistant to most forms ofmagic.

Boggart
3 HP, 4 STR, 17 DEX, 13 WIL

• A wild, hairy trickster that takes pleasure in being a minor nuisance.
• Prizes relics and shiny trinkets above all else but unwilling to trade for coin.
• Boggarts have names that describe their true nature. Knowing their true name allows one to control a Boggart.

Creating Monsters

Use the following template to model any more sophisticated Monster or NPC:

Name X HP, X Armor, X STR, X DEX, X WIL, Weapon (dX, special items, qualities)

• Engaging descriptor of appearance or demeanor
• Quirk, tactic, or peculiarity making this NPC unique
• Special effect or critical damage consequence

General Principles
Ability Scores: 3 is deficient, 6 is weak, 10 is average, 14 is noteworthy, and 18 is legendary. Adjust as necessary.

• Give average creatures 3 HP, give hardy ones 6 HP, and serious threats get 10+ HP.
• Use flavor and style to help them stand out. Players will remember a pig-faced humanoid looking for his missing sheep more easily than a generic goblin archer.
• Use critical damage to lean into the threat or strangeness of any aggressive NPC.
• Remember that HP is Hit Protection , not Hit Points. It’s a measure of resilience, luck, and gumption - not health.

Converting from OSR Games

• Give 1 HP per HD for most creatures.
• Most humanoids have at least 4HP.
• Morale can also be used as a baseline.

Some pointers:

• Is it good at avoiding a hit? Give it HP.
• Does it soak up damage? Give it Armor.
• Is it strong? Give it a high STR.
• Is it nimble? Give it high DEX.
• Is it charismatic? Give it high WIL.

Damage die are roughly the same, though armed attacks do at least 1d6 damage.

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100 Spells

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Rules Summary

ACTIONS
On their turn, a character may move up to 40ft and take up to one action. Actions may include casting a spell, attacking, making a second move, or other reasonable activities. Actions, attacks, and movements take place simultaneously. Whenever turn order is uncertain, the PCs should make a DEX save to see if they go before their enemies.

Retreating from a dangerous situation always requires a successful DEX save, as well as a safe destination to run to.

ABILITIES
STR: Brawn, prowess & resistance.
DEX: Dodging, sneaking & reflexes.
WIL: Persuasion, intimidation & magic.

SAVES

• Roll a d20 equal to or under an ability.
• 1 is always a success, 20 is always a failure.

HIT PROTECTION
HP indicates a PC’s ability to avoid getting hurt. It is lost during combat & recovered after a few moment’s rest.

INVENTORY
PCs have 10 inventory slots: four on their body and six in their backpack (which acts as a sleeping bag if emptied). Most items take up a one slot, but smaller items can be bundled. Bulky items take up two slots and are awkward or difficult to carry.

Filling all ten item slots reduces a PC to 0 HP. PCs cannot carry more than their inventory allows, though carts & horses may provide an increase in slots.

DEPRIVATION
Deprived PCs cannot recover HP. If deprived for more than a day,they add a Fatigue to inventory. Fatigue occupies one slot and lasts until they can recover in safety. This effect is cumulative.

HEALING
A moment’s rest and a swig of water will restore lost HP, but may leave the party vulnerable. Ability loss requires a week’s rest and the aid of a skilled healer.

SPELLBOOKS Spellbooks contain a single spell and take up one item slot. Anyone can cast a spell by holding a Spellbook in both hands and reading its contents aloud. Casting a spell adds Fatigue to the PC’s inventory.

Given time and safety, PCs can enhance a spell without any additional cost. If they are deprived or in danger, a WIL save may be required to avoid terrible consequences.

COMBAT
The attacker rolls their weapon die and subtracts the target’s Armor, then deals the remaining total to their opponent’s HP.

Before calculating damage to HP, subtract the target’s Armor value from the result of damage rolls. Shields and similar armor provides a bonus defense (e.g. +1 Armor), but only while the item is held or worn.

No one can have more than 3 Armor.

Unarmed attacks always do 1d4 damage. If multiple attackers target the same foe, roll all damaged ice and keep the single highest result. If attacking with two weapons at the same time, roll both damage dice and keep the highest.

If an attack is impaired , the damage die is reduced to 1d4, regardless of weapon. If the attack is enhanced , the attacker rolls 1d12. Attacks with the blast quality affect all area targets, rolling separately for each.

DAMAGE
If an attack takes a PC’s HP exactly to 0, the player rolls on the Scars table.

Damage that reduces a target’s HP below 0 decreases their STR by the remainder. They must then make a STR save to avoid critical damage. Failure takes them out of combat, dying if left untreated.

Having STR 0 means death; having DEX 0 is paralysis; having WIL 0 is delirium.

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