History Is Less Certain Than We Are Taught

We are taught that written history starts 3400 BC, but you’ve heard the songs from long, long ago and far, far away. There is something dark awaiting at the edges of perception...it has been here before…

This quality allows the runner to take the following knowledge skills:

• The 4th World
• The Enemy
• The Scourge
  • Rolling these have different mechanics for glitches. Rolling more ones than hits results in a glitch, rolling any ones and no hits results in a critical glitch. This knowledge is the embodiment of an information hazard. This is information that can doom everyone, but if it is applied correctly perhaps it can be used to save us all...or maybe twist us all to your whims.
  • In addition, buying a rank of these knowledge skills requires a run, coming across an artifact or talking with someone with more knowledge. The only exception is for one rank brought at character creation. Characters exposed to this knowledge can shut their minds to it and can not be forced to take this quality.
  • If you glitch or share this knowledge in a mainstream setting, apply a rank of “An Overwhelming Despair” or “A Terrible Fascination”. The following things can also happen at GM discretion. From least to most severe:
    • -3 Reputation, Astral Protection Society
    • -3 Reputation, Draco Foundation
    • +3 Reputation, <Local Area> Elder God Cultists (This isn’t a good thing)
    • Someone who should overhear, overheard
      • 1 Notoriety and Public Awareness
      • -10 Reputation, Astral Protection Society
      • -10 Reputation, Draco Foundation
    • Wanted Quality from the Astral Protection Society or Draco Foundation
    • An enemy contact, dedicated to removing you as a threat to metahumanity
    • An enemy Elder God cultist who thinks you will unlock the secrets of old before them, which can not stand.
    • The attention of a Great Dragon
    • The attention of a Terror

Negative Quality - An Overwhelming Despair - 15 Karma

• Requires: History Is Less Certain Than We Are Taught
  • The 4th world had stone citadels with armies of adepts to fight the horrors, our glass towers and fragile lasers can’t stop them… An understanding of what happened brings an understanding of what is inevitable. It is a heavy weight. This quality can be applied 5 times, upon the 5th application, your character is consumed with despair. Every 5th and successive application of this quality, the player may make the following choices with their character:
    • Retire the character,
    • Burn edge to remain in play,
    • Complete a semi-prime or prime run to remain in play.
  • Every rank also applies a negative 2 social modifier as the realization dawns that no one can be saved and nothing can be done.
  • This quality requires a run to buy off.

Negative Quality - A Terrible Fascination - 15 Karma

• Requires: History Is Less Certain Than We Are Taught
  • The 4th world scholars said it was possible to harness unknowable power...maybe they just didn’t have the technology to ascend. An understanding of the powerful magic and entities in the 4th world brings a temptation to use this power. The world can bow to you. This quality can be applied 5 times, upon the 5th application, your character falls to the terror’s machinations and risks becoming their agent. Every 5th and successive application of this quality, the player may make the following choices with their character:
    • Retire the character,
    • Burn edge to remain in play,
    • Complete a semi-prime or prime run to remain in play.
  • Every rank also applies a negative -2 to composure tests to avoid using your forbidden knowledge or expanding it.
  • This quality requires a run to buy off.