Aspirations
An Aspiration represents a concrete goal your character strives to achieve. It may be a quest they pursue, a mystery they seek to unravel, an invention they hope to perfect, or any other ambition that requires multiple discoveries, trials, or accomplishments along the way.
Aspirations are not mundane or routine tasks. They should involve challenge, risk, complications, or meaningful effort. Every character should begin play with at least one aspiration.
The GM may introduce aspirations through the campaign's central story, but players are also encouraged to create their own. Player-created aspirations should be discussed with the GM to ensure they fit the setting, narrative, and interests of the group.
A GM may wish to limit the number of aspirations a character can pursue at one time. We recommend a limit of 3 aspirations for newer players and 5 aspirations for more experienced players.
SHORT AND LONG-TERM ASPIRATIONS
Aspirations may be short or long-term.
A short-term aspiration represents a goal the character hopes to achieve within the next few days. It should feel attainable but still require effort, determination, or sacrifice. Even if the task would be simple for another character, it should present a meaningful challenge for the character pursuing it, whether through external obstacles or internal struggles.
A long-term aspiration represents an ambition that may take weeks, months, or even years to complete. Examples include avenging a fallen parent, mastering a legendary technique, uncovering the truth behind a disappearance, or seeking redemption for past deeds.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Achievements measure meaningful progress toward fulfilling an aspiration.
Whenever your character accomplishes a difficult, dangerous, or significant task that meaningfully advances an aspiration, they gain an achievement and mark it on their character sheet. Each time you gain an achievement, you also gain 1 Surge.
Once your achievement track is filled, gain 1 XP and erase all marked achievements from that track. If the aspiration remains unfulfilled, continue earning achievements and repeating this process as your character progresses toward their goal.
The GM determines whether an action qualifies as an achievement. Repeating the same action rarely counts; achievements should reflect varied effort, discovery, meaningful progress, or overcoming significant challenges.
For example, crafting a mithril item while striving to perfect mithril craftsmanship might earn an achievement. Repeating the same process repeatedly would not. However, discovering new formulas, techniques, tools, or materials during adventures could each qualify as achievements, provided they arise through exploration, experimentation, and engagement with the unfolding story.
The GM determines whether an accomplishment meaningfully advances an aspiration, even if the character does not yet realize how it brings them closer to their goal.
FULFILLING AN ASPIRATION
When an aspiration is fulfilled, immediately restore your Surges to their maximum value, gain 3 XP, and remove the aspiration from your character sheet.
A fulfilled aspiration should be replaced with a new goal that reflects your character's evolving ambitions and circumstances.
ABANDONING ASPIRATIONS
You may spend 1 Surge or gain 1 Breaking Point to abandon a short-term aspiration.
To abandon a long-term aspiration, you must both spend 1 Surge and gain 1 Breaking Point.
SESSION LIMITS
You can gain a maximum of 3 achievements toward any single aspiration during a session. Additional accomplishments that would qualify as achievements typically do not count until the next session, unless the GM determines otherwise.
This limit encourages characters to pursue multiple goals and prevents a single aspiration from overshadowing the rest of the campaign.