Home - Page

Tag: background

Wylden Hag Hunters

Posted on January 3, 2026

Steel Realms
Wylden Hag Hunters of The Wyldes form a primitive Wylde Bond with the great northern forests. This is a distinct aspect of the Cultural Experience of The Totemic Wylden. From this they can smell the blood of the Hag’s Hatred of Rhyl and those bonded to them from a mile away. Only the tribes folk of The Wyldes produce the little known Hag Hunters due to the unique situation of the Plague of Hags from the The Grand Duchy of Rhyl.

The Hag Hunters typically lead a war band that is summoned by tribe elders and empowered using the power of the Pipes of the Kur-Authba.

Signifying Element: Hag Hunters have scars upon their faces. Wylden Hag Hunters use bone needles made from left over splinters of giant bones from the sacred grove where the Pipes of the Kur-Authba are stored to push pieces of cold iron under the skin while breathing the fumes of burning Witchwood. This can work to give a character additional Prestige in some situations.

Steel Realms Available Backgrounds

i20™ Experience Details

-1 Charisma | +1 Wisdom (min 12)

  • The character gains the Survival skill @1
  • -1 HP permanent sacrifice; Their faces are heavily scarred to be able to hold the power that works against the faey and hags in particular.
  • Mana Reservoir: 2 + Any Hag within 30′ x their Survival skill level will use 1 Synergy and alert the hunter.
    – The character will always be alerted when a Hag is within 10′, automatically using 1 Synergy (assuming they have any in their reservoir).
  • The character gains Advantage on any checks to resist hag powers.

iCore iCore™ Experience Details

Pages on the web site lean towards i20™ text flavor, discrepancies will be noted in the iCore™ tab.

Realm's Aptitude Powers: Divine, Occult, and Psychic

Tags: , ,

Undead Hunter (Steel Realms Background)

Posted on December 21, 2025

Steel Realms

The Undead Hunter Background of the Steel Realms are typically from Kaald or The Hinterlands, Freelands, The Grand Duchy of Rhyl, or are Exilion.

Characters following this path are known to wander among stores of records, reading accounts, histories & stories, attend events at cemeteries and mausoleums. They avoids energetic living gatherings, focusing on the stillness, the silence and accouterments.

This background makes little sense for characters not pursuing the Followers path of a priest of some sort, a holy warrior, or some further experience that enhances how effective they are at hunting and destroying undead. Usually where a great many are close by – the Fallen Kingdom of Dundaria, home of the Lich Lords. There is a special group of these in the north known as Rhylian Undead Hunters.

Signifying Element: Undead Hunters have no specific mark upon them. Most, as a sign of their dedication and trade, have scars placed upon the palm of their hand with a symbol of the faith that they prefer or that sponsored their learning. This can work to give a character additional Prestige in some situations.

Steel Realms Available Backgrounds

i20™ Experience Details

-1 Charisma | Min. Intelligence 10

iCore iCore™ Experience Details

Pages on the web site lean towards i20™ text flavor, discrepancies will be noted in the iCore™ tab.

Realm's Aptitude Powers: Divine, Occult, and Psychic

Tags: ,

Darkland Scout (Steel Realms Background)

Posted on January 10, 2025 in Steel-Realms

Steel Realms

The Darkland Scout is a specialist at survival in the brutal and cold Dark Lands of the Steel Realms. They are not an official World Watcher order, but do serve some of the functions, just specializing in the Dark Lands or any Orrish presence from there really. The are trained from an early age to endure the terrible conditions of the sunless world of the lands under the rule of the gods of darkness under the Curtain of Night. They are a dour, pessimistic lot usually after exposure to the harsh, drab environment and its inhabitants. Unlike the full Darkland Rangers, they only stay at the fringes of the blighted lands in and west of the Tolkisson mountain range and report in frequently using means established for their region to specific authorities (Rangers, Druids, local authorities, etc.). It is not taken lightly, as it has serious potential negative effects. Many times those worst affected are sent deep into the lands of light and away from the Dark Lands and Orrish encounters. It is said the the White Sisters have been able to help a few recover.

The Darkland Scout Background is a character Background; It follows their common conventions. It is only available as a Background Option for the Steel Realms. It is a form of Time of Service and adds +4 years (equivalent for character species) to the starting character age @Character Inception.

Signifying Element: Darkland Scouts have the druids mark upon them – a Wyldsign symbol that minor mystic powers can trigger if the character lets it. This is placed upon the palm of a hand of the character’s choosing. This can work to give a character additional Prestige in some situations.

Equipment: Each iVerse Setting has a Cost Portion which a character starts with to buy goods with; Also see the "Characters" document for the setting. In addition to general purchasable gear, PC characters are assumed to come from "Middling" circumstances and begin play with equipment (portable Toolkits and/or stationary Work Stations) related to their capabilities granted by Race/Background/Archetype/Cultural experiences.
  • Typically all characters with Trade/Vocational (Craft/Artisan) Practices will have an appropriate Vocational/Trade/Craft Toolkit or station + setting appropriate sturdy work clothes and safety gear.
  • While Backgrounds don’t generally grant a full Trekking Kit, they do grant rudimentary items for traveling: a few days common clothes, shelter, transportation of gear, bedroll/bag, & sitting materials (toiletry, cleaning, utensils, lighting)…
Steel Realms Available Backgrounds

i20™ Background Details

It is assumed you are familiar with the 2014 Background List. Check with your GM to see what is supported in your Setting.

There is no Background vocational ASI option for this.

Revealing the Signifying Mark: Thaumaturgy or Druidcraft.

Time in Service:

  • Health Hampered > DC 10 Constitution check, failure imposes -1 HP loss & -1 Healing Rate underearth or in the Dark Lands; Cannot possess the Accelerated Healing trait.
  • Broken Linkage > DC 10 Sanity check, failure imposes the Flaw “I Still Hear the Whisperings”: When darker than dim light, has Disadvantage on Initiative. Starting Sanity is 1 less.
i20 REPLACES d20 skill proficiency > Check = skill level + modifiers (Prof. Bonus not used).

i20 Skills REPLACE d20 skill proficiency: Add the skill level + modifiers to the check ( Proficiency Bonus not used).

A single Result Check to assess Success or Failure AND quality which may be impacted by conditions which indicate a Lack of Capability (Unfamiliar, Unproficient, etc.). The GM can { } Narrate it, and players may request an appropriate impact when anything other than a basic outcome is indicated. Character Points are Rewarded by the GM to improve Skills (and other Features). > i20 Skill Map

Equipment: Stalker’s Kit but its fully weatherproof; 5 doses of Mydrinate.

iCore iCore™ Background Details

Realm's Aptitude Powers: Divine, Occult, and Psychic

Tags: ,

Top

Urchin (fantasy background)

Posted on December 20, 2024

The Urchin Background is a character Background; It follows their common conventions.

Equipment: Each iVerse Setting has a Cost Portion which a character starts with to buy goods with; Also see the "Characters" document for the setting. In addition to general purchasable gear, PC characters are assumed to come from "Middling" circumstances and begin play with equipment (portable Toolkits and/or stationary Work Stations) related to their capabilities granted by Race/Background/Archetype/Cultural experiences.
  • Typically all characters with Trade/Vocational (Craft/Artisan) Practices will have an appropriate Vocational/Trade/Craft Toolkit or station + setting appropriate sturdy work clothes and safety gear.
  • While Backgrounds don’t generally grant a full Trekking Kit, they do grant rudimentary items for traveling: a few days common clothes, shelter, transportation of gear, bedroll/bag, & sitting materials (toiletry, cleaning, utensils, lighting)…

i20™ Background Details

It is assumed you are familiar with the 2014 Background List. Check with your GM to see what is supported in your Setting.

@Character Inception, Characters gain an Attribute Score Increase (ASI) from either their Background's Vocational ASI OR as their Archetype's/Class Pathway ASI. These will be specified as either explicit or chosen from a Attribute Group(s):
BACKGROUND = +1 and +1

Benefit = +1 CP @Character Inception

i20 REPLACES d20 skill proficiency > Check = skill level + modifiers (Prof. Bonus not used).

i20 Skills REPLACE d20 skill proficiency: Add the skill level + modifiers to the check ( Proficiency Bonus not used).

A single Result Check to assess Success or Failure AND quality which may be impacted by conditions which indicate a Lack of Capability (Unfamiliar, Unproficient, etc.). The GM can { } Narrate it, and players may request an appropriate impact when anything other than a basic outcome is indicated. Character Points are Rewarded by the GM to improve Skills (and other Features). > i20 Skill Map

  • Updated Skill Reference:

iCore iCore™ Background Details

Tags: ,

Top

Soldier (fantasy background)

Posted on December 20, 2024

The Soldier Background is a character Background; It follows their common conventions.

Equipment: Each iVerse Setting has a Cost Portion which a character starts with to buy goods with; Also see the "Characters" document for the setting. In addition to general purchasable gear, PC characters are assumed to come from "Middling" circumstances and begin play with equipment (portable Toolkits and/or stationary Work Stations) related to their capabilities granted by Race/Background/Archetype/Cultural experiences.
  • Typically all characters with Trade/Vocational (Craft/Artisan) Practices will have an appropriate Vocational/Trade/Craft Toolkit or station + setting appropriate sturdy work clothes and safety gear.
  • While Backgrounds don’t generally grant a full Trekking Kit, they do grant rudimentary items for traveling: a few days common clothes, shelter, transportation of gear, bedroll/bag, & sitting materials (toiletry, cleaning, utensils, lighting)…

Rough Demeanor: All activities with the intent to Intimidate gain a +2 (except against other soldiers).

i20™ Background Details

It is assumed you are familiar with the 2014 Background List. Check with your GM to see what is supported in your Setting.

@Character Inception, Characters gain an Attribute Score Increase (ASI) from either their Background's Vocational ASI OR as their Archetype's/Class Pathway ASI. These will be specified as either explicit or chosen from a Attribute Group(s):
BACKGROUND = +1 and +1

Benefit = +1 CP @Character Inception

i20 REPLACES d20 skill proficiency > Check = skill level + modifiers (Prof. Bonus not used).

i20 Skills REPLACE d20 skill proficiency: Add the skill level + modifiers to the check ( Proficiency Bonus not used).

A single Result Check to assess Success or Failure AND quality which may be impacted by conditions which indicate a Lack of Capability (Unfamiliar, Unproficient, etc.). The GM can { } Narrate it, and players may request an appropriate impact when anything other than a basic outcome is indicated. Character Points are Rewarded by the GM to improve Skills (and other Features). > i20 Skill Map

  • Updated Skill Reference:

iCore iCore™ Background Details

Tags: ,

Top