Paying with life Seasons

[Vyj]

When I introduce hotb to new players, I explain ven as "flesh golems". Artificially created and brought to life with magic. I really love the idea that when a ven woman gives birth, she ages. Apart from spectres thats the only way to age in this manner in the book I found, but idea itself is great. Also, having two girls in my long term Campaign it felt a bit "unfair".

So we together came up with a way for boys to waste their life seasons:

1. Blooding ritual. If you share your magic, you have less left for yourself.
2. Creating bloodswords. Ven were created to empower rituals too, so this one fits in nicely - and aging is a fair price to pay for doing what aelva danna did.
3. Basically - creating anything permanent ages your ven. Like giving birth. Some things just steal your seasons. Sometimes you are willing to pay this price.

Like it was intended by your creators.

And finally - this aging mechanics fits well with big bad powerful sorcerer image - old man, who saw and did lots of terrible things. The one you would go for advice. Not to mention interesting plot twists this could bring.

Makes my heart dance.

[Keith Fyans]

I really like that... It also means that getting the "cool stuff" gets you claoser to Solace and thus closer to tragedy!

[wastevens]

Um. Nitpick.

Ven also gain Age at the end of each Winter.

... That said, I like this idea. Also, because it implies that Ven may be able to steal Age from another.

[Keith Fyans]

That would be their 'natural' aging before any other stressess, yeah?

[Vyj]

Yes, Ven also age "naturally". That is what every Ven gets. Things mentioned above are just opportunities to Age faster.

And stealing Seasons - very nice idea, wastevens. Such Ritual would be something really horrible, something that just asks for most severe punishment.

If you get caught.

[Nihilistic Mind]

In 'Explorers of Shanri', the Q'val age faster than others.
Each winter, they roll two dice and keep the highest when adding Age points.
High Priests and Grand Masters of an order age even faster.

[Vyj]

oh, thank you very much!