intro to Anathema
welcome to anathema!
In a kingdom besieged by monsters, mages are our last defense, and our greatest threat. Sorcery has allowed for the construction of towering cities, breathtaking discoveries, and a mastery of the natural world in the kingdom of Ivras. Those few blessed with magical capabilities have served as a window into the unknown, and a great civilization has sprung up from the well of magic’s seemingly endless possibilities.
However, all this has come at a terrible cost.
Everything we have built is threatened by abominations; mages who reach too far into the void become hideously corrupted, twisted into monstrous and devastating forms. As corrupted creatures wreak havoc on the built world, the only weapon that can succeed against the nightmares is the same thing that created them: magic.
ANATHEMA is a freeform writing/art rp game for hoofed characters (equine, cervine, porcine, bovine, and camelid) that rewards hard character choices and puts an emphasis on collaborative, member-driven story.
Anathema has an open-ended setting with just enough rules to give it structure, accessible lore centered on one location, character freedom, and choices that have meaning.
With player-made factions and locations being vital to the game’s progression, the world of Anathema is yours to build.
Basic mechanics
- Every player starts with a Mage character. Mages are rare in the world, and additional Mage character slots must be unlocked. Mages accumulate stat points and magical abilities as they grow. Mages have very few design restrictions, and are allowed a nearly endless variety of magical, changing, or “mutated” additions, keeping in mind that other characters in-world may not react well to super outlandish looks : )
- Every player is also allowed an unlimited number of Non-Mage characters. Non-mages do not level up, but can still roleplay and participate in character prompts. Non-Mage characters are limited to natural coat colors, and cannot have magical design elements.
- Magic has three stats: Power, Discipline, and Cost. It can also be Corrupted by a character’s choices. This is the only leveling in the game.
- “Human form” art and roleplay is accepted as canon for prompts and events, and a separate optional app sheet is available for human versions of designs. Human RP is totally optional, but very welcome!
setting basics
- Time: Time in Anathema passes at the same rate as time on Earth, and is measured in the same way. Years in Anathema's setting have 12 months, and weeks have 7 days. Anathema's in-game timeline proceeds at the same pace as Earth time.
- Technology: Mostly thanks to magic, the level of technology in Ivras is akin to the real-world 16th century, or as we like to call it, "the musketeer times" 😁. This is not an aesthetic rule (please design whatever clothes, etc. you like!), just a guideline for the advances in machinery/weaponry (incl. firearms)/architecture available for your creation.
- Location: Anathema takes place entirely in the kingdom of Ivras, which is a peninsula on the south of the continent of Ritha. You can find a map on the Locations page.
corruption
Completing certain prompts / events earns your character a point of Corruption. Corruption awards your character extra stat points, boosting the power of their magic and reducing the cost of its use. The benefits are tempting, but if a character hits maximum Corruption, they become a monster, an irreversible process that distorts them into an unfeeling being made of pure, wild magic.
A character who becomes a monster is retired from the game, and their monster form becomes the target of the next Monster Hunt. The player of a character who becomes a monster receives a bonus, and a free character slot to create another mage.
Characters on the path of corruption are sometimes derisively known as witches. Before a witch becomes a monster, Corruption points can be reduced through prompts that have Cleansing as a reward, or through Cleansing rituals at a Shrine.
the hunt is on
Monster Hunts are special events that all mages can participate in. Hunts provide special roleplay opportunities and character prompts, and move the story of the game forward. Mages can participate in hunts solo or in collaborative small groups, and will earn bonuses for completing the hunt prompts.
While only mages can participate in stopping monsters, there are roleplay opportunities and prompts with rewards for all characters.
narrative freedom
Anathema’s world lore exists merely as a framework for you to build around. With a limited number of “canon” locations and factions provided by staff, you have room to create the world you want to play in!
Your character does not have to fit into predetermined ranks or factions, and their magical abilities are left entirely up to your imagination. Player-generated allegiances, locations, and lore are the focus in Anathema. Tell your story your way!