FROM ASHES

The eschaton makes a new canvas by burning the old world to ash. You will paint
a new world onto the empty canvas by deciding the nature of your cycle. Then you
will build the foundation of your story by creating characters, realms, and narrative
opportunities.
You build on that foundation through play. Creating your cycle is part of the
game; make sure to have fun while you do it. You'll create the horrible beasts you face,
decide the legacy of your precursors, and basic setting details.

UNBOUND
You don't need to plan everything; a basic outline
is best. You can tell a more dynamic story by leav-
ing creative gaps in your world. Filling those gaps
during play allows you learn more about your set-
ting as you experience it.
DECISIONS
You will make decisions based on the fiction you
envision. If something doesn't interest you, move
past it. Create a world you want to experience.
Crescent is left purposely open-ended, generating
the backdrop is part of playing the game.

F O R WA R D
Your approach is up to you; if a category isn’t rel-
evant to your setting or doesn’t interest you, ig-
nore it. You can return if the missing category ever
comes up during play. At that point, you can make
a decision on the spot.
TOGETHER
Create the new cycle collectively. You can take turns
or make decisions together. Just remember to keep
everyone involved and having fun. If the setting
doesn't interest someone, allow them to suggest
changes to the fiction that will keep their interest.

CONTRADICT
Don't fret if contradictions arise in the backdrop.
The world is a mysterious place — it's impossible
to have every fact straight. You might be able to
make a better story by reconciling the contradic-
tion or revealing a disturbing truth.
YOURSELF
Alter each choice to suit your emerging vision
and start thinking about character creation as you
generate the cycle. Build a world that excites you
enough to play and experience what you create.
Nothing is more important than having fun.

79
D E FA U LT A S S U M P T I O N S DECISIONS
Each of the following assumptions is true by de- You will make decisions regarding 3 aspects
fault, but you are free to alter each premise as you
see fit. You determine the cycle.
YOUR CYCLE
1 Choose a phase and decide what's
T H E R E I S H I S T O RY true for your cycle.
The world is locked in an endlessly repeating
cycle that compacts the previous era into an-
other subterranean layer.
YOUR CHARACTER
2 Create your character.
THERE ARE HUMANS
Humans arose and settled the world during the
moonfall. They are mysteriously related to the
people of the previous cycle.

THERE IS DIVERSITY
No single culture dominates humanity or the
cycle. There are a vibrant mix of people, colors,
and creeds in this world
T H E R E I S M Y S T E RY
There is always more to uncover. The world is
too vast for any single person to explore over
the course of their lifetime.
YOUR REALM
3 Create a location to start your
campaign.
PA C I N G
Feel free to take a break if you become tired. De-
terming your Cycle, Character, and Realm takes
time. There's a natural stopping point at the end
of each aspect of creation.

THERE IS WONDER
This is a world of ancient cities, lost legends,
and heroism. Magic exists, though its impor-
tance is up to you.

THERE IS INJUSTICE
Those with power refuse to let it go and impose
their will on others. If good is to prevail, others
must stand against them.

THERE IS ETHER
Ether is not magic. It is something more. It's
the sinister lifeblood of the planet and the dan-
gerous light that perpetuates the cycle.

T H E R E I S O N LY M O O N L I G H T
Moonlight substitutes for sunlight. The world is
locked in perpetual dusk, twilight, or gloaming.
The only light we create is of our own making

80
THE REALMS
The people of the world divide it into four distinct realms: Metropoles, Fringes,
the Abyss, and the Godrealms. This order represents a decreasing amount of
habitation, but not necesearily an increasing amount of danger. So long as there
are men, there will be war.
Conflict exists everywhere, but the location may determine the type of strug-
gle. Horrific monsters prowl the fringes and the abyss. Envy and rage torment
the metropoles and godrealms.

METROPOLES
We thrive by creating huge cities known as metro-
poles. They're the beating hearts of humanity and
the strongholds that stand firm against the beasts of
the abyss. They're tough and resilient.
Even in a metropole, humanity is not safe.
Those in power abuse ether to twist the world in
their image. The hardest structures to change are the
ones we build ourselves.
ABYSS
The abyss is the wilderness between metropoles. As
beautiful as it is deadly, the abyss is home to crea-
tures that defy understanding and imagination. The
Abyss makes up the majority of the world.
Colossal flying jellyfish and ether-charged
beasts wander the world as the unchallenged gods
of the wild. Sublime, striking, and beautiful, the
abyss is a window into a world without us.

FRINGES
The fringes are frontiers on the edge of metropoles;
they represent the outer edge of humanity's spread.
Whenever it's time to expand our domain, pioneers
set out with fire, steel, and blood in hand.
The beasts of the abyss constantly harass the
fringes, making expansion into the darkness exceed-
ingly dangerous. Terrors and secrets lurk just within
the shadow of our great cities.
GODREALMS
The godrealms are the dead metropoles of every
past cycle. They contain of ancient cities. The god-
realms lie deep in the abyss; journeys there require
horrific sacrifices.
Ancient halls lie in timeless preservation, burst-
ing with crumbling spires that break the sky and
fortresses defy reality. Ancient defense systems and
freakish beasts assure death to those who enter.

81
82
 TRUTH
CATEGORIES
You will define your cycle with a moon phase and 8 fundamental truths. The
Moon Phase determines the genre of your setting.

T H E E I G H T F U N D A M E N TA L T R U T H S

ETHER ANCIENTS
What is the nature of ether? What did they become?

LEGACIES MONSTERS
What did they leave? What stalks the abyss?

COMMUNITY PA C T S
What of our societies? What binds us together?

STRIFE CELESTIALS
What tears us apart? What lurks beyond sight?

CHOOSING TRUTH
Select, roll, or create each of the eight truth categories.

Choose a truth from the Roll for a truth by mak- Create your own truth or
three available options. ing an oracle roll. alter an existing option.

83
 WA X I N G C R E S C E N T
The world is a magical post-apocalyptic frontier.
The abyss dominates the landscape, and settlements
are sparse. It's a time for heroism and rediscovery in
a new world.
FIRST QUARTER
The world is a conglomerate of different genres.
Our socities have begun to rise and take shape. It a
time to discover who we are in a world that is still
defining itself.
WA X I N G G I B B O U S
The world is an industrial, victorian fantasy. Smog,
ghosts, and energy twist together to create a pres-
sure cooker enviroment. It's a time for crime in a
dangerous world.
FULL MOON
The world is a high fantasy magitech dystopia. Hu-
manity dominates the world with incredible tech-
nology of their own making. It's a time for feats of
extreme heroism or larger than life stakes.
84
WA N I N G C R E S C E N T
The world is a pre-apocalyptic nightmare. Survi-
vors prolong a dead order or snuff out their world's
last dying embers. It's a time for solemn reflection
in an age past it's glory.
THIRD QUARTER
The world is in a dystopian resource war. Ether is
finite, and our societies lie on the brink of collapse.
It's time to take solace in one another or fight to
bring light to a dark world.
WA N I N G G I B B O U S
The world is wrought with war and chaos. Strife
reaches its peak as power players seek to cement
their position. It's a time for survival in a conflicts
that threaten to consume who we are.
NEW MOON
The world is grim ashen darkness. Neither sun nor
moon hangs in a sullen, hollow sky. Your people are
long gone. It's time to come to term with a tragic
fate you can't fight.
 WHAT IS THE
NATURE OF ETHER?
ENERGY
Ether is the catalyst for progress. It powers technology and
allows us to create marvels of engineering and spellcraft.
1 -33 Ether is the backbone of every society, but it is unpredict-
able. Despite the dangers of ether, we must rely upon it to
build a better future.
BLIGHT
Ether is a corrupting blight we cannot escape. It drives us
to despair, poisons our hearts, and consumes our world. De-
34-66 spite the cost, we must consume ether to experience emo-
tion and maintain our sanity. Yet overindulgence transforms
our bodies and minds.
BLOOD
Ether is the intoxicating, scarlet red blood of celestial beings. It
carries potent healing properties and allows us to ascend to a
67-100 higher state of being. Ether is a holy medium that can cure any
disease and restore the dead to life, but it bears a curse. We are
born of ether, made by ether, and undone by ether.
Characterization: What does ether look like (Glowing, luminescent, dark)? What form does it take
(crystal, powder, liquid, or solid light)?
85
Prompt: A super weapon buried be-
neath the site of an ancient battlefield
has come to light. There is a mad dash
to recover the weapon by various fac-
tions throughout the region.
Prompt: A blightflare — the destruc-
tion of an ether crystal, threatens a vil-
lage on the fringes. Can you marshal a
rescue effort to transport its people to
safety? What stands in your way?
Prompt: You have a fatal illness with
no known cure. But there is hope. You
know of a city whose church dispens-
es ether to its followers. Your oath is to
partake in their communion.
 WHAT DID
THEY BECOME?
REVENANTS
Twelve of the original fourteen Sorcerer-Lords survived the
fall. Horrified at the destruction of their society, they now
1-33 labor to bring back their friends and loved ones. Between
their efforts to resurrect their society, they have observed us
and measured our worth. They have found us wanting. The
world belongs to the Ancients and the Ancients alone.
UNDEAD
The Ancients attempted to survive ether death via complex
devices. These devices, however, did not work as intended.
34-66 They siphon ether and reduce their users to empty husks.
These husks mindlessly attack and drain ether on reflex to
restore their souls. Undead beings create more undead by
draining ether from the living.
BEASTS
The Ancients became fearsome beasts bereft of sanity. They
stalk the subterranean passages beneath the world. Most
67-100 worryingly, these beasts are indistinguishable from ether-
beasts. Some have made the dreaded extrapolation that this
too, will be the ultimate fate of humanity.
86
Prompt: You've had an encounter with
one of the ancient Sorcerer-Lords. They
claimed they would free you of your
prison and return your ancient memo-
ries to you. How did this affect you?
Prompt: An eccentric necromancer be-
lieves there was a flaw in the techniques
used by the Ancients — they believe
they can fix the malfunctions and grant
people immortality. What's your stake
in the project?
Prompt: There are rumors of a beast
plague in a nearby metropole. Its estab-
lished Hunters are incapable of dealing
with the threat. How does this spill over
into the rest of the region?
 WHAT DID
THE Y LEAVE?

A U T O M ATA

They left behind their machines. Automata have sprung to Prompt: Every Automata is built with
‘life’ with the moonrise. They are mechanical facsimiles of an overriding purpose. You have found
1 -33 their creators made of synthetic materials, wires, and circuits. one — what is its purpose?
Automata carry a fatal flaw; they lie dormant until a human
or Ancient activates them. Their systems only respond to
human or Ancient commands.

RELICTS

They left behind great magical defenders called relicts. Clad
in golden armor and golden artificial souls, they defend the
34-66 ruins of the old world. They fight with frightening efficiency,
terrifying power, and magical potential. Despite their abili-
ties, all attempts to communicate with them have failed.
Prompt: An archeologist studying the
godrealms has discovered a powerful
Relict. What is the nature of its being?
What force seeks to control it?

W E AV E

They left behind a protective barrier that protects the wak-
ing world from the moon. When we dream, our emotional
67-100 strength allows us to pierce the weave and enter the para-
site universe that lies beyond. The moon can taste and smell
dreamers and remakes reality to match their desires and
nightmares.
Prompt: The weave has been broken in
a nearby metropole by ambitious sor-
cerers. The chaos threatens to consume
the region.

87
 WHAT STALKS
THE ABYSS?

BEHEMOTHS

Colossal, destructive behemoths dominate the abyss. They
leave a trail of death and decay by consuming every drop
1-33 of ether in their path,. The ether, in turn, fuels their hunger,
rage, and form. The kind of ether a behemoth consumes de-
termines its physiology, appearance, and behavior.
Prompt: A behemoth steals the hearts
of still-living creatures. Oddly, creatures
with stolen hearts achieve immortality
while the beast persists.

A B O M I N AT I O N S

Grotesque abominations dominate the abyss. Creatures ca-
pable of channeling ether rise to the top of the food chain.
34-66 But life finds itself without ether during the moonfall, kill-
ing most and forcing the rest to adapt. For example, a troll’s
bones atrophy until it collapses into a blob of undulating
muscle while a hydra's heads turn into tentacles.
Prompt: A faction experiments with the
blood of abominations to create a bio-
logical super weapon. Where are these
tests being conducted?

M O O N S PA W N

The moonspawn dominate the abyss. Moonspawn are be-
ings made of concentrated ether capable of absorbing the
67-100 energy of other beings. The arrival of moonspawn spells the
complete disappearance of a people. Thousands of aban-
doned or devastated towns, cities, and civilizations, stand as
a testament to their dreadful power.
Prompt: The moonspawn are endless —
there are no fringes. The high walls of a
metropole barely holds back the tide of
monsters. What powers our walls?

88
 WHAT OF
OUR SOCIETIES?
IRON
We live in great Metropoles protected by ether barriers.
There are minor settlements in the dark beyond, but they
1 -33 pale before the great cities. Trailblazers — travelers who
chart the path between Metropoles, are seen as great heroes.
We expand our cities by conquering our borders and extend-
ing the ether barriers.
NOMADIC
We live in colossal, moving cities. Staying in one place is too
dangerous, and the cost of rebuilding what we create is too
34-66 great. So we roam beneath the banner of great cities, each a
nation unto itself. Our city is our culture. To be exiled from
a metropole is the ultimate mark of shame.
S C AT T E R E D
We live in disparate, far-flung settlements. Massive swathes
of abyss separate us from one another. Our cities are often
67-100 small, struggling, and on the brink of ruin. Most of us are
unsure if anything exists outside of what we know. This is a
wild world we don't understand.
89
Prompt: A huge Metropole of humani-
ty's making lies empty. There is no sign
of attack. No bodies. Their tools and
weapons sit idly as if their wielders sim-
ply disappeared. What is your connec-
tion to this place?
Prompt: A forsaken people, sworn to no
city, live in the abyss. A terrible sickness
has come over them. They need help.
Why were these people exiled, and
why do you swear to come to their aid?
Which city stands against you?
Prompt: A trail between two Metropoles
has been lost. How does the loss of con-
tact effect the cities? What your's stake
in the situation?
 WHAT BINDS
US TOGETHER?

PA C T

The Pact binds humanity against the darkness that would Prompt: A Knight has taken control of
see it destroyed. The force responsible for upholding its au- a settlement to rule with an iron fist.
1-33 thority are the Knights. Clad in artifact armor and ancient What do they seek to gain there?
weaponry — Knights have the strength and speed of a hur-
ricane. All settlements still yield to the Pact and its Knights,
but most people view the Pact as an unnecessary relic.

HUNTERS

Governments might vary from one metropole to another,
but the authority of Hunters binds our disparate cultures.
34-66 Hunters have a single unifying tradition — their home-
towns hold funerals in their honor on the day they take their
position. They become legends as they face down terrifying
beasts beyond human ken.
Prompt: A staggering twelve hunters
have come together to tackle a threat
lurking beneath a godrealm. What did
they find, and why didn't they return?

NOTHING

Nothing binds us — criminals and corrupt leaders dominate
the land. Even metropoles are not safe. Humanity's great
67-100 cities cannot repel the darkness that nips at the edge, let
alone expand. Unable to rely on one another, we must all
fend for ourselves. Despots, raiders, bandits, and mercenar-
ies rule the land.
Prompt: You are in debt to a corrupt
and powerful organization. What did
you do to become a tool of their pow-
er? What do you need to do to release
yourself from their hold?

90
 WHAT TEARS
US APAR T?

H AT E

We tear each other apart. We cannot overcome our differ-
ences, and our leaders stoke the flame. From birth to death,
1 -33 our society tells us that those who do not share our values
are savages. Betrayal, lies, and hatred are the driving forces of
cultures. Unity is a distant dream — even a common enemy
is unlikely to bring us together.
Prompt: There is an underground move-
ment that works against the world's
power players. How extensive is it, and
what's your relation to it?

AMBITION

Ambitious power players tear us apart. They wield endless
legions of mercenaries to enact their will. Mercenary groups
34-66 vary from scrappy outfits with half a dozen soldiers to impe-
rial war machines. Great mercenary guilds drive conflict to
line their pockets while we live in the crossfire.
Prompt: A great mercenary guild seeks
to establish a warrior state and conquer
the world. It is making movements
against all other factions — how does
this affect you.

WA R

Unending war tears us apart. We are at the mercy of great
factions with terrifying technologies and fanatical legions.
67-100 The war they bring throws our lives into constant turmoil.
We are all pawns or casualties in a destructive campaign we
do not understand.
Prompt: The aftermath of a great battle
against abyssal monsters left treasures
and artifacts. Who were the victors,
where was it, and what was left behind?

91
 WHAT LURKS
BEYOND SIGHT?
CELESTIALS
Deific beings of incredible power. The magnitude and scale
of their abilities defy our understanding — but something
1-33 separates us from them. Some worship them. Others resist
or rebel against them. But trying to defy their will is like
standing at the shore of an ocean to thwart the tide. To fight
a celestial is to fight fate itself.
REFLECTIONS
Worlds similar to ours. They look like our world, but differ-
ent. The people in those other worlds do not look like us —
34-66 they may have sharp ears, green skin, or glowing purple eyes.
Sometimes they notice us too.
E S C H AT O N
When we peer beyond sight, we glimpse the end. Our cit-
ies lie broken, and the world completely changed. Madmen
67-100 whisper that we live in a dream or a single moment in time.
92
Prompt: A celestial has begun to man-
ifest into our world. What are its in-
tentions, and how do you know of its
presence?
Prompt: There is a stable tear in reali-
ty that leads to one of these reflections.
What guards it, and how did you come
to learn of the tear?
Prompt: You have repeated visions of
the end. Envision it. What is your re-
lationship to the visions. Can you stop
the end, or is it set in stone?