Publisher's blurb:'
An ancient ritual occurs, where seven magicians call upon the power of The Key of Truth, a magical artifact that can interfere with the weave and grant wishes to those who properly allow it to manifest in the world. In response to its summons the Key of Truth sets out a trial for the invoking mages: each must summon forth a hero from the past, an Epic Phantom in the form of a Guardian, and do battle with one another over this sacred relic. The mage and Guardian who survives and comes out on top will be granted a powerful wish from the Key of Truth, unlike any sort of wish known before it. This guide helps a DM construct a Trial of Heroes within their setting, granting them the tools to understand the artifact and construct a possibly exhilarating storyline around the struggles of these magicians.
This content is meant for 7th-12th level play, but can be repurposed for other levels and adapted to different structures.
Apart from offering the tools to run a tournament-style battle between Guardians, this content is meant to aid in world-building, campiagn planning and character creation. It offer suggestions coming from a place of having run a decade of Trial of Heroes-stryle games and provides the mechanical tools to properly construct your own content. There’s no one certain way to make Guardians, but there are guiding principles that can make it a whole lot easier! Specific mechanics for handling summoning rituals, Rites of Compulsion, Guardian/Keepr contracts, how Guardians function normally with and without Keepers, family crests and generating character ideas are provided. Tables for sparking ideas about conflicts, the methods of enemy Keepers and motivations behind those who wish to achieve a wish on the Key of Truth help to seed ideas to get you started.
Future expansions are intended for this series, including expanded lists of skills, example Crystal Armaments, possible full Guardians builds that are both new and used in Nat19's streams, item and materials lists, other classes, parody classes like beach or space Guardians, etc.