© 2009 White Wolf, Inc. All rights reserved.
T
he true nemeses of the Gaulish pantheon, the
Nemetondevos, the Matrons are, like the Greek
Fates and the Norse Norns, related to Fate. But these goddesses are no longer neutral, and have decided to take revenge on the Gaulish gods and their ignoble rejection of Fate, without allying themselves with the Titans. Although their origins are unknown, it is almost certain that they are sisters (though there is no actual evidence
to
support
this
assumption).
Their
presence predates the birth of the first of the Nemetondevos,
and
they
were
recognized
as
powerful telluric deities by the mortals, on whom they lavished many prophecies. They have always distrusted the Nemetondevos from the first time they began to mingle with men, even while they maintained "romantic" relationships with several of them (Cernunnos and Esus in particular). One of them even mated with Orgos, the progenitor of the Gaulish deities, and shortly thereafter gave birth to Epona (one of the youngest of the Gaulish gods). During the first few centuries, the Matrons shared their secrets and taught some of the Nemetondevos to practice the purviews of Magic, Mystery and Prophecy. Unfortunately,
many
conflicts
and
events
–
combined with serious disagreements with the
Note: The Scions of the Matrons have two Dark Virtues in addition to the Endurance and Vengeance Virtues.
Both Dark Virtues are
specific to each Matron.
Gaulish goddesses who supplanted the Matrons in
Belatriga, Queen of Death
the hearts of their mortal worshipers – have angered
She Who Cannot be Deceived
the three sisters of Fate. If the exact causes of their enmity
are
unknown,
the
consequences
are
Although no one is certain,
nevertheless enormous, and may be linked to the
Belatriga is probably the
predisposition of members of the Nemetondevos to
oldest of the Matrons, and
bend Fate.
none of her sisters dare
The Matrons have sworn an eternal
hatred of the members of the Gaulish pantheon, and
oppose her will. As cruel
they never pass up an opportunity to suddenly take
as she is beautiful, She Who
advantage of any fatal mistakes.
Cannot Be Deceived has borne
Here is a short description of the three Matrons,
few children during her millenia of existence, but she
and rules regarding their Scions. While their rivals
has given them everything, starting with power.
within the Nemetondevos are mentioned, those are
Some of the greatest tyrants in history have been her
the only ones; they have only the very slightest
children, but most act in secrecy, acting as corrupting
interest in any of the other pantheons.
powers from the darkness.
She often travels in the world of mortals in the guise of a woman dressed like a queen. Contrary to what her name might suggest, she does not encourage the wearing of black and loves the color of royalty the best (the purple of the Roman emperors, the blue of the kings of France, the yellow of gold, etc…). A rumor claims that her nickname comes from a time long past when she was deceived by Esus – via a simple mortal, to boot – and that she has dedicated her immeasurable hatred to him because of it. She also opposes Nantosuelta’s protectiveness and Sukellos, the psychopomp. As for Taranis, she’s never appreciated him or his airs. Associated Powers: Epic Charisma, Epic Intelligence, Epic Manipulation, Death, Mystery Abilities: Academics, Command, Empathy, Occult, Politics, Presence Dark Virtues: Ambition, Rapacity Rivals: Esus, Nantosuelta, Sukellos, Taranis
Dumnariga, Queen of Darkness The Omniscient Eye Dumnariga is probably the youngest of the Matrons, and appears as a very pretty girl (but appearances are often misleading). Her blind eyes see the past, present and future perfectly, while her hands shape tirelessly, creating works of art with fantastic powers (usually relics that provide access to the purviews of Darkness and Prophecy, or with special powers). She has had many children, all of whom die young, but who acte as prophets without peer, though their auguries – which command a high price given their many more or less nefarious desires – often lead those who hear them to their deaths. When she appears among mortals, Dumnariga keeps the appearance of a young, blind teenage girl,
with her magic spells, she can create devastating effects, damning entire armies as easily as the wind sweeps dead leaves aside. Her children are the worst of monsters, a race that live to cause suffering and plant the seeds of anarchy and chaos. When she goes out among the mortals, she wears the appearance of a middle-aged woman with short hair and an athletic build, wearing casual clothes (usually in dark colors). She always carries a weapon of cold steel. Miletriga is a fierce enemy of the Nemetondevos, particularly the war gods, Andarta, Camulos, and, to a lesser extent, Epona. Gobnhios, meanwhile, is responsible for having created the weapons that have killed many of Miletriga’s children and servants. Associated Powers: Epic Strength, Epic Stamina, Epic Wits, Chaos, Magic Abilities: Athletics, Brawl, Fortitude, Melee, Occult, Survival Dark Virtues: Malice, Zealotry Rivals: Andarta, Camulos, Epona, Gobnhios her eyes completely obscured by cataracts.
If she
new Boons
finds a likely candidate for "reproduction", she may take on an older form (but always keeps her eyes "dead"). This has not always been necessary in recent centuries, but manners (and laws) are changing. Dumnariga opposes the light of Belenos, the crafts
Some new Boons that the Matrons can teach to their Scions (adopted children).
of Teutates and the prophecies of Cernunnos. Associated Powers: Epic Appearance, Epic Dexterity,
Chaos
Epic Perception, Darkness, Prophecy Abilities: Awareness, Craft, Integrity, Investigation, Occult, Stealth
Armor of Chaos
Dark Virtues: Malice, Rapacity
(Chaos ••••)
Rivals: Belenos, Cernunnos, Teutates
Dice Pool: -- Cost: 2 Legend The Scion uses two points of Legend to surround his
Miletriga, Queen of Destruction The Dark Sorceress
Miletriga is absolutely terrifying to behold, despite not being ugly in the slightest. The fury on her face is permanent, and she lives only to spread death and destruction in her path. With her fighting abilities combined
body with chaotic winds that redirect all physical attacks (both melee and ranged). The DV of the Scion is increased by half of his Legend rating (rounded up). This DV bonus lasts for the remainder of the scene. "Energy" damage (fire, cold, magic, etc.) is not affected by this power, and the DV of the Scion is not increased against it.
Arms of Chaos (Chaos ••••• •)
determine whether or not a person he is looking at
Dice Pool: Charisma + Command
suffers from suicidal impulses. If such is the case, he
Cost: 3 Legend + 1 Willpower
knows instinctively what causes these impulses, and
The Scion uses three points of Legend and one point
how to exacerbate them. This translates into a 2-dice
of Willpower and makes a (Charisma + Empathy) roll
bonus to all rolls aimed at encouraging the future
against his target’s (Willpower + Integrity + Legend)
victim to commit suicide.
roll to resist.
If the victim fails to surpass the
successes of the Scion who is targeting him, he
Regalis Mortis (Death ••••• ••)
becomes the victim of Chaos, which decides his
Dice Pool: Charisma + Occult
actions at whim. For a number of actions equal to the
Cost: 3 Legend + 1 Willpower
Legend of the Scion who used Arms of Chaos, the
By using three points of Legend and a point of
victim must choose between two different actions
Willpower, the Scion with this Boon can mentally
from those described on page 190 of Scion: Hero.
dominate all dead "bodies" (that is to say, dead
When the moment of his action comes, he rolls a die
creatures that have a body, such as mummies,
to determine which action he undertakes; if the result
hungry corpses, other undead, etc.) that have a
is even, he takes the first action, and if it is odd, he
Legend score lower than or equal to theirs (the
takes the second. No matter what he ends up doing,
number of successes indicates the number of targets
the effects of this Boon expire at the end of the scene.
affected, starting with the one with the lowest Legend). An undead creature under the influence of this Boon must obey the orders given to him by the Scion. If this order might be life-threatening to the creature and it has a Legend rating equal to that of the Scion using this Boon, it can spend a point of
Morbid Desire (Death ••) Dice Pool: Perception + Empathy Cost: -By making a (Perception + Empathy) roll, the Scion may
Willpower to roll (Willpower + Integrity + Legend) against a difficulty equal to the Scion’s Legend to resist for one hour (after which it must again spend a Willpower roll and make a new [Willpower + Integrity + Legend] roll with a difficulty one higher
to continue to resist the order). This power lasts for a
shadows are so thick that anyone who is not an ally of
number of days equal to the Legend of the user. Using
their creator suffers a -4 penalty to all dice rolls
this Boon means requires that the undead creature must
related to sight (including attack rolls) and -2 to all
understand the Scion’s language and that he must be
rolls for actions related to hearing and smell. This
physically present before them in order to use his
darkness cannot be dispelled by and power or Boon,
charisma.
and remains until the end of the scene. It is possible
If he must give his orders in multiple
for Supreme Darkness to cancel the effects of Boons
languages, he must use this Boon multiple times.
from the Sun purview if their user has a lesser Legend rating than the Scion. Similarly, a Scion using a Boon
Darkness
or Knack that requires sight fails automatically while within the sphere of darkness (even if his opponents
Eye of Darkness (•••)
can see normally.
Dice Pool: -Cost: 1 Legend The Scion uses a point of Legend to create a globe of darkness about the
New Spell
size of a tennis ball. This sphere acts like a third eye for the Scion, and can see – but not hear – in a 360The sphere moves at a maximum speed of (Scion’s
Snip the Thread of Life (Magic •••••)
Legend x 10) km/h and disappears if it is more than
Dice Pool: --
(Legend) kilometers away from the Scion. The sphere
Cost: 1 Legend + 1
is also solid, and cannot pass through objects. Any
Willpower
degree radius (a confusing effect when first used).
direct blow automatically destroys it (it has a dodge
By spending a point of Legend
DV equal to the Legend of the Scion who created it),
and a point of Willpower and
although a (Perception + Awareness) roll must be
touching a creature that does not
made against a difficulty equal to the Legend of the
have a Legend score (or breaking
globe’s creator in order to identify it in the dark in the
some very personal belonging), the user of this spell
first place.
erodes the normal length of his fate, causing his death
Supreme Darkness (Darkness ••••• ••)
within forty-eight hours. The caster must know the victim; simply holding an item belonging to the mis
Dice Pool: --
not enough. Similarly, if the broken object did not
Cost : 2 Legend
belong to the intended victim, this spell does not
This Boon is a more powerful version of Shadow
work (it does not kill the actual owner of the broken
Shroud. By spending two points of Legend, the
object). Fortunately, this spell is not as powerful as it
Scion using this Boon creates a sphere of moving
looks, and it is possible to avoid the forecasted death
shadows around himself, the radius of which
by performing a special quest to curry the favor of
equals (Scion’s Legend x 5) meters.
Within this
Fate (only a use of Prophecy can reveal the quest, and
sphere, only the Scion and his allies can see
members of the Gaulish pantheon cannot receive a
(whether or not they possess the Night Eyes
response this way if they roll fewer than 5 successes,
Boon).
can
as Fate does not favor them). If the victim gains a
distinguish anything, and becomes effectively
No
other
Scion
(or
creature)
permanent dot of Legend during these forty-eight
blind (even Epic Perception Knacks and similar
hours – for instance, a Scion receiving his Visitation –
powers cannot help them).
the spell is broken and the target survives, settling
A Scion with the
Night Eyes Boon can penetrate this darkness only if his Legend is at least equal to that of the Scion who created the Supreme Darkness. Worse, these
back into the normal flow of Fate.
New Rules Champion of Fate (supernatural power) Some Scions of the Matrons possess a supernatural power called Champion of Fate. This power allows them to impose a dice penalty equal to half their Legend on anyone attempting to use the purviews of Magic, Mystery or Prophecy against them (this penalty only affects actions attempted in these specific special purviews). Learning this power costs 10 experience points.
This power costs 8 experience points to learn.
Aura of Mortality (special 3-point relic power) These weapons have the power to increase their abilities to match the Legend of the opponent their owner faces. If the wielder wishes, at the beginning of each of their actions the weapon gains a bonus to accuracy, damage or defense equal to half the Legend of the opponent (rounded up). This unique power only works against Scions – heroes, demigods, or gods (and excludes titanspawn, lesser immortals, the
Child of Fate (supernatural power The Scions of the Matrons are especially attuned to Fate and understand its workings better than anyone else. Those who have this power can make it more difficult for Fate to ensnare them, as their Legend is considered to be one dot lower for the purposes of all rolls made to determine if they receive a Fatebond.
dead, the undead, giants, dragons, etc.).
