Membership and Prestige

There are two forms of currency that organizations deal in: Membership Chits and Prestige.  Every player who is a member of an organization receives a membership chit with their name on it at the beginning of the event or, if they are joining an organization for the first time, upon reporting their joining to staff.  This is an out-of-character item that cannot be stolen or traded.

Throughout the event those with Membership Chits may commit their chit to the Organization Box of their choice.  Placed within a privacy-curtained out-of-character space, these locked chests may be decorated by their organization but are managed by staff.  Each player may only have one Membership Chit, but they may place it in any Organization Box that they choose throughout the event. These represent the pledging of support of the player to that specific organization.

At the end of the event, staff will total the number of Membership Chits that each organization has received and report it to the Organization Leader. The number of Membership Chits determines the number of actions that the organization can take in the downtime.

Prestige Points, meanwhile, represent the renown of an organization, and are achieved by completing in-game goals that make the group more well known among the community.  These activities may be performed by anyone in the group up to three times per event, and are detailed for each type of organization.  An organization may not earn multiple goals from the same scene or activity.

These points can be spent by anyone holding an Organization Badge at any time during an event, and may be used to increase the power of the organization or be spent on specific powers available to the organization. They are kept track of publicly on a board in the tavern with symbols for each organization, and look somewhat like the following:

Each organization has a choice between nine different activities that can be performed throughout a game, and as the activities are completed their board is marked off. Seven of these activities (those that generate 1 or 2 prestige points) can be performed up to three times a game. Meanwhile, of the two activities that generate 10 pts each, only one of these activities may be performed once at game for prestige points.

Each square represents a different prestige-generating activity, with the upper leftmost square being the first activity, and the bottom rightmost square being the ninth, reading left to right from the first row, then moving on to the second row. Also shown on each board is the total number of prestige points available to the organization, at the bottom left, and the number of prestige points spent in this event, at the bottom right. Organizations can provide any symbol that they wish to represent their organization, with staff approval.

Whenever a group member performs an activity that would generate a prestige point, they enter it into the Organizations Dropbox located near the organization boxes. Staff will approve these activities throughout the event (at the very least at the end of each day), and will update the organization boards appropriately.

Prestige points can be traded to another organization by the leader of the organization at a rate of 1 for 3, but the leader must make a large public announcement during the event to the effect that they endorse the opposing organization before the trade can go through.

If one spends Prestige Points to get something, such as a schematic or a customer, this cannot be used to then earn Prestige Points.

Levels and Types of Organizations

All organizations have a level ranging from 1 to 5. All new organizations begin at level 1. Level determines not just the maximum number of characters that it may hold, but also the influence and capability of the organizations. Organizations at higher levels have access to powers that interact with the larger world in a way that organizations at lower levels do not, and they maintain the ability to make lower level prestige spends no matter their level.

To raise the organization’s level they must spend the following prestige points:

Trades

Trade organizations are focused around the transaction, transport, and creation of material goods and wealth in the world. These include the great guilds of Praesa, crafters, traders, and those who gather or create items.

• 10 Prestige – Arrange for a contract- ensuring that you have a guaranteed buyer for a intermediate item in exchange for salt
• 20 Prestige –  Request a random complex schematic related to your organization
• 25 Prestige – Request that a Nemien caravan bring a specific item into town for you in return for salt, this is limited by availability
• 40 Prestige – Request a teacher from a different location come to teach you a skill in the downtime. This teacher will show up next game to roleplay with you and teach you at the following downtime.

Level 3 & 4 Prestige Powers

• 10 Prestige – Arrange for a contract- ensuring that you have a guaranteed buyer for a complex item in exchange for salt
• 20 Prestige –  Get a lead on how to obtain a specific quest item
• 25 Prestige –  Request a random rare, masterwork, or wyrd schematic related to your organization
• 40 Prestige –  Request a teacher from a different location come to teach you a skill in the game
• 40 Prestige –  Increase a specific resource type for the next event

Level 5 Prestige Powers

• 10 Prestige –  Arrange for a contract- ensuring that you have a guaranteed buyer for a masterwork/wyrd item in exchange for salt
• 15 Prestige –  Obtain up to twenty specific components at half market cost
• 25 Prestige – Build a building in the Organization downtime system with half the amount of resources
• 40 Prestige –  Bring a depleted resource node back from destruction in the Organization downtime system

Services

Service organizations are groups that focus on selling their skills and time. This includes sellswords, therapists, entertainers, and archeologists among others.

• 10 Prestige – Arrange for a contract- ensuring that you have a guaranteed buyer for a service in exchange for salt
• 20 Prestige –  Request an alchemical item from a Nemien caravan in exchange for salt. The item may not be a specific preparation, but will fulfill a specific purpose (such as “Increase Strength”)
• 25 Prestige – Get a lead on someone who has information on a topic of interest to you
• 40 Prestige – Request a teacher from a different location come to teach you a skill in the downtime. This teacher will show up next game to roleplay with you and teach you at the following downtime.

Level 3 & 4 Prestige Powers

• 10 Prestige – Have the rent waived for five characters for sleeping quarters run by an NPC
• 20 Prestige –  Get information about organizations that have not been revealed on the map in the downtime event space including their general location and proclivities. If there is not one, staff would provide that information
• 25 Prestige –  Request a lore document from a specific location outside of Cenotaph on an area of interest
• 40 Prestige –  Request a teacher from a different location come to teach you a skill in the game
• 40 Prestige –  Request an NPC come in from another location to perform translation services for languages for an event

Level 5 Prestige Powers

• 10 Prestige –  Obtain a parlay session with an NPC group or reach a NPC who can arrange a safe parlay space for a PC negotiation
• 15 Prestige –  Request from a Nemien caravan for an expensive crafted item (anything complex or above), such as black powder, a Cermonial Athame, or a Gilly Suit to be traded for salt
• 25 Prestige – Request a group of NPCs come in to fight alongside you in game or in the downtime system granting you one extra dominate chit on a dominate action
• 40 Prestige –  Form a neighborhood watch for an event- that allows you to hold a 2 hour event in a specific space (such as the tavern) without any staff-run atangonistic plot run in that area

Outlaws

Outlaws are groups that focus on illicit operations and transactions. This includes thieves, kidnappers, blackmailers, and crime families.

• 10 Prestige – Arrange for an illicit contract- ensuring that you have a guaranteed buyer for a short-term service in exchange for salt
• 20 Prestige –  Locate a trader who will be willing to fence a stolen item for you, the price they’re willing to offer may vary depending on the item or its situation.
• 25 Prestige – Get a lead on someone who has an item of interest to you
• 40 Prestige – Request a teacher from a different location come to teach you a skill in the downtime. This teacher will show up next game to roleplay with you and teach you at the following downtime.

Level 3 & 4 Prestige Powers

• 10 Prestige – Request delivery of a specific illicit item via a reputable trader, such as poisons, lockpicks, or alchemical preparations in exchange for salt
• 20 Prestige –  Get intel on another organization’s prestige expenditures and gains from the last two events
• 25 Prestige –  Request an NPC group come in from another location to perform a task or assist in your illict activities
• 40 Prestige –  Request a teacher from a different location come to teach you a skill at game.
• 40 Prestige –  Request a fully stocked black market merchant of illicit goods and shady connections come to game for an event.

Level 5 Prestige Powers

• 10 Prestige –  Gain a necessary piece of intelligence to help break someone out of a situation
• 15 Prestige –  Ensure that there will be a high-value target in the next game with a stealable item, as well as information about that target
• 25 Prestige – When doing the snoop action in the Organization downtime system, you see through one spoof
• 40 Prestige –  Request a module for next game in which you can harry or otherwise interact with incoming or outgoing caravan or large group

Occult

Occult organizations revolve around a faith within the world. While not every member of the organization needs to be a member of the faith, the group itself should follow a specific faith or cult.

• 10 Prestige – Arrange for a contract- ensuring that you have a guaranteed buyer for a ritual in exchange for salt
• 20 Prestige –  Request a supply of a specific ritual component related to your cult from a caravan in return for salt
• 25 Prestige – Protect your shrine from being desecrated this game (apply a tag that says “this shrine may not be desecrated” to the shrine tag)
• 40 Prestige – Request a teacher from a different location come to teach you a skill in the downtime. This teacher will show up next game to roleplay with you and teach you at the following downtime.

Level 3 & 4 Prestige Powers

• 10 Prestige – Have the rent waived for five characters for sleeping quarters run by an NPC
• 20 Prestige –  Prevent bad effects from happening for a specific 3 parcel cluster in the organization system
• 25 Prestige –  Increase divine wrath rolls by +1 on the roll result for members of your organization for a day, to decrease your chances of a negative roll
• 40 Prestige –  Request a teacher from a different location come to teach you a skill at game.
• 40 Prestige –  Call in a higher ranking member to elevate you within your organization. Invoking this spend does not guarantee increase in rank, but provides the opportunity. Roleplay will still be necessary- and points will not be refunded if it is not successful

Level 5 Prestige Powers

• 10 Prestige –  Obtain three specific common wyrd or common components, two specific uncommon wyrd or common components, or one specific rare wyrd or rare component at no cost from a caravan
• 15 Prestige –  Give a -1 to the divine wrath rolls of members of another organization for one day
• 25 Prestige – Cause a random bad effect for a specific turf in the organization system
• 40 Prestige –  Pray for and receive a divine vision for guidance at the next event

Arcane

Arcane organizations are focused on the acquisition of power through magical means. These cabals are made up of devotees of a specific school of magic.

• 10 Prestige – Register your current spell library with the guild OR request replacement of your registered spells upon their theft, destruction, or loss.
• 20 Prestige –  Request a supply of a specific wyrd component from a caravan in return for salt
• 25 Prestige – Request a spell scroll from a specific domain. The requester may indicate the proposed usecase for a spell, but there is no guarantee that a specific spell will be available. The spell will be at the level of the requester and an answer will be provided by next game.
• 40 Prestige – Request a teacher from a different location come to teach you a skill in the downtime. This teacher will show up next game to roleplay with you and teach you at the following downtime.

Level 3 & 4 Prestige Powers

• 10 Prestige – Arrange for a contract- ensuring that you have a guaranteed buyer for a spell in exchange for salt
• 20 Prestige –  Initiate a quest from your guild in order to impress them that will yield a reward
• 25 Prestige –  Request an enchanted item that can be wielded by non-magicians
• 40 Prestige –  Request a teacher from a different location come to teach you a skill at game.
• 40 Prestige –  Request a review for elevation of circle or induction from the guild. Invoking this spend does not guarantee elevation or induction, but provides the opportunity. Roleplay will still be necessary- and points will not be refunded if it is not successful

Level 5 Prestige Powers

• 10 Prestige –  Obtain three specific common wyrd, two specific uncommon wyrd, or one specific rare wyrd component at no cost from a caravan
• 15 Prestige –  Obtain an Upala, an elemental stone, that can used by non-magicians to activate a single spell hung by a mage upon them
• 25 Prestige – Request an NPC come in from another location to teach an obscure language
• 40 Prestige –  Destroy a building in the Organization downtime System

Forming and Joining an Organization

When one or more people come together, they may form an organization. Forming an organization involves selecting an organization type, selecting an organization leader, a single core value (honor code tenet), determining the organization’s symbol, as well as crafting a banner (using the banner schematic) using that symbol and displaying it in the main square outside the tavern. The banner schematic is a generic schematic that can be crafted by anyone and which requires either 1 Paper or 1 linen, as well as one ink, and a soft wood. Organization leaders cannot create an organization that has the same tenet as another organization they’re a part of.

After these things are selected, the organization may be created by entering it into the Organizations Ledger, and its members will be given their starting Membership Chit once it is approved by staff.

When a character wishes to formally join an organization, they must be inducted via an in-event initiation. This initiation requires the initiate to present themselves before the membership, solemnly swear to uphold the organization’s core value (and take it on as a honor code tenet), receive an Organization Badge, and be welcomed by the other members. Although some organizations have more elaborate requirements than others, the initiation ceremony always includes these aspects. The Organization Badge schematic is an intermediate schematic that can be crafted by a Tailor, a Woodworker, or a Metalsmith, and which consists of either 1 soft wood, 1 soft iron, or 1 fibres depending on their craft as well as the real signature mark of the Organization leader on the tag of the item. This badge, when presented to staff, allows anyone who holds it to spend prestige points for that organization. Their character’s known name will be recorded by staff in an organizational ledger available to the leader of the organization.

It is the requirement of the leader to confirm before the induction that the organization has the necessary level to include the member. If the new member does not currently belong to an organization, they are given a membership chit at this point if they do not already have one. Members can also be stripped of their membership (and membership chit if they do not belong to any other organization) by either themselves or by the leader of the organization by returning their membership badge to the leader or through it being rescinded in the case of player inactivity. Doing so sustains a personal failure on behalf of the member for breaking their oath, but after doing so may remove the organizational honor code tenet from their sheet.

While organizations founded in game may be connected to other related organizations in the world, characters may not enter play as part of an organization. All organizations within the organization system must be founded in game and members must join at an event.

Organization Leader

When an organization is initially formed the individuals involved choose a leader who can sign Organization Badges, spend Membership Chits in the downtime, and receive organization downtime reports.

An organization can determine a new leader at any time through a vote of no confidence of the available members. This is not arbitrated by staff, and must be negotiated by the members of the Organization itself.

Turfs

There are 3 turfs for every parcel, and contain 30 Sites. Among those sites are Ruins and Resource Node sites. Each turf has at least 1 ruin, and can have up to 10 ruins, while each turf has a minimum of 1 resource node and up to 6 nodes total. Resource Nodes, Ruins, and other relevant sites are revealed on the world map after a turf is Dominated or Checked.

Site

A Site is the smallest unit of territory and describes a building or improvement that gives a bonus. Sites can be created by the players and the game is configured to have pre-existing Sites as part of the setting, including Ruins and Resource Nodes.

Sites – Sites often confer mechanical bonuses or gather resources for players and can be created or destroyed by players. Sites can contain one building or resource node. There is room for 30 units of Sites within a Turf, the next tier of territory.

Resource Nodes – Revealed once a Turf has been Dominated or Checked, Resource Nodes are sites that represent particularly rich concentrations of natural resources but are finite in nature, with a set durability that is revealed with the Check ability. Each use removes one durability off of the node. They can be expired if they are used irresponsibly and their Durability allowed to run out, or they can be Conserved or used at a lower level in order to be used for much longer. They can only generate common resources in downtime without a building. Each turf has at least 1 resource node, but may have up to 6 nodes total. Those with the forager skill may use their personal downtime to find materials in these nodes.

Ruins – Ruins are sites that represent the remains of long forgotten civilizations, people, and religions. A character with the right skills can use their downtime to locate ruins and initiate archeology modules at game or during their personal downtime, revealing secrets, treasures, and precious information. Each turf has at least 1 ruin, and can have up to 10. Construction of a building has a 20% chance of revealing a new ruin next to the area. Ruins have a randomized number of times that they can be used.

Organization Downtime Details

Organizations have a number of actions that they can take that help that exert control or influence over a space in the downtime system. Each of these actions requires 1 Membership Chit.

Organizational Actions resolve in priority order to the number listed beside their name. For example, Patrol (1) means it has priority 1 and happens before any higher numbers. Each action, no matter it’s priority, takes 1 Membership chit.  All actions of the same priority happen at the same time and cannot stop other actions within the same priority.

For everything besides conservation and dominate, the travel risk is per action. For dominate and conservation, it’s rolled per site. So if you put 3, 5, or 8 dominate chits on a single site it’s 1 travel risk roll. If you put 3 dominate chits on 3 different sites, it’s 3 different travel rolls.

• Patrol (1) – Parcel – Requires majority parcel control. Block anyone outside of the organization from utilizing resource nodes in this parcel.
• Lockdown (1) – Turf – Keep anyone outside of your organization out of the sites in your turf, cannot be used if someone else has majority parcel control.
• Sabotage (1) – Site – Render a single site unable to produce for a downtime.
• Conservation (1) -Site (Resource Node) – Add 3 durability to a specific resource node.
• Dominate (2) – Turf – Target a turf. If there are other organizational dominate chits: Remove one. Otherwise, add one dominate chit for this organization.
• Squeeze (3) – Turf – Buildings in your turf that generate resources automatically go to the leader of the organization rather than to the individual doing the action.
• Check (3) – Turf- Get a list of the resource nodes in the turf along with what their current durability is, as well as dominate chit totals. If this turf is dominated by your organization you may also receive a list of which individuals staffed which buildings in that turf.
• Spoof (3) – Action – Choose an action done by your organization and blame someone else. This may generate a rumor.
• Snoop (4) – Parcel – See what is happening in a single parcel this downtime on the organizational level. If an action has been spoofed, see the spoof instead.
• Construct (4) – Site – Construct a new site or add an improvement on an existing site after paying material costs.
• Salvage (4) -Site – Select one Site on a turf that your organization controls and destroy it, reclaiming ½ of the materials used to construct it. Salvaging a ruin that has not been fully explored will result in the loss of any treasures or lore that it contained.

Buildings and Sites

Buildings can be constructed on sites, and provide mechanical bonuses for players and organizations. Generally, a building needs to be staffed as part of an individual’s Personal Downtime action in order to confer benefits or provide resources.

Many sites and buildings have a requisite skill necessary to use them. For example, Resource Nodes require a specific level of Gathering, and Specialized Buildings require a specific level of Crafting. Unless it is otherwise noted that a building provides an organization specific benefit, the generated resource is given to the character who staffs the building – with the only exception being if a Squeeze action is used.

Many organizations use a combination of Patrolling, Lockdown, Squeeze, and Checking to control and determine who is using their buildings in a downtime- the better to try to collect a share of the resources generated, but no system is perfect. Buildings can be staffed by multiple people but, in the case of those built on Resource Nodes, more staff will cause the durability to fall at a faster rate.

Glossary

Banner – In order to form an organization, it is necessary to first craft an organization banner and display it in the main square outside the tavern.
Checked – An organization downtime that provides information on a turf.
Distant – The third range of the map, representing the zone between 50 and 100 miles from the game space.
Dominated – An organization downtime that allows an organization to control an turf on the map
Downtime – The space between market events
Forest – One of the types of parcels, most likely to contain forestry resource nodes
Hills – One of the types of parcels, most likely to contain hunting resource nodes
Individual Downtime – The activities that individuals can take in the in-between events system
Local – The second range of the map, representing the zone within 50 miles of the game space.
Lockdown – An organization downtime that keeps people outside the organization from utilizing sites in a turf
Magician – Magician organizations are focused on the acquisition of power through magical means. These cabals are made up of devotees of a specific school of magic.
Membership Chits – Every member of an organization receives a membership chit and may choose during an event to commit it to a specific organization. The number of Membership Chits determines the number of actions that the organization can take in the downtime.
Mountains – One of the types of parcels, most likely to contain mining resource nodes
Occult – Occult organizations revolve around a faith within the world. While not every member of the organization needs to be a member of the faith, the group itself should follow a specific faith or cult.
Organization Badge – The means by which individuals show that they are part of an organization and can spend prestige points
Organization Box – Placed within a privacy-curtained out-of-character space, these locked chests may be decorated by their organization but are managed by staff and are used to collect membership chits for an organization
Organization Leader – The person who can sign Organization Badges, spend Membership Chits in the downtime, and receive organization downtime reports. Chosen by the members of the organization at founding.
Organization System – The system by which organizations interact with the game and the world at large. The organization system of Age of Ashes is two-fold, and incorporates both in-event activities as well as between event Downtime activities.
Organizational Downtime – The activities that organizations can take in the in-between events system
Organizations – Any group or guild formed under the Organization system
Organizations Ledger – The device used by Organization members to enter goals and newly formed organizations.
Outlaws – Outlaws are groups that focus on illicit operations and transactions.
Parcels – A Parcel is a large area of land as outlined in the world map. Parcels have 3 Turfs within them and describe the physical spaces that the Turfs occupy collectively.
Patrols – An organization downtime that blocks people outside the organization from utilizing resource nodes in a parcel
Plains – One of the types of parcels, most likely to contain farming resource nodes
Prestige Points – Represent the renown of an organization, and are achieved by completing in-game goals that make the group more well known among the community. These activities may be performed by anyone in the group up to three times per event, and are detailed for each type of organization.
Remote – The fourth range of the map, representing the zone between 100 and 150 miles from the game space.
Resource Nodes – Resource Nodes are sites that represent particularly rich concentrations of natural resources but are finite in nature, with a set durability that is revealed with the Check ability.
Ruins – Used in archeology, Ruins are sites that represent the remains of long forgotten civilizations, people, and religions
Sellswords – Sellswords are mercenary groups that focus on combat and bounty.
Sites – An area of land as outlined in the world map there are 30 Sites in every turf.
Trade – Trade organizations are focused around the transaction, transport, and creation of material goods and wealth in the world. These include the great guilds of Praesa, crafters, traders, and those who gather or create items.
Turfs – An area of land as outlined in the world map there are 3 turfs for every parcel
Wetlands – One of the types of parcels, most likely to contain herbalism resource nodes
Within Cenotaph – The first range of the map, this zone represents the area of the game space itself, where no travel risk applies.