RELICS
Explanation
Humans are creatures defined largely by their tools, and this relationship shows up time and time again in the legends they pass on. The tools of the Gods play a major role in defining Avatars as well. Relic, items of divine origin are always associated with one divine dominion or another; Avatars without the direct intervention of their divine parent can still learn new dominions through the acquisition of relics.
The Relic trait rating represents how many of the divine Purviews can be accessed through a single Relic. If a character has a particular Dominion, she may activate it as long as she has an appropriate Relic. The Wind’s Freedom Boon (see p. 146), for example, can be used if the Avatar possesses a relic of the Dominion of Sky — assuming, of course, that the character’s player purchased that of course, she has another relic that happens to cover that same Dominion).
Mere possession, however, is insufficient. The Avatar must also be able to use the item, which depends on the nature of the relic. Books must be read, swords must be wielded, bags of gris-gris must be opened and sprinkled. An Avatar who is unconscious, restrained by rope or chain, or has her sacred Relic buried deep inside a backpack and out of easy reach won’t usually be able to access her Relics or their associated Dominions.
An important caveat: A particular relic might allow an Avatar to use Dominions from a certain divine portfolio, but that doesn’t mean the Avatar now has access to every Dominion of that sphere. The character may use only those powers his player purchased at character creation or through the expenditure of experience points.
Trait Effects
| ● | Access to one Dominion. |
| ●● | Access to two Dominion. |
| ●●● | Access to three Dominion. |
| ●●●● | Access to four Dominion. |
| ●●●●● | Access to five Dominion. |
