# Kislevite Characters ___ A fan supplement for The Old World Roleplaying Game by Cubicle 7. Rules for Kislevite player characters. Last updated: 2025-08-23 Check out [Glorious Portents](https://gloriousportents.blogspot.com/) for more The Old World RPG fan material.

## Introduction I was a bit surprised to find Bretonnians detailed in The Old World RPG Players Guide, considering the book itself states that "those of Kislevite descent make up a good deal of Talagaad’s populace". Perhaps those expatriates are considered Imperials now, but even so the Kislev border is much closer and more accessible than the border to Bretonnia. (See: Travel Distances in the Empire, Jackdays, 2012) So the inclusion of Bretonnians but not Kislevites is strange. Probably some business decision, Bretonnia is after all a playable faction in The Old World miniatures game, while Kislev is not. I'm sure Cubicle 7 will get around to giving us rules for Kislevites in The Old World RPG some day, but until then, this document offers you house rules for playing Kislevites. **Note:** Some of the "fluff" (background information and quotes from in-universe characters), as well as some of the spell effects in this document was written with the help of ChatGPT. Other stuff has been taken from the [Warhammer Fantasy Wiki](https://warhammerfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/). And of course, Realm of the Ice Queen for WFRP 2nd edition is a major inspiration. ## Abbreviations OWRPG = The Old World Roleplaying Game Players Guide ## Kislevites (Human) In the year 2276 of the Old World, Kislev stands as a hardened frontier realm, its people weathering both brutal winters and the ever-present threat of Chaos from the north. The Kislevites are a stoic, resilient folk shaped by hardship and war, their culture a blend of old steppe traditions and the influence of more southern, civilized realms like the Empire. While their cities like Kislev and Erengrad offer some protection and comfort, most Kislevites live in scattered settlements or follow nomadic paths across the steppes. Whether farmer, herder, or warrior, nearly every Kislevite knows how to ride and fight, for the survival of their homeland depends on it. Two distinct peoples form the backbone of Kislevite society: the Gospodars and the Ungols. The Gospodars, relatively recent arrivals, migrated from the east generations ago, bringing with them a more hierarchical and centralized way of life. They now dominate Kislev’s nobility and urban centers, their boyars and tsars enforcing laws and customs that reflect their organized structure. In contrast, the Ungols are the older people of the land, a rugged steppe folk with deep roots in Kislev’s northern reaches. Known for their skill as horse archers and their stubborn independence, many Ungols still favor nomadic or semi-nomadic ways, maintaining traditions viewed as archaic or wild by their Gospodar rulers. Despite occasional tensions between Gospodars and Ungols, both peoples share a common enemy in the dark forces beyond the Troll Country. Warbands of Chaos marauders, beastmen, and worse spill southward with grim regularity, forging a harsh unity among the Kislevites. Ungol scouts and outriders patrol the borders, while Gospodar heavy cavalry and winged lancers ride to meet larger threats. Their gods too reflect their struggle: Ursun, the bear god, commands reverence from both peoples, while the Gospodars elevate Dazh, god of fire and the sun, as a symbol of renewal and strength. In 2276, Kislev’s survival depends on this uneasy blend of tradition and adaptation, as every clan and city braces for the next northern storm. ## _“Kislevites fight like wolves cornered by winter’s chill — fierce and relentless, but often stubborn to a fault. Their harsh lands have forged a people tougher than most, yet their lack of discipline sometimes costs them dearly on the field.”_ -- Reinhart von Löwenberg, Empire captain. ## _“The Kislevites bear the cold with a fierce pride that I admire, but their customs seem wild and unrefined compared to our chivalric courts. Still, there is honor in their defense of home, even if their ways lack the grace of Bretonnian knighthood.”_ -- Sir Paul the Graceful, Knight of Bretonnia ## _“Kislev is a frontier of untamed power, a land where mortal will clashes with raw Chaos. Though their methods lack the subtlety and wisdom of Ulthuan, their courage in facing the darkness is undeniable.”_ -- Kindrael of Chrace, High Elf princeling ## _“They are a rugged breed, shaped by savage lands like ourselves, but their hearts burn with a fierceness that often blinds them. The Kislevites have much to learn from the harmony of the wild, yet their spirit is not easily broken.”_ -- Taronath Starbow, Wood Elf Waywatcher ## _“Kislevites are rough-hewn warriors, born of stone and snow, with more grit than most of the Empire’s roving rabble. They lack the craftsmanship and stubborn resilience of dwarfs, but their fighting spirit makes them valuable allies against the hordes of Chaos.”_ -- Gudran Gudranson, Dwarf Ironbreaker \page ## Randomly generating origin When including Kislevites as player characters, use this table to determine Origin instead of the one in OWRPG. |D12|Origin| |:-:|:-----| | 1 | Bretonnian | | 2-3 | Dwarf | | 4-7 | Empire | | 8 | Halfling | | 9 | High elf| | 10| Wood elf | | 11| Kislevite (Gospodar) | | 12| Kislevite (Ungol) | ## Starting characteristics Kislevites are humans, and use the Human starting characteristics. ## Gospodar origin options Roll twice on the Talent Table below, rerolling duplicates.

| d10 | Random talent | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Allies in Arms | | 2 | Back in the Saddle | | 3 | Exceptional Hearing | | 4 | Faith | | 5 | Fight as One | | d10 | Random talent | |:---:|:------------| | 6 | Keen Eyed | | 7 | Resolute | | 8 | Steer Clear | | 9 | Taunter | | 10 | Touched by the Winds |

___ * **Skill ratings:** Your skills begin at 2. Raise Melee, Leadership, and any two other skills of your choice to 3. You may wait until you determine your Career before choosing. * **Lores:** You begin with Lore: Kislev, as well as one out of Lore: Military, Lore: Sailing or Lore: Farming. * **Fate:** Your starting Fate is 3. * **Suggested names:** Tatiana, Ivan, Yuri, Daria, Pavel, Natalia, Mikhail, Irina, Konstantin, Marina, Sofiya, Dmitri, Elena, Vasily, Anya, Alexei, Valentina, Sergei, Katarina, Nikolai ## Ungol origin options Roll twice on the Talent Table below, rerolling duplicates.

| d10 | Random talent | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Back in the Saddle | | 2 | Faith| | 3 | Feigned Flight | | 4 | Hatred (Warriors of Chaos) | | 5 | Interceptor | | d10 | Random talent | |:---:|:------------| | 6 | Lightning Reflexes | | 7 | Spiteseer | | 8 | Steer Clear | | 9 | Touched by the Winds | | 10 | Vanguard |

___ * **Skill ratings:** Your skills begin at 2. Raise Shooting, Athletics, and any two other skills of your choice to 3. You may wait until you determine your Career before choosing. * **Lores:** You begin with Lore: Kislev, as well as either Lore: Music or Lore: Warriors of Chaos. * **Fate:** Your starting Fate is 3. * **Suggested names:** Boris, Zoya, Igor, Nadya, Lev, Milena, Oleg, Varya, Stepan, Rada, Makar, Luba, Yuri, Galya, Fedor, Anka, Vasya, Dasha, Nikolai, Zina ## Special talent requirements All Kislevites can take the Faith talent as if they were imperials, usually for Ursun or Dazh. Some Ungols are in tune with spirits, and can take the Spiteseer talent as if they were Wood Elves. ## Random career table |Career|Gospodar|Ungol| |:-----|:------:|:---:| |Apotechary |01-05|01-07| |Arcane wizard* |06 | | |Artisan |07-11|08-12| |Boathand |12-16|13-17| |Bounty hunter |17-21|18-23| |Brigand |22-24|24-29| |Charlatan |25-27|30-31| |Courtier |28-32|32-33| |Engineer |33-34|34 | |Entertainer |35-37|35-39| |Hedge Wizard* |38 |40-44| |Horse Archer (new)| |45-50| |Ice Witch (new)* |39-40| | |Winged Lancer (new)|41-43| | |Labourer |44-51|51-61| |Merchant |52-57|62-65| |Noble |58-59|66 | |Priest |60-64|67-69| |Rat Catcher |65-67|70-74| |Road Warden |68-72|75-78| |Scholar |73-76|79 | |Sharpshooter |77-81|80-85| |Soldier |82-91|86-95| |Thief |92-96|96-99| |Townwatch |97-100|100 | > ##### *Magic users and gender in Kislev > Ever since the reign of Tzarina Shoika, approximately 750 years before the setting of The Old World RPG, male magic users have been suppressed in Kislev, killed or otherwise neutralized by the state. Male kislevite characters with magical talents may well be in Taalagad because they have fled persecution in their homeland. > > Male Ice Witches in particular are hunted, as it is prophesized a male witch will one day taint the pristine flows of ice magic. \page # Careers ## Horse Archer _“Better to spend your quiver than your mount; but both weigh less than your father’s shame.”_ -- Borivik Half-Tail, Ungol horseman ___ In the harsh steppe lands north and east of Kislev, horse archers are not mere soldiers—they are survival made manifest. Among the Ungol clans, every boy learns the bow before he can braid his beard, for a man who cannot loose from the saddle is little better than dead. Their tactics are as old as the winds: strike fast, harry the flanks, vanish before the enemy’s steel can close. A Dolgan or Ungol rider thinks little of glory and less of honor; survival, not heroism, is the measure of worth. They prize speed, cunning, and the patient cruelty of hit and run tactics. For in the endless grasslands, a man who wastes his arrows—or his horse—is as good as feeding the crows. While far more common in Kislev than elsewhere, riding archers can also be found on the plains of Ostermark, and on the rolling hills of Stirland and Wissenland - though in these places they are most often just highwaymen who cannot afford gunpowder weapons, and there is no cultural significance to the practice. Bretonnian Yeomen also sometimes fight as horse archers, as do High Elf Ellyrian Reavers and Wood Elfs Glade Riders.

##### The Svekrani Horse archers are an uncommon sight near Talagaad, but not unknown. Some Ungol clans still send riders south in lean seasons, hiring out as scouts or outriders for merchant trains and petty warbands. In the woods and hills along the Talabec, their bows find use hunting both deer and men. A few local lords — half-bandits themselves — keep Ungol riders as trackers, valuing their skill at ranged skirmishing when rival tax-collectors or roadwardens draw near. Tradition calls these far-roaming archers svekrani, or “those who drift,” a name given without kindness by their kin in the homelands. But in a land where law breaks before bread does, a drifting bow can still buy a man another winter.

### Horse Archer (Brass) ___ * **Origins:** High Elf, Wood Elf, Bretonnian, Kislevite (Ungol) or Empire (Human). * **Favored characteristics:** Ballistic Skill, Toughness, Agility * **Skill bonuses:** +1 to four of the following: Shooting, Survival, Endurance, Awareness, Athletics, Stealth * **Lore:** Military *or* Provincial Lore (choose one) *or* Environment Lore (choose one), Music *or* Cooking * **Trappings:** Shortbow *or* warbow, dagger, light armor, travelling clothes, travellers kit, hunting kit * **Assets:** Horse and Stables * **Contacts:** Comrades in Arms, Wanderers and Wastrels * **Career talent:** **Parting shot:** When you are mounted and holding a bow, when you give ground and move to a zone without enemies, you can loose arrows towards your attacker or someone else in the zone you just left. Your target must either drop *Prone* or become *Staggered*, taking a wound if they can do neither. ``` ``` ## Ice Witch _“Better to ride against trolls than anger a daughter of the frost.”_ -- Ungol proverb ___ Ice Witches are the feared sorceresses of Kislev, born with frost in their veins and power drawn from the lands endless winter. With a talent for channeling the cold heart of the land itself, they command not just spells but the raw chill of the north itself—freezing rivers, calling blizzards, and rending flesh with shards of bitter ice. Their magic is no gentle art; it is harsh, precise, and merciless, reflecting the land that shapes them. To their own people, Ice Witches are both protectors and threats, serving as advisors to boyars or as solitary enforcers of the Tzarina’s will, answering to none but their queen. In places like Talagaad, far from the Ice Court’s shadow, an Ice Witch’s presence means trouble. Few travel so far south without cause: a debt to claim, a runaway to find, or a war to shape from the edges. Common folk fear their pale eyes and silent stares, whispering that they speak to spirits in the snow or that they steal warmth from the living for their spells. Still, when the dead ride or chaos bleeds from the forests, none question the worth of an Ice Witch’s power — only the price. Ice witches know what they are, their magic is different from that of other wizards - but they often pose as Elementalists outside Kislev, and as most people know little of magic - they are usually successful in this ruse.

##### The Heart of the Widow Rumors say the Ice Witches are hunting a relic lost in the hills near Talagaad — a lump of black ice said to never melt, even in summer’s heart. Some claim it is a fragment of a fallen star; others whisper it was pulled from a Chaos rift and chained beneath warding runes long forgotten. Whatever its truth, the witches seek it with quiet urgency, sending agents and pale-eyed scouts to question hunters and trappers alike. In a town where frost should not linger, folk have begun to find their water frozen at dawn, and none doubt now that the witches are close.

##### The Sisterhood In Kislev, the sisterhood of Ice Witches (open only to females) is an organized society with shared goals. Most of its members are of noble birth, and many Tzarinas have been members - those who are are known as the Ice Queens of Kislev. The sisterhood works to suppress competing philosophies and magic, and even carefully guide the development of religious cults. While it has no official presence in The Empire, its agents can be found all over the Old World, and any open member of The Sisterhood commands respect or fear among all Kislevites, as well as members of High Society elsewhere. A female Gospodar Ice Witch with the Secret Society Membership asset can be a member of the Sisterhood.

\page ### Ice Witch (Silver*) ___ * **Origins:** Kislevite (Gospodar) * **Favored characteristics:** Toughness, Reason, Fellowship * **Skill bonuses:** +1 to four of the following: Defence, Endurance, Awareness, Willpower, Recall, Leadership * **Lore:** Magic Lore (Ice Magic), Literacy, High Society (if female) *or* Criminal Underworld (if male) * **Trappings:** Sword *or* staff, dagger, peasants garb *or* burgher's apparel *or* lordly attire, arcane paraphernalia, writing kit * **Assets:** Secret society membership *or* heirloom wargear *or* secret hideout *or* secret identity * **Contacts:** The Great and the Good, Wanderers and Wastrels * **Career talent:** **Touched by the Ancient Widow:** The icy power of the land of Kislev courses through your veins. You are a Level 1 Wizard (OWRPG p81), and begin play having memorised three spells from Magic Lore (Ice Magic). When the temperature drops below freezing, your wizard level counts as one higher than it otherwise is for the purposes of casting spells from Magic Lore (Ice Magic). This can increase your wizard level beyond 4. > ##### *Ice Witch Status and Expectations > Female ice witches in Kislev are Gold tier, while male ice witches in Kislev are Brass. In The Empire, they sort into society much like Elementalists and are therefore of Silver status, though it can make good roleplaying sense to lower this to Brass for a refugee. (The player still gets an XP for that.) > > Regardless of status, Kislevites who know a female Ice Witch for what she is expects her to act cold and dignified, heedless to the suffering of others, courteous and with respect for rank - but considering themselves above all in rank except more powerful Ice Witches. This supersedes Status Expectations. ``` ``` ## Winged Lancer _“A Winged Lancer charges like he’ll never need to turn.”_ -- Horse-archer Borivik Half-Tail, with grudging respect. ___ Winged Lancers are Kislev’s pride: heavy cavalry draped in bright sashes and iron, with great wings of wood and feathers rising from their backs to rattle and roar as they charge. Each lance is a family’s honor made flesh, handed from father to son, the wood bound in leather, the point gleaming like frost. Their role is simple but brutal: Break the enemy, smash the line, and ride down what flees. To their kin, they are the bright song of battle; to their foes, the sound of wings means death galloping near. Though gold and glory often follow their charge, few lancers die in bed. In places like Talagaad, far from the high courts of Kislev, Winged Lancers sometimes ride as little more than well-paid mercenaries. When boyars war with their neighbors, or bandits choke the trade roads, these riders sell their strength to whoever can afford their pride. Even so, their presence commands respect: Taverns fall silent when a lancer steps inside, and kislevite expatriates carve small winged charms to hang over their doorways, hoping to earn a rider’s favor — or ward one off.

##### Wayward Wings A small company of Winged Lancers has drifted into Talagaad, their lances bright but their purpose uncertain. Some say they’ve been hired by a petty noble looking to settle a feud or guard their trade against rival claimants. Others whisper that agents of Duke Ludwig XII have been seeking riders willing to sell their charge to the highest bidder, planning a campaign against Reikland this summer. Whatever the truth, few in Talagaad care to ask. Men who carry wings on their backs do not ride south without reason, and it’s never a reason that bodes well for common folk.

### Winged Lancer (Silver) ___ * **Origins:** Kislevite (Gospodar) * **Favored characteristics:** Weapon Skill, Strength, Agility * **Skill bonuses:** +1 to four of the following: Melee, Brawn, Endurance, Athletics, Willpower, Leadership * **Lore:** Military, High Society *or* Warriors of Chaos * **Trappings:** Lance, Sword, Shield, Heavy armor * **Assets:** Horse and stables, Winged saddle* * **Contacts:** The Great and the Good, Comrades in Arms * **Career talent:** **Clash of steel:** When you fail a melee attack that was made as part of a charge, you do not become *Staggered*. > ##### *Winged saddle > When you charge while mounted atop a horse with a winged saddle, the noise it makes is unnerving to your enemies. The target of your charge must make a Willpower check or give ground, even if your attack fails. If they fail the test and cannot give ground, they are Staggered. > > A Winged Saddle is constructed using little known techniques, traditionally with feathers from an eagle or griffin you have hunted yourself. It counts as a Silver asset. \page # Magic Lores ## Ice Magic Ice witches claim to channel the very power of the land of Kislev, though other wizards suspect they draw power from elemental spirits, winds and ley-lines the same as themselves. Whatever the case, they command great powers of frost and ice. ### Iceheart ___ * **CV:** 1 * **Target:** Potency creatures * **Range:** Medium * **Duration:** Until the next sunrise or sunset * **Effect:** You infuse willing targets with the power of winter, turning them immune to the effects of natural cold temperatures. This also steels them against passion and fear, and any Willpower check they make to resist fear, terror or temptation is Glorious. ### Ice armor ___ * **CV:** 1 * **Target:** Yourself * **Duration:** Potency Turns * **Range:** Close * **Effect:** Your clothes become hard as ice, protecting you. When you make an Opposed Test to avoid an attack, you win any ties. However, their stiffness means that any Athletics checks you make for purposes other than dodging attacks are Grim. ### Zone of Cold ___ * **CV:** 2 * **Target:** Zone * **Range:** Short * **Duration:** Potency hours * **Effect:** The temperature drops quickly in the target Zone over the next ten minutes, until the temperature is a few degrees below freezing. The spell affects both air and water temperature. If the temperature was already below freezing, the spell has no effect. The temperature is uncomfortable to those not dressed for it, but not immediately harmful to most creatures. The spell is useful for preserving food, freezing water, and to bolster the spellcasting abilities of an Ice Witch. The spell is unpredictable when used on running water, sometimes a river will overflow, other times the spell will create ice sheets that move with the flow. The exact results of this is are left for the GM to decide. ### Chill curse ___ * **CV:** 2 * **Target:** Zone * **Range:** Long * **Duration:** Potency turns * **Effect:** A number of creatures in the target zone equal to the potency of this spell have their speed reduced by one step (fast creatures becoming normal, normal becoming slow). Slow creatures are not affected. ``` ``` ### Breath of Winter ___ * **CV:** 2 * **Target:** Zone * **Range:** Medium * **Duration:** Immediate * **Effect:** You breathe forth a stream of incredibly cold air, freezing foes, causing frostbite and making metals unbearably cold. Choose a Zone within Medium Range. A number of foes in that Zone equal to the Potency of this spell suffer Potency Damage, +2 if they are not wearing winter clothing. ### Ice blade ___ * **CV:** 2 * **Target:** Object * **Range:** Short * **Duration:** Potency Turns * **Effect:** With a simple gesture you channel the cold of winter into a weapon, causing hoarfrost to form on its surface. A melee weapon of your choosing becomes unnaturally cold, though the weapon's wielder is unaffected. Foes Staggered or Wounded by this weapon suffer the Drained condition. ### Blizzard ___ * **CV:** 5 * **Target:** Potency zones * **Range:** Any * **Duration:** Potency turns * **Effect:** A thick, swirling flurry of snow and ice appears out of the air, freezing and blinding all in its path. You can cast blizzard at any range, but you must maintain line of sight with it. Anyone within the affected zones suffer the Blinded and Burdened conditions, and take 2\*Potency damage each round unless they are wearing thick winter clothing. It is impossible to make out anything within the Blizzard from outside it. Each turn you may spend your action to move the blizzard from one or more of the zones it is affecting to adjacent zones. ### Ice Crown ___ * **CV:** 3 * **Target:** Yourself * **Range:** Close * **Duration:** Potency turns * **Effect:** A magnificent crown made of ice forms on your head. While it remains, all Leadership checks you make are Glorious. ### Form of the Frostwraith ___ * **CV:** 4 * **Target:** Yourself * **Range:** Close * **Duration:** Potency turns * **Effect:** You transform yourself and your trappings into a shrieking, taloned frostwraith. You do not count as Undead, but otherwise take on the guise and statistics of a Wraith (https://towrpg.com/creature_compendium#Creature=Wraith). You cannot cast spells, communicate with words or pick up objects while in this form. \page ### Frozen Ground ___ * **CV:** 2 * **Target:** Zone * **Range:** Long * **Duration:** Potency Turns * **Effect:** You freeze the earth itself. The target Zone becomes Difficult Terrain, ice slicks and frozen roots making movement hazardous, and sharp icicles jut up from the ground. Anyone who falls Prone within the area also become Staggered. Mounts and beasts must pass a Willpower Test to enter the area at all. ### Veil of Frost ___ * **CV:** 2 * **Target:** Self or Ally * **Range:** Close * **Duration:** Battle, or potency minutes outside combat * **Effect:** A thin mist of cold air and fine snow surrounds the target, concealing them behind refracted light and chill. Attackers suffer -1d to all Ranged Attacks against the target. Additionally, the target gets +1d to Stealth tests made to avoid notice when moving in snowy or misty environments. ### Icebind ___ * **CV:** 3 * **Target:** Creature * **Range:** Short * **Duration:** Potency Turns * **Effect:** Thick rime forms around the target’s legs and arms, quickly encasing them in thick ice. The target must pass a Brawn test to break the ice as it forms or become Defenceless for the spell’s duration. Even if the Test is passed, the target becomes Burdened as freezing ice clings to their limbs. ### Preserve in Ice ___ * **CV:** 2 * **Target:** Object or Corpse * **Range:** Close * **Duration:** Potency days * **Effect:** You seal a creature or object within thick, clear ice. Meat, food, and even corpses do not decay while frozen. The ice remains unnaturally cold, resistant to natural heat or sunlight, but will shatter if struck hard enough. Useful for preserving the dead for later burial… or interrogation. ### Whispers Beneath the Lake ___ * **CV:** 2 * **Target:** Frozen surface * **Range:** Touch * **Duration:** Potency Minutes * **Effect:** Kneeling beside ice or frozen water, you listen to the deep, slow voices carried through the frozen layers. You may ask a single question about events that occurred nearby within the past Potency Days — if spirits or echoes remain, you receive a cryptic but truthful answer, conveyed as distant murmurs, cracks, or drifting images in the ice. ### Path of Frost ___ * **CV:** 1 * **Target:** See effect * **Range:** Medium * **Duration:** Potency minutes * **Effect:** You freeze a stretch of water solid — a river, marsh, or pond — creating a path of solid ice wide enough for a person to cross. It lasts for the spell’s duration or until deliberately shattered. (Requiring a Brawn test.) If cast on earth, you can instead create a smooth path of ice and tightly packed snow to help sleds or wagons pass some uneven ground. ### Crystalline Mirror ___ * **CV:** 3 * **Target:** Bowl of Water * **Range:** Touch * **Duration:** Potency Minutes * **Effect:** You freeze water into perfect, glassy ice and stare into it. In addition to it functioning as a mirror, you may scry upon a place or person known to you — though the images are fragmented and blurred by frost, and the target will notice a slight chill. The more distant or obscure the subject, the lower the clarity. At GM discretion, the images may require further tests to interpret. ### Hearth-Ward of Ice * **CV: 2** * **Target:** Structure or Encampment * **Range:** Close * **Duration:** Potency Days * **Effect:** You trace runes of frost around a dwelling or camp’s perimeter. Until the spell ends, small natural predators (wolves, bears) and wandering spirits instinctively avoid crossing the threshold. Corrupted beings (beasts of Chaos, undead) and sentient beings with ill intentions must pass a Willpower Test to enter, feeling an oppressive cold as they approach. ### Unseasonal Winter ___ * **CV:** 20 * **Target:** Province * **Range:** Special * **Duration:** Potency months * **Effect:** Over the next couple of days, temperatures drop and the weather patterns in the province you cast the spell in become those of its coldest season. You can end the effect prematurely by willing it to end. It will also end prematurely if you are killed. After ending, it will take a few days for nature to return to normal. While the effect is ongoing, those able to see magical effects can see that you are the source of the anomaly. \page

## Ice magic improvised spell examples | Effect | CV | Example | Requirements | |:------:|:--:|:--------|:------------:| | Petty | 2 | Chill a drink or small object to freezing with a touch. Frost a window or create icy runes that last a few minutes. Freeze a patch of earth or stone slick enough to trip the unwary. Mask your own breath in winter air. Sheathe your skin in harmless frost, making your body cold to the touch. Freeze blood spatters to preserve them for later investigation. Frost-lock a simple door or mechanism. Conjure a faint mist of cold air to obscure a small room. Cause wolves or horses to balk at crossing ground you have frozen. | Wizard 1 | | Cardinal | 4 | Summon a spectral frost-wolf or ice-raven as a temporary guide or messenger. Freeze a shallow stream solid to cross. Wreathe your weapon in frost, letting it count as magical for a time. Sculpt ice into simple, inanimate forms — barriers, bridges, effigies. Cloak yourself in swirling mist for concealment, following you as you move. |Wizard 2| | Advanced | 8 | Freeze a person solid within a pillar of clear ice, trapping them alive in suspended animation. Summon a full-grown frost-wolf or ice-bear spirit, solid enough to fight or track a target across vast distances. Draw the heat from a large area, such as a courtyard or small glade — plants blacken and snap, fires extinguish, water freezes in seconds. Craft elaborate, complex structures from solid ice, like functional stairways, cages, or walls, lasting hours before melting naturally. Call forth a flock of ice-ravens to scout, harass, or deliver messages. |Wizard 3 | | Master | 12+ | Freeze a small building solid, burying it in unnatural frost. Shape a living statue of ice capable of simple tasks or standing guard silently for hours. Breathe a storm’s chill, covering a valley in sudden frost overnight. Awaken ancestral spirits from beneath a frozen lake to seek forgotten knowledge or warnings. Coat a person’s skin in living ice to protect them from flame. | Wizard 4 |

\page # Deities The Kislevites honor a harsh and practical pantheon, where strength and survival earn devotion more than mercy. Their chief gods are Ursun, the great bear-father who protects the land, Dazh, the god of the sun and the hearth, and Tor, who rules the thunder and wields the storm as his hammer. Lesser spirits—rivers, winds, and ancestors long dead—are also given offerings, for in Kislev, even a whisper of favor can mean life through the long winter. While the Kislevites have their own native gods, they also recognize the broader pantheon of the Old World, though often through a Kislevite lens. Ulric in particular holds respect in Kislev, seen as a brother or rival to their own storm and winter gods. Taal is honored as the lord of wild places, though perhaps less personally than by Empire folk, while Morr is respected quietly, as death is an ever-present companion on the steppe. ## Dazh **Favored lore:** Farming, Cooking *or* Smithing Dazh is the god of fire, sun, and the hearth—patron of warmth in a land where warmth is life. To the Kislevites, he is both giver of light and guardian of home, the one who watches over campfires in the endless snow. His worship stretches back to the earliest tribes who roamed the steppe, and even now his shrines are found at crossroads and village squares, where offerings of bread, salt, or small bundles of kindling are left for his favor. Dazh is seen as generous yet stern; his fire can comfort, but it can just as easily burn. His priesthood, known as the Chorim Dazha or “Singers of the Flame,” are fewer in number than the followers of Ursun or Tor, yet widely respected. They tend communal fires in towns and watch over the great hearths of noble halls, their orange robes marked by symbols of flame and sunwheels. Practical above all else, Dazh’s priests act as healers, smiths, and advisors, keeping not only sacred fires burning but also the spirits of the people. Some say their prayers can drive back unnatural cold or grant warmth even when hope is lost. In times of war, they often ride with caravans and armies alike, their presence a reminder that even in the heart of winter, fire still burns. > ##### Strictures of Dazh > * Never let a fire go out during the night > * Never light a fire on a dirty hearth > * Mark your home and hearth with a symbol of Dazh > * Always give hospitality to those who ask for it > * Offer sacrifices to Dazh on the first day of the winter snows > * Never raise a weapon in a home, except to defend it ``` ``` ### Dazh's Favour Dazh’s favor typically reveals itself through signs of warmth, light, and comfort in the cold—subtle blessings that mean survival in Kislev’s harsh lands. Fires set or tended by those who have his favor do not go out unintentionally or spread accidentally - and will never go out at a bad time. The homes of those protected by Dazh never suffer fires. You automatically succeed at any attempt to light a torch or campfire, regardless of conditions. When you rest by a fire at the end of the day, you automatically succeed at the Endurance test to avoid wounds becoming infected. ### Prayers of Dazh #### Hearthfire’s Grace You intone a prayer of warmth and welcome, and a gentle radiance surrounds you. For the next hour, anyone resting in your presence counts as having taken a full night's rest, regardless of weather or setting. In freezing environments, it also staves off cold exposure for all within short range. #### Light of Truth Holding a flame aloft or invoking Dazh by name, you cast out shadows both literal and metaphorical. You become aware of anyone or anything purposefully hidden within medium range. Illusions, glamours, or magical concealments within that area flicker noticeably and can be seen through with a successful Awareness Test. #### Radiance of the Dawn You sing the hymn of the rising sun, and the area is bathed in soft golden light. Any creature of undeath or Chaos within the light must pass a Willpower Test or suffer -1d to all Tests while they remain within it. The effect lasts until you leave the area, suffer a condition, take a wound or stop singing. ### Miracles of Dazh Dazh’s miracles manifest as radiant wonders of the sun and fire, blessings of life and light in their purest forms. He might kindle a golden flame that cannot be extinguished, warming an entire fortress through the deepest winter, or call down a beam of sunlight from a clouded sky to sear a battlefield clear of the undead. His favor may heal a village stricken with plague or cause crops to ripen overnight in answer to honest prayer. Most wondrous are the Arari — brilliant firebirds of living flame, whose appearance signals Dazh’s personal attention. A flock of Arari might descend in silence, their wings casting no shadow, burning away a Chaos taint or spiriting away a beloved soul to peace beyond mortal reach. As with all Miracles, Dazh’s intervention must be earned — he gives freely, but not lightly. \page ## Tor **Favored lore:** None. Tor cares only for fighting and there are no priests or cults of Tor in the traditional sense. Tor is the god of thunder and lightning in the Old World. He is also worshipped as a warrior god and the patron of warriors, and is most revered in the nation of Kislev. He is portrayed as a muscled, square-jawed warrior. He wields a massive axe with a haft of oak, and uses it to cleave the sky to create the thunderbolts for which he is famed. Tor is the most active of the Kislevite gods, and quite frequently his name is used as a curse on others. For example, the Kislevarin phrase Ty Tor! means "By Tor!" and is an exclamation of surprise. On the other hand, Do Tor! means "Tor's Bolt!" and is an entreaty for the god to unleash his anger upon the enemy. > ##### Strictures of Tor > * Fear neither storm nor foe > * Do not refuse a fair challenge > * Strike swiftly and without hesitation > * Leave an offering before battle begins > * Show respect to thunder and lightning, do not speak lightly when Tor is about ### Tor's Favour Tor’s favor shows itself as raw force and violent suddenness—the crash of thunder, the spark of iron striking stone, the overwhelming presence of the storm. Tor grants strength, not safety. With his favor, thunder rolls in the distance whenever you are wounded. If you are wounded in a thunderstorm, lightning strikes nearby instead. You also deal +1 damage with any axe you wield. ### Prayers of Tor #### Thunder’s Roar You bellow Tor’s name, and the skies answer. Your voice booms like thunder, shaking the courage of your foes. All enemies within medium range must pass a Willpower Test or gain the Staggered condition if they do not already have it. This effect can only be used once per battle. #### Storm’s Wrath Calling upon Tor’s tempestuous fury, an axe you hold crackles with sparks of lightning. For the remainder of the battle, any successful hit you make with this weapon deals +1 Damage and counts as magical. In addition, each time you cause a wound with it, arcs of storm-light leap to a nearby foe (within close range), who must pass an Endurance Test or become Staggered. #### Hammer of the Storm You strike the ground with all your strength, invoking Tor’s sacred axe. A shockwave blasts outward from the point of impact. All creatures except yourself within short range must pass a Endurance Test or be knocked Prone. This prayer can be used only once per battle. ``` ``` ### Miracles of Tor You call upon Tors aid, and he strikes down the object of your wrath. Tors miracles invariably show themselves as impossibly timed and aimed lightning strikes, which can set fire to a ship or building, topple a tree, crumble parts of a tower or fry an enemy. ## Ursun **Favored lore:** Mountaineering *or* Woodcraft *or* Waterways Ursun, also known as "The Great Bear" or "Father Bear" is the god of bears, strength, fatherhood and the wilderness, and the patron god of Kislev. Ursun's worship was first introduced to Kislev by the Gospodars, but bears were such a major part of Kislevite life that the religion was accepted almost instantly by the Ungols as well. Bears continue to be a vital part of Kislevite culture to this day, and the religion is now inseparable from Kislevite society. Worship of Ursun is not a state religion, but the fate of Kislev is linked in many of the minds of its people to the fortunes and favour of Father Bear. > ##### Strictures of Ursun > * Never hunt a bear in winter > * Eat fish at least once a week > * Do not hunt more than hunger demands > * Show no mercy to the tainted or corrupted > * Shun the comforts of indoor life whenever possible > * Protect the young and the weak, as a bear guards its cubs > * Only display the hide, claw, tooth or skull of a bear you have slain yourself ### Ursun's Favour Ursun’s favor is quiet, heavy, and patient—like the god himself. Where Dazh comforts and Tor roars, Ursun watches. His blessings come as endurance, silent protection, and the strength to outlast what others cannot. All your Survival and Endurance tests are Glorious. ### Prayers of Ursun When you learn the prayers of Ursun, pick three of the following that you can use. #### Bear’s Endurance You growl a steady prayer, and Ursun lends you the strength of his lumbering form. Until the end of the current battle or for a few minutes out of combat, you gain +1d to Strength and Toughness tests and your Resilience increases by 1. While this prayer lasts, your gait becomes heavy, but your steps are sure. #### Growl of Warning You utter a low growl that rumbles unnaturally far. Beasts and natural creatures within earshot recognize the sound as a predator’s claim — hostile animals retreat unless cornered, and mounts or guard dogs become uneasy. Even Chaos beasts hesitate; they must pass a Willpower test opposed by your Willpower to willingly approach you for the next few minutes. \page #### Father’s Voice You speak with the authority of Ursun himself. For the next hour, you have +1d on Leadership tests to affect any friendly creature who can hear you, whether child, soldier, or stranger, provided you are offering protection, guidance, or encouragement. Those under your command feel an instinctive urge to obey, like cubs responding to a father’s growl. #### Father’s Rest You hum an ancient lullaby said to be sung by Ursun in his winter sleep. Anyone listening finds their mind slowing, burdens lifting. Allies within short range who are trying to go to sleep are able to do so regardless of noise or discomfort, and they do not suffer nightmares. They wake automatically if predators or enemies approach to within Medium range. >___ >* Sleep now, cub, the woods are wide, >* Father watches, teeth beside. >* Snow may fall and night be long, >* But Ursun’s back is broad and strong. >___ >* Dream of roots and rivers deep, >* Stone and den, and winter’s sleep. >* While cold winds howl and branches break, >* Father guards until you wake. ### Miracles of Ursun Ursun’s miracles are the quiet, unrelenting strength of the wilderness made manifest — the patience of winter, the fury of a father protecting his own, and the enduring bond of kin. He may grant a warrior the resilience of stone, letting them fight on after mortal wounds, or cause the land itself to rise in silent anger, causing avalanches and earthquakes. He might summon spectral bears from the deep earth, their roars shaking courage from hearts, or send a single, massive bear of fur like night and eyes like embers to fight at his priest’s side. At his gentlest, Ursun’s miracles mend what is broken: healing shattered bodies, soothing grief, or calling lost children from the woods by name. His favor might cause rivers to swell to protect a village, or cloak a band of refugees in mist and silence until they reach safety. Those starving in the wilderness might find a bear providing them with fish each morning, and guiding them back to civilization. Like a true father, Ursun rarely answers calls for vengeance or ruin — preferring instead to aid those who need or give protection. \page # Change log

- 2025-08-23: Added link to [Glorious Portents](https://gloriousportents.blogspot.com/) in the header. - 2025-07-22: Initial version.

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