
Typically, all Arcana and Arcana-related technologies cost 10 points, but having the Power Through Pain affinity reduces the cost of Arcana technologies to 6, and the supporting technologies Dust Mechanics, Dust Purifier, Painosphere, and Sacrificial Amplifiers only cost 4. When creating a custom faction, you are given a pool of 80 trait points to draw from, and every trait you add costs some amount (though some traits are detrimental and thus have a negative cost). Unlike most other faction affinities which have some great effect on the gameplay style of the faction in question, Power Through Pain only really shows itself when creating a custom faction. Unlocks the Arcana of Agility Technology. Makes available the Faction-specific technology Sacrificial Amplifiers. Makes available the Faction-specific technology Painosphere. Makes available the Faction-specific technology Dust Purifier. Makes available the Faction-specific technology Dust Mechanics. Makes available the Faction-specific technology Arcana of Renewal. Makes available the Faction-specific technology Arcana of Materializing. Makes available the Faction-specific technology Arcana of Authority. Faction Traits NameĬan choose Arcana Pillars and spells at a lower cost in Trait pointsĪrdent Mages can more easily manipulate the magic properties of Dust, changing them into powerful spell casters.ĭuring eclipses units with low health enjoy bonus damage as well as attack from Ardent Fireīuilding off pain rituals, during Dust Eclipses injured Ardent Mages find themselves driven into violent rages that make them extra dangerous fighters. The suffering must be great, even magnificent, if she is to prepare the Ardent Mages for the endtimes. Stoicism is therefore as important as intelligence, and indifference to physical discomfort is the way in which an individual's worth is measured - be they an Ardent Mage or a stranger.Īfter falling out with the rest of the Inner Circle in dark circumstances, Zor Abaz has annexed her clan from the greater Ardent Mage nation and struck out for new territory. Pain has become a fundamental element of their society, to the point where children are taught from a young age to withstand it.

For this they have developed elaborate pain rituals, for the more they are able to withstand the agony and ignore their physical discomfort, the deeper their relationship with Dust becomes. To manipulate the powers of Dust, an Ardent Mage must dissociate their mind from their body. Though they control great powers, they pay a great price to do so. The Ardent Mages are a people who were born in struggle and pain, and these conditions dominate their day to day lives.
