Last 3 Edits
11th May, 2016. Added list of appropriate Foci, Attributes, info.
Ruk is a land of amazing technology, miracles of biological enhancement, and feuds that have burned since before humanity evolved. Ruk's factions, powerful and ancient, strive always against each other.
In Ruk, the walls of the world are a literal fact, visible as massive organimer spars that pierce, protect, and lie shattered across the landscape. Outside the relative safety of the capital city Harmonious, the threats abound.
What a Recursor Knows
- Ruk operates under the law of Mad Science and is a place of extreme biotech and body modification.
- Ruk has hidden in Earth's shadow since before humanity evolved, and it comes from another place in the universe, apparently having fled an unremembered disaster.
- Feuding factions rule Ruk; a faction is like a religion, corporation, and governing body rolled into one.
- The True Code is the ancient knowledge of Ruk, much of which is lost, though many still cleave to it and attempt to rediscover it.
- The All Song is the communal web of knowledge, insight, and inspiration that many in Ruk rely on, though many believe that reliance comes at the expense of the True Code.
Ruk Attributes
Ruk is described in TSCB p190.
Level: 4
Laws: Mad Science
Playable Races: Humans
Foci: See list below.
Skills: Ruk Lore, All-Song Navigation
Connection to the Strange: Anyone in Ruk can see the Strange in the distance. At the edge of the recursion (called the Periphery) this view is very clear, while elsewhere it is pale and misty. Typically, creatures in the Strange cannot see Ruk, nor enter it.
Connection to Recursions: Various gates.
Traits: Strange. For any creature with the spark who attempts to recognise or understand the strange and its denizens, including identifying translated visitors from alternate recursions, as well as identifying and understanding cyphers, the difficulty to do so is modified by one step to its benefit.
Foci Appropriate for Ruk
If using the Cypher System to play in this setting, the following foci are appropriate for Ruk. Some others might be available (such as Throws Boulders/Cars/etc (TSIT p88), Goes Berserk (TSIT p48) or Soars Across the Sky (TSIT p83)), but these would reflect rare individuals. These features must be able to be explained by enhanced technology and/or extreme body modifications. Whilst such individuals may exist, the most common Foci found on Ruk (and those that can be 'dragged') are listed below.
Remember, if you do not wish to take your Tier ability, there are other options to replace them in the CSRB p91-94. Refer to our main Foci List Page for full references of the books listed below after each focus.
Determining Focus Randomly
If you wish to roll your focus randomly, roll a d100 and consult the table below:
| d100 | Where to get your focus |
|---|---|
| 01-25 | Ruk - roll again on Column 1 below |
| 26-50 | Ruk - roll again on Column 2 below |
| 51-75 | Ruk - roll again on Column 1 below |
| 76-90 | Roll from foci on Our Main List. Still needs to be explained in the context of Ruk |
| 91-00 | Strange Specific. Roll from those on the Strange Foci list |
- Adapts to Any Environment
- Aspires to be Posthuman
- Assists a Mad Genius
- Battles Robots/Automatons
- Blows Stuff Up
- Builds Robots
- Calculates The Incalculable
- Carries the Burden of Knowledge
- Collects Bounties
- Conducts Dangerous Experiments
- Conducts Weird Science
- Controls Nanomachines
- Constructs a Palace of the Mind
- Crafts Unique Objects
- Defends The Weak
- Develops Sentience For robots.
- Doesn't Do Much
- Dons a Power Suit
- Employs Fantastic Gadgets
- Entertains
- Excels Physically
- Explores Dark Places
- Fights Aliens
- Fights Dirty
- Fights for a Cause
- Fights with Panache
- Fires a Blaster
- Follows Their Feet
- Fuses Flesh With Steel
- Fuses Mind and Machine
- Harnesses the Body's Rhythms
- Heals
- Holds it Together
- Hunts Dangerous Beasts
- Hunts for Bounties
- Hunts Nonhumans/Abhumans
- Hunts Strange Beasts
- Imparts Wisdom
- Indulges in Worldly Pleasures
- Infiltrates
- Integrates Weaponry
- Is A Cyborg
- Just Won't Die
- Knows the Hidden Paths
- Knows Someone
- Knows the Streets
- Leads
- Learns Quickly
- Lives on the Edge
- Looks For Trouble
- Masters Defense
- Masters Technology
- Masters Weaponry
- Metamorphosizes
- Mixes Unstable Concoctions
- Monitors Intel
- Moves Like A Cat
- Murders
- Needs No Weapon
- Never Says Die
- Operates Undercover
- Operates Vehicles
- Performs Feats Of Strength
- Pilots Starcraft
- Plays Tricks
- Processes Information
- Projects Energy
- Pursues Physical Perfection
- Regenerates Tissue
- Reroutes Power
- Resides in Silicon
- Saves Lives
- Sculpts Light
- Separates Mind From Body
- Siphons Power
- Slices Past Security
- Solves Mysteries
- Spawns
- Stands Like A Bastion
- Steals
- Steals from the Rich
- Talks To Machines
- Threatens the Powerful
- Throws With Accuracy
- Wears an Iron Suit
- Wields Two Weapons At Once
- Works The Back Alleys
- Works The System
- Would Rather Be Reading
