The Fettered: An Unofficial SPIRE Supplement

Content Warning: Manipulation, Being Trapped, Emotional and Physical Abuse Mentions, Descriptive Violence

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In the arms of a guiltless Aelfir rests a small black urn, nestled in the crook of their arm as one might hold a baby. Its machined texture sings as they move their delicate hands across the surface, round and round, screeching occasionally in a metallic chorus as a nail catches against it. Soft, cold...tense. The aelfir lord adjusts their gilded robes and thin fur stoles before looking to the light and closing their eyes in one smooth motion; a gentle smile growing on their lips. A treasure beyond all others, they think, as they feel the vibration of response within, hear the clink of a thousand chains, and see the drip of black, viscous liquid onto marbleite skin.

Within the void hangs a single being, tied to endless space in every direction by a complete web of chains. Each and every miniscule movement she makes echoes around and round the space for what feels like years at a time, pulled taught and kept silent by links spreading through her mouth and across her eyes. Every sense, including that of her power over materia, quashed and smothered by this thick, voidlike fluid; workings of the Aelfir that soak into pores and continually drown each opening. Captured and alone, the Fettered Lady pulls always at these bonds and the trappings of sorcery beyond her deus nature that keeps her here. Not far from the workings of a desperate Bound to trap such small Gods, this is the product instead of need, but of vanity and avarice. The selfishness of control, of absolute power through restriction, containment and ownership.

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Here details the nature of The Fettered, a homebrew small god designed as a plot tool, Bound Blade and fiction mote for use in games of The Spire roleplaying game and its variant companions. This character was initially in the ownership of one Reflection of Truth, an Aelfir lord obsessed with forcing adoration from others. It was rescued through happenstance by the Minister Leithian Angwedheth, who later requested the consent in the fastening of the deity into her god glaive after she joined the Bound. Their relationship was one of agreement, mutual exploitation and conjoined goals. Yours and your players’, however, may not be.

This unofficial supplement is currently in BETA; all comments, feedback, playtesting for balance and more are highly welcomed and encouraged.

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The Fettered content written and designed by Wire Witch Games (©2020), art by @MaenasMorgul.

SPIRE: The City Must Fall roleplaying game is written by Grant Howitt and Christopher Taylor. Published by Rowan, Rook and Decard (©2018).