For today’s character we look to the grimdark world of Symbaroum. This is a nice blend of OSR elements, but also some of the more modern narrative-driven games. The setting is a step up from Mork Borg which is intentionally vague. Here we have a bleak world with more detail added, if that is your thing. Here’s how the game is described on its official webpage:
Explore the vast Forest of Davokar in the hunt for treasures, lost wisdoms and fame. Visit the barbarian clans to trade or to plunder their treasuries. Establish a base of power among princes, guilds or rebellious refugees in the capital city of Yndaros. Or survive encounters with Arch Trolls, dark-minded Blight Beasts and undead warlords. But whatever you do, never ignore the warnings spoken by the wardens of the forest: tread carefully and do not disturb the ruins of old, for the dark deep of Davokar is about to awaken.
Symbaroum is a fantasy tabletop RPG, often described as dark, gritty and deadly. It was first released in Swedish in 2014, then translated into English for a worldwide release in 2016. Since then, the game has captured the imagination of an ever-growing number of gamers and today the game-line encompasses a dozen hardcover books, along with several support products in the form of card sets, maps and more.
The Symbaroum rule set is a D20, roll under, player-facing system, designed to be quick, punishing, and easy to get into. Also, it is highly flexible and modular, so those who want more complexity are offered numerous optional rules, or can easily introduce their own house rules.
Such a setting creates very interesting, complex, dark characters. Here’s the one I made, Sister Suria, a Theurg of the Church of Prios:
Sister Suria was born to a humble family of farmers in the fertile plains of Alberetor, where she grew up tending crops and dreaming of a life beyond the fields. Her sharp mind caught the attention of a traveling priest, who secured her a position as a governess for the children of a noble family.
She initially flourished in her new role. Tragedy struck when the lord of the manor, a man of cruel appetites, assaulted her. The violation left her physically scarred and emotionally shattered. Suria fled into the night, abandoning the wealth and safety of the estate. She sought solace in the nearest temple of Prios. There, she found refuge among the sisters and began the process of healing her body and spirit.
In the quiet sanctuary of the convent, Suria discovered an unshakable faith in Prios, whose teachings of order and light gave her purpose. Her devotion was tested when illness claimed her foot. She accepted the loss as a sign of her god’s mysterious will. Driven by a need to redeem the world from the darkness she once suffered, Suria conceived her grand ambition: to bring the light of Prios to the most forsaken corners of the land.
Her goal to establish a church in hostile territory is fueled not only by faith but also by a fierce determination to prove that even the most broken souls can spread order. She sees her mission as a means to transform both the wild lands and herself, turning her scars into symbols of resilience and divine purpose.
Sister Suria exudes an aura of serene grace. Her slender frame is always wrapped in the modest robes of Prios’ light. Her movements are deliberate and measured, aided by a polished shepherd’s crook, a reminder of the foot she lost to Prios’s will. Despite her calm demeanor, her eyes often scan for the nearest opportunity to indulge in her well-hidden gluttonous appetite for sweets, a surprising contradiction to her ascetic appearance.
Click here to read the whole character sheet in detail.
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