Core Rulebook
Core Rulebook
$19.99

You’re needed, investigators: join the secret society Candela Obscura to confront occult horrors from beyond, keeping hidden the true nature of magickal incursions besetting our world. 

A new investigative horror RPG in a gilded world simmering with occult magic, using the Illuminated Worlds System and featured on Critical Role. 

In this game of gothic horror, individuals of varied talents are brought together under the organization Candela Obscura, where they pursue strange occurrences and encounter dangerous magick, fighting back against a mysterious source of corruption and bleed. This core rulebook includes everything you need to play, including rules, character options, guidance on running your own campaigns, and expansive setting information both inside and beyond the turn of the century-inspired city of Newfaire.

Purchasing this digital title unlocks the content in the digital reader on Candela Obscura NEXUS, as well as in additional tools as they become available during Early Access.

Table Of Contents
Table of Contents

Introduction

  • What is a Roleplaying Game?
  • Overview of Gameplay
  • The Rules
  • Setting Overview
  • Roles & Specialties
  • Safety Tools
  • Touchstones

The Core System

  • A Conversation at the Table
  • Drives & Actions
  • Gilded Dice
  • Setting the Stakes & Expectations
  • Making an Action Roll
  • Consequences
  • Resistances
  • Gear
  • Marks & Scars
  • The Legacy of Harm in Horror

Making a Character

  • Step 1: Choose a Role & Specialty
  • Step 2: Determine Action Ratings
  • Step 3: Determine Drives
  • Step 4: Determine Resistances
  • Step 5: Gild Actions
  • Step 6: Choose Abilities
  • Step 7: Add Character Details
  • Step 8: Form Relationships

Creating Your Circle

  • Step 1: Answer Circle Questions
  • Step 2: Name Your Circle
  • Step 3: Choose a Chapter House Location
  • Step 4: Choose Circle Abilities
  • Step 5: Assign Resource Points

How to Play

  • Assignments
  • Play Structure
  • Play Guidance
  • Character vs. Character Adjudication
  • Drives & Resistances
  • Actions
  • Gear
  • Character & Circle Advancement
  • Full Example of Play

The Supernatural World

  • Introduction
  • Phenomena
  • Alchemy

Candela Obscura & Beyond

  • Candela Obscura
  • Exoteric Order of New Sciences (EONS)
  • Office of Unexplained Phenomena (OUP)
  • Pyre
  • The Red Hand
  • Unabridged

The Fairelands

  • Setting Introduction
  • The Time Period
  • Timeline of the Fairelands
  • Hale & The Fairelands
  • Language
  • Technology
  • Economy
  • Transportation
  • The Triumvirate
  • Life in the Fairelands
  • Newfaire Districts
  • Oldfaire Sites
  • Fairelands Landmarks

Running the Game

  • GM Principles
  • Making Moves
  • Session Zero
  • Preparing for Play
  • Creating a Lightkeeper
  • Combat & Marks
  • Countdown Dice
  • Adjudicating Stakes & Expectations
  • Assignment Structure
  • Example Assignments
  • Additional Assignments
  • GM Resources
  • Additional Inspiration
  • Rules & Rolls Reference

Index

Credits