Book IV: The Marshal’s Almanac — Chapter 8
Managing the Nightmare
The Tension Pool, Pacing, XP, and GM Tools
— Advice found in a dead Marshal’s journal
Welcome to the other side of the screen.
In The Veil & Lead, you are the Game Marshal. You are the storyteller, the referee, and the voice of the Ruin. Your role is not to defeat the players, but to preside over their struggle. You manage the pacing of the horror, the scarcity of resources, and the inevitable thinning of the Veil.
Section I: The Tension Pool
The most critical tool in your arsenal is The Tension Pool. It is a visual representation of the world’s patience running out. It sits in the center of the table—a bowl, a tray, or a marked zone—holding a growing number of d6s.
The Concept
The Veil is not a static wall; it is a rotting fabric. Every gunshot vibrates the threads. Every spell burns a hole. The Tension Pool tracks this cumulative stress.
| Pool State | Narrative Feel |
|---|---|
| Empty (0 dice) | Stable. The sun is dim, but physics works. |
| Low (1–3 dice) | Uneasy. Shadows seem longer. |
| Medium (4–5 dice) | Oppressive. The air tastes wrong. |
| Full (6 dice) | Critical. Reality is about to break. |
Capacity
The Limit: 6 Dice
The Tension Pool holds a maximum of 6 dice. When the sixth die enters the pool, you must roll immediately.
Feeding the Pool
Add dice to the pool visibly. Let the players hear the clatter. Let them count.
Automatic Triggers (+1 Die)
| Trigger | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Combat begins | Violence echoes through the Veil |
| Rank 2+ Psionic cast | Drawing significant Current |
| Bleed Die shows 1 | Direct tear in the fabric |
| Player Fumbles | Failure invites misfortune |
| Every 10 Ticks of combat | Sustained violence attracts attention |
| 1 hour in dangerous territory | Entropy is constant |
Situational Triggers (+1 Die)
| Trigger | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Loud explosion or gunfire | Dynamite, Gatling guns, building collapse |
| Entering a Thin Place | Ojo del Diablo, the Fen, cursed landmarks |
| Disturbing the dead | Grave robbing, desecrating remains |
| Breaking a ward | Crossing salt lines, destroying protective symbols |
| Extreme emotional trauma | Witnessing ally death, Memory burn |
Heavy Triggers (+2 Dice)
| Trigger | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Rank 4–5 Psionic cast | Major reality distortion |
| Mass violence | Massacre, major battle |
| Deliberate Veil contact | Using artifacts, summoning |
Rolling the Pool
You do not roll every time a die is added. You roll when pressure becomes untenable.
Roll Triggers
| Trigger | Type |
|---|---|
| Pool hits 6 dice | Automatic |
| Significant noise in dangerous area | GM discretion |
| Narrative trigger | Midnight, blood moon, entering Thin Place |
| Player pushes their luck | Opening sealed doors, reading forbidden texts |
The Mechanic
Tension Roll
Roll all dice in the pool. Count the 1s.
Zero 1s: Tension holds. Remove two dice from the pool. Describe mounting dread.
One or more 1s: Rupture. Resolve effect based on number of 1s, then clear pool to 0.
The Rupture Table
| 1s Rolled | Severity | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Shiver | Atmospheric shift. Temperature drops 20°. Shadows detach from objects. Animals flee. Mechanic: All ECHO and SAVVY checks suffer −1 die for the scene. |
| 2 | The Warp | Reality glitch. Gravity shifts momentarily. A door leads to the wrong room. A dead NPC twitches. Mechanic: Firearms jam on rolls of 1–2 until cleaned. Technology malfunctions. |
| 3 | The Breach | Manifestation. A creature crawls through the nearest reflection, shadow, or wound in reality. Mechanic: Combat begins immediately. Roll or choose: Hollow Men (1–3), Ashborn Swarm (4–5), Fen-Wraith (6). |
| 4 | The Storm | Catastrophe. Environmental disaster (mine collapse, flash flood, fire) OR major entity arrives (Stormcaller, Skin-Changer). Mechanic: Run or die. This is not a fair fight. |
| 5+ | The Reckoning | All of the above, plus the location becomes a permanent Thin Place. Reality is scarred. The Veil will never fully heal here. |
Warding the Pool
Players can actively lower the threat level, but it costs resources and time.
| Method | Requirements | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Circle | 1 Salt Pouch, 5 minutes | Prevents time-based additions for 1 hour |
| Ritual Cleansing | 10 minutes, ECHO + Lore (TN 11 + current dice) | Success: Remove 2 dice. Failure: Add 1 die. |
| Offering | Cost 3+ item thrown into Thin Place | Remove 1d3 dice |
| Resolving the Scene | Leave dangerous area, reach safety | Pool clears when danger passes |
Urban Ruptures
In settled areas (Rustwater, Brimstead, Orvain), Ruptures cause Social Decay instead of monster manifestations.
| 1s | Urban Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | Paranoia: Prices increase by 50%. NPCs become suspicious and hostile. |
| 2 | Riot: Property damage, NPC deaths, Sheriff declares martial law. |
| 3 | Outbreak: Current-Sickness spreads. Quarantine. Redeemers arrive. |
| 4 | Collapse: A building falls. Fire spreads. 2d6 civilian casualties. |
| 5 | Breach: The settlement becomes a Thin Place. Monsters within the walls. |
Section II: Pacing the Horror
The Cylinder Metaphor
Because the pool caps at 6 dice, use the imagery of a revolver being loaded.
| Dice | Feel | GM Approach |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | The Click | Let players explore and talk. Threat is distant. Describe small wrongness. |
| 4 | The Hammer Cocks | Shorten descriptions. Call for more checks. Shadows move. |
| 5 | Finger on Trigger | Players should feel panic. The next action could trigger the roll. |
| Rupture | The Shot | Describe chaos. Roll initiative or run. |
False Safety vs. The Cylinder
Alternate between False Safety (downtime in towns, quiet travel, character moments) and The Cylinder (tension building, resources depleting, danger approaching).
A good session has 2–3 peaks of tension with valleys between them.
Pacing by Session Length
| Session Length | Recommended Ruptures | Combat Encounters |
|---|---|---|
| 2–3 hours | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| 3–4 hours | 1–2 | 1 |
| 4–6 hours | 2–3 | 1–2 |
Combat Pacing
The Veil responds to violence. Combat itself feeds the darkness.
Tension Pool in Combat
Automatic Tension Die: +1 die to the Tension Pool when combat begins (Tick 0).
Sustained Violence: +1 die every 10 Ticks of combat.
Long fights attract attention. The screaming of the rails, the blood in the sand—the Current feels it.
Ideal Combat Duration
Most combats should last 10–20 Ticks (3–5 actions per PC), with at least one side taking serious damage, 2–3 meaningful tactical decisions, and a clear resolution (victory, retreat, negotiation, or death).
Signs Combat Is Dragging
Watch For These Red Flags
Tick count exceeds 30. Players are calculating optimal Tempo instead of roleplaying. No one has taken a Wound. The same attacks are being repeated without change.
Solutions for Stalled Combat
When combat drags, introduce change:
| Solution | Example |
|---|---|
| Environmental Hazard | The building starts to collapse. Fire spreads. The cliff edge crumbles. |
| Reinforcements or Retreat | More enemies arrive—or enemies fall back to a better position. |
| Tension Pool Rupture | The Veil tears. Something manifests. Suddenly, everyone has a common enemy. |
| Narrative Cut | “You win, but you’re exhausted. Mark off double ammo and take 1 Strain each.” |
Post-Combat Beat
Every combat should end with a moment to breathe. Describe the aftermath: the silence, the smoke, the bodies. Account for resources: ammunition spent, equipment damaged. Offer a scavenging opportunity. Check the Tension Pool. Give characters a moment to react—fear, relief, regret. Combat should have weight. Make the players feel it.
Section III: Managing Failure
Players will fail often. TNs are challenging, resources are scarce. Use failure as story fuel, not story stop.
The Principle: Failing Forward
Instead of “You fail. Nothing happens,” use failure to change the situation.
Success at a Cost
When Margin is −1 to −2, offer a devil’s bargain:
| Cost Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Resource | Spend ammo, break tool, use consumable |
| Time | Takes longer; enemies advance, window closes |
| Position | End up exposed, lose cover, reveal location |
| Complication | Partial success, unintended consequence |
| Harm | 1 Strain, minor wound, Tension Die |
The Complication
Success at primary goal, but the situation worsens.
Resource Drain
Failure costs supplies, not just dignity.
Section IV: Difficulty Calibration
Setting TNs
| TN | When to Use |
|---|---|
| 7 | Easy; failure would be embarrassing |
| 9 | Routine task under mild pressure; someone with a modicum of skill will generally succeed |
| 11 | Moderate challenge; trained professional should succeed |
| 13 | Standard. The default for dramatic, contested, or dangerous tasks |
| 15 | Hard. Expert difficulty; even skilled characters may fail |
| 17+ | Legendary. Requires perfection and luck |
When NOT to Roll
Don’t call for rolls when success is trivial and failure is boring, the character has ample time and no pressure, or the outcome doesn’t matter to the story.
Stacking the Odds
Modifiers affect the roll significantly. Use Hard TNs sparingly—they should feel significant.
| Situation | Approx. Success Rate (6-dice pool) |
|---|---|
| TN 11, no modifiers | 91% |
| TN 11, −2 dice (Wounded) | 75% |
| TN 13 (Standard) | 65% |
| TN 13, −2 dice | 43% |
| TN 15 (Hard) | 36% |
| TN 15, −2 dice | 18% |
Section V: Rewarding Players
XP Awards (End of Session)
Go through this checklist with the group:
| Award | XP | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | 1 | The character is alive |
| The Struggle | 1 | Overcame a significant threat (combat, social, environmental) |
| The Discovery | 1 | Learned a secret about the Veil, Factions, or History |
| The Flaw | 1 | A player voluntarily complicated the scene due to their Tragedy, Secret, or bond |
| The Lesson | 1 | A player suffered a critical failure or major setback |
Typical Session: 3–4 XP
Milestone Awards
| Milestone | XP | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Arc Completion | 5 | Resolved a major storyline |
| Nemesis Defeated | 3 | Killed or neutralized a recurring enemy |
| Faction Shift | 2 | Significantly changed standing with a Power |
| Memory Forged | 2 | Created a Scar Memory through play |
The Burden Award (Psionic Only)
Award +1 XP to Psionic characters who used Rank 3+ abilities during the session and suffered meaningful consequences (visions, stigma, Erosion, Memory burn). This helps offset the Psionic XP tax.
The Flaw Award (Nomination)
Encourage players to nominate each other:
This rewards dramatic choices over optimal play.
Spending Experience
XP is spent during Downtime between sessions or adventures.
Raising Attributes
| Increase | Cost | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Rank 1 → 2 | 10 XP | 10 XP |
| Rank 2 → 3 | 15 XP | 25 XP |
| Rank 3 → 4 | 20 XP | 45 XP |
| Rank 4 → 5 | 30 XP | 75 XP |
Improving Skills
| Increase | Cost | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Rank 0 → 1 | 4 XP | 4 XP |
| Rank 1 → 2 | 6 XP | 10 XP |
| Rank 2 → 3 | 9 XP | 19 XP |
| Rank 3 → 4 | 15 XP | 34 XP |
Learning Talents
| Type | Cost | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Mundane Talent | 4 XP | Appropriate Skill at Rank 1+ |
| Psionic Talent (Rank 1–2) | 4 XP | ECHO ≥ Talent Rank, Channel 1+ |
| Psionic Talent (Rank 3–4) | 6 XP | ECHO ≥ Talent Rank, Mentor or Grimoire |
| Psionic Talent (Rank 5) | 6 XP | ECHO 5, Mentor or Grimoire, GM approval |
Other Purchases
| Action | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Specialization | 5 XP | Requires Skill Rank 3+; one per skill |
| Clear 1 Erosion | 2 XP | — |
| Increase Mettle Cap | 8 XP | Maximum +2 total |
| Harden a Memory | 8 XP | — |
Section VI: The Legend Track
Your reputation is tracked from 0 to 10. Legend is not bought with XP—it is awarded by the GM for deeds that spread through word of mouth.
Gaining Legend
| Deed | Legend Gained |
|---|---|
| Killing a named Boss NPC | +1 |
| Surviving a full Rupture (5-die pool) without fleeing | +1 |
| Completing a major contract that changes local politics | +1 |
| Spending §100+ in a single night (public spectacle) | +1 |
| Winning a public duel | +1 |
| Any deed that would spread through stories | +1 |
Effects of Legend
| Legend | Benefit | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | Anonymous | No special treatment |
| 3–4 | Known locally | +1 die to Intimidation in your region |
| 5–6 | Regional reputation | +1 die to Command; −1 die to Stealth/Disguise |
| 7–8 | Frontier-wide fame | +2 dice to Intimidation/Command; −2 dice to blend in |
| 9–10 | Living legend | Automatic recognition; bounty hunters and nemeses seek you |
The Bounty Board
At the start of each session, roll 1d10 for characters with Legend 5+. If the roll is less than their Legend score, their fame catches up:
| Margin (Legend − Roll) | Consequence |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | A local tough wants to prove themselves in a fight or contest |
| 3–4 | A faction agent (Consortium, Redeemer, Vulture) is actively looking for them |
| 5+ | A supernatural predator (Skin-Changer, bounty hunter with Psionic backing) is hunting them |
Progression Pacing
| Arc | Sessions | Benchmarks | Power Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| The First Arc | 1–8 | Primary skill to Rank 3, 1–2 new Talents, signature equipment | Professional → Expert |
| The Middle Game | 9–20 | Primary pools reach 7–8 dice, Specializations, Legend 3–5 | Expert → Master |
| The Long Road | 21+ | Attribute soft-caps (Rank 4–5), full Talent trees, Memory management critical | Master (but the world scales with you) |
Section VII: Downtime
Downtime Actions
Each player gets one Action per day of Downtime:
| Action | Effect |
|---|---|
| Recover | Long Rest: Heal IRON HP, clear all Strain, attempt to clear 1 Grievous Wound (Medicine check) |
| Therapy | Clear 1 Erosion via Vice, or 2 Erosion via Anchoring (requires scene with Anchor-related NPC) |
| Acquire | Shop for items (Scrip) or Scrounge for rare items (SAVVY + Scrounge vs TN 13) |
| Train | Spend XP to raise Attributes, Skills, or learn Talents (Talents require source) |
| Work | Earn 1d10 Scrip through labor, gambling, or odd jobs |
| Forge Scar | Fill an empty Memory slot (8 XP, requires roleplay scene) |
| Research | SAVVY + Lore to learn about a location, enemy, artifact, or mystery |
| Craft | Create ammunition, simple tools, or modify equipment (requires materials) |
Downtime Length
| Situation | Typical Downtime |
|---|---|
| Between sessions (in town) | 1–3 days |
| Major story break | 1 week |
| Significant time skip | 1 month+ (montage) |
Section VIII: Safety & Tone
Lines and Veils
Before the campaign, establish:
Lines: Hard limits that don’t exist in your game (e.g., “No harm to children,” “No sexual violence”).
Veils: Topics that can exist but are handled off-screen or with minimal detail.
The X-Card
Place a card on the table. If any scene becomes too intense, a player can tap the card. Immediately: fade to black, skip the detailed description, or reframe the scene. No explanation required. No questions asked.
The Check-In
After intense sessions (Memory burns, character death, PvP tension), take 5 minutes:
The Cardinal Rule
The horror should be in the game, not at the table.
Section IX: Tone & Atmosphere
Scarcity Is Fear
Avoid letting players have full ammo and full health and full Mettle at the same time. If they’re rich in Scrip, make them poor in Water. The fear comes from the question:
The Weird, Not High Fantasy
Psionic is not sparkly. It’s visceral.
| Don’t Say | Do Say |
|---|---|
| “The spell heals you for 3 HP.” | “Your ribs grind together. Hot wire stitches your skin shut from the inside. You taste copper. Take 3 HP back.” |
| “You cast Ghost Bullet.” | “The bullet glows with the color of your mother’s eyes—eyes you can barely remember anymore.” |
The Environment Is an Enemy
Use hazards liberally: Ash Fog limits vision. Acid Rain destroys equipment. The silence is sometimes worse than the noise.
Make NPCs Human
In a world of monsters, humanity is the contrast. The shopkeeper is tired. The Sheriff is afraid. The villain has a point. If players stop caring about the people, they stop caring about saving them.
Morale (Optional Rule)
Not everyone fights to the death. Most people—even hardened killers—have a breaking point. These rules help the GM determine when NPCs flee, surrender, or lose their nerve.
Optional Rule
Use morale when you want fights to end through something other than total annihilation, or when you want enemies to feel more human.
Morale Triggers
NPCs check morale when certain conditions occur:
| Trigger | When It Happens |
|---|---|
| Bloodied | NPC drops to 25% HP or below |
| Leader Falls | The group’s leader is killed or incapacitated |
| Outnumbered | 50% or more of the NPC group is down |
| Overwhelming Display | Witness something terrifying (Psionic Devastation, monster, ally exploding) |
| Cornered | Escape route cut off while losing |
The Morale Check
Roll: ECHO + Resilience vs. TN based on situation.
| Situation | TN |
|---|---|
| Losing but not desperate | 9 |
| Clearly outmatched | 11 |
| Hopeless (overwhelming force, supernatural terror) | 13 |
| Certain death | 15 |
TN Modifiers
| Factor | TN Modifier |
|---|---|
| Defending home/family | −2 |
| Fanatic (Redeemers, cultists) | −4 |
| Leader still standing and inspiring | −2 |
| Promised significant reward | −1 |
| Already witnessed ally flee | +2 |
| Facing supernatural horror | +2 |
| Escape route available | +1 |
Morale Check Results
| Result | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Success | Stands firm. Continues fighting. |
| Failure by 1–3 | Shaken: −2 dice to all actions until rallied or threat removed |
| Failure by 4–6 | Breaks: Attempts to flee. Will surrender if cornered. |
| Failure by 7+ | Routs: Panicked flight. Drops weapons, screams, tramples allies. |
Rallying
A Shaken or Broken NPC can be rallied by a leader:
Action: Rally (Tempo 4). Roll: SWAY + Force or Persuasion vs. TN 11.
Success: Target returns to normal morale. Failure: Target remains Shaken/Broken. Critical: Target gains +1 die to all actions for rest of scene (inspired).
Routed NPCs cannot be rallied in combat. They’re gone.
Morale by Enemy Type
| Enemy Type | Morale Trait | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bandits/Raiders | Normal | Fight for profit; flee when cost exceeds reward |
| Consortium Enforcers | Disciplined (+2) | Trained soldiers; hold longer |
| Dust Vultures | Aggressive (−1) | Attack-focused; may flee if overwhelmed |
| Redeemer Inquisitors | Fanatic (−4) | Fight to the death against “witches” |
| Ironbrands | Professional (+2) | Contract-bound; won’t break unless released |
| Veil-Born | Fearless | No morale checks; fight until destroyed |
| Hollow Men | Mindless | No morale checks |
| Townspeople | Fragile (−2) | Break easily; not fighters |
When to Use Morale
Use morale when: You want combat to end without total party kills, enemies are intelligent humans with self-preservation instincts, the situation has changed dramatically, or you want to reward intimidation and terror tactics.
Skip morale when: Fighting mindless enemies (undead, constructs), enemies are cornered with nothing to lose, it’s a boss fight, or the narrative demands a fight to the death.
Player Intimidation
Intimidate Action
Tempo: 4
Roll: IRON + Force (physical threat) or SWAY + Force (presence)
TN: Target’s ECHO + 8
Success: Target must make an immediate Morale check at +2 TN.
Critical: Target automatically fails the Morale check.
Section X: Quick Encounter Generator
Random Road Encounters (d10)
| Roll | Encounter |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mirage: Illusion of safety; approaching causes 1 Strain |
| 2 | Vulture Ambush: 2d6 raiders; want water, will negotiate |
| 3 | Hanging Tree: 1d3 Hollow Men waiting in ambush |
| 4 | Wrecked Convoy: 50% loot (Cost 3 items) / 50% Fen-Wraith trap |
| 5 | Pilgrim: Blind Redeemer; offers prophecy or curse |
| 6 | Storm Front: Survival check (GRIT TN 13) or lose 1 AR to acid/hail |
| 7 | Ghost Train: Spectral echo; touching causes 1d6 Strain |
| 8 | Oasis: Real water—guarded (Stone-Bear) or tainted (50/50) |
| 9 | Peddler: Sells “cures” (Snake Oil, Laudanum); might be a devil |
| 10 | Quiet: Nothing happens. Remove 1 Tension Die. |
Quick Reference: Initiative Results
| Margin | Start Tick | State |
|---|---|---|
| Failure | 6 | Surprised |
| 0–3 | 4 | Slow |
| 4–6 | 3 | Ready |
| 7–9 | 2 | Fast |
| 10+ | 0 | Instant |
Quick Reference: Common Action Tempos
| Action | Tempo |
|---|---|
| Draw Weapon | 2 |
| Aim | 2 |
| Scramble | 3 |
| Take Cover | 3 |
| Steady Shot (Pistol) | 4 |
| Strike (Medium Melee) | 4 |
| Reload (Speed) | 4 |
| Grapple | 5 |
| Steady Shot (Rifle) | 5 |
| Recover / Manual Reload | 6 |
Quick Reference: Range Band TN Modifiers
| Range | Pistol | Rifle | Shotgun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point-Blank | −2 | +2 | −2 |
| Close/Near | — | — | — / +2 |
| Far | +2 | — | +4 |
| Extreme | +4 | +2 | N/A |
Quick Reference: Cover & Damage
| Cover | TN Mod |
|---|---|
| Exposed | −1 |
| Light | +2 |
| Hard | +4 |
| Fortified | +6 |
Damage Formula
Damage = WR + Steps − AR
Quick Reference: Health States
| State | Threshold | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy | > ½ Vitality | None |
| Wounded | ≤ ½ Vitality | −1 die physical |
| Downed | 0 Vitality | Bleeding Out |
| Dead | −IRON Vitality | Gone |