Savage Rifts® X Fairy Tail: Dragon Slayer Paradigmatic Framework [Spoilers]



The five true Dragon Slayers: Natsu, Gajeel, Wendy, Rogue, and Sting

“Yeah, I know there’s a big frakkin’ hole in it! Why else do you think I’m willin’ to give away a Glitter Boy?

“How’d it get that hole? That crazy pink-haired burster I was tellin’ you about punched that hole in there. He gathered this big ball of fire around his hand – around his whole body, tell the truth – and then that blue cat flew him at me, and – BLAMMO!

“The thing is, he had some friends that kinda acted like bursters too – in, y’know controllin’ some element the way a burster does – but they weren’t usin’ fire. There was a lightning guy and a metal guy and a wind girl – and some much weirder magic-users – but it was Pinkie the Fire Kid that punched a big, meltin’ hole in my Glitter Boy.

“And then he pulled me out and head-butted me.”

- Derek Platt, former rogue Glitter Boy pilot

[SPOILERS follow for Fairy Tail]

SECOND-GENERATION DRAGON SLAYER

Over 400 years ago, a civil war raged between the dragons of Earth Land. Most dragons thought of humans as nothing but prey – dominating that world as apex predators – but some compassionate dragons stood with the humans against their own species. They taught select humans powerful Dragon Slayer magic to join the battle for peaceful coexistence. Ironically, the human mage Acnologia grew so powerful that he transformed into a dragon himself, and exterminated the dragons of Earth Land.

Acnologia’s hatred of everything draconic was so intense that he slew all of his fellow Dragon Slayers as well. Only five young children were saved, shunted into the future by their guardian dragons. Those five heroes – Natsu Dragneel, Gajeel Redfox, Wendy Marvell, Rogue Cheney, and Sting Eucliffe – are the only true Dragon Slayers in Earth Land. With the extinction of that world’s dragons, there is no possibility of anyone else being trained in the true Dragon Slayer arts.

There are, however, others who wield a simulacrum of Dragon Slayer magic. These second-generation Dragon Slayers are implanted with magical crystals known as lacrima that contain the essence of Dragon Slayer magic. The exact origin of these lacrima is unknown, but it may be conjectured that the crystals were created by some of the first-generation Dragon Slayers who fought in the Dragon Civil War (possibly by infusing them with the powers of dragons they slew). The use of Dragon Slayer lacrima is the only known way for new Dragon Slayers to learn their powers in the modern day. 

While it is possible the dragons of Rifts® Earth – who greatly resemble Earth Land’s dragons in abilities and power – may be able to teach Dragon Slayer magic, none yet are known to have done so. Due to the destruction and unrest visited upon the Earth Land kingdom of Fiore by the rival Alvarez Empire, a trade in contraband Dragon Slayer lacrima has arisen between Earth Land and Rifts® Earth as fugitives from Earth Land bargain for refuge with the Tomorrow Legion and the Federation of Magic.

HERO’S JOURNEY (THREE ROLLS)

The Dragon Slayer lacrima must be implanted into the would-be Dragon Slayer at a young age in order for the fusion to be successful. Starting second-generation Dragon Slayers are therefore usually young and comparatively inexperienced, but the commanders of the Tomorrow Legion and the Federation of Magic are eager to train up these powerful new recruits as quickly as possible, putting them through intense regimens and sending them on long training journeys. They gain three rolls on the Education, Experience & Wisdom, Magic & Mysticism, Training, and Underworld & Black Ops tables.

CHILDREN TO DRAGONS 

 

The first-generation Dragon Slayers who were trained by dragons were mystically opened to these elements by the dragons who guided them, becoming the dragons’ adoptive children. The lacrima that give second-generation Dragon Slayers their powers may not give these wizards the same intimate connection to dragons, but they still make them metaphorical kin. Rifts® Earth and Earth Land dragons alike are more willing to parley with Dragon Slayers.

  

ELEMENTAL AFFINITY 

 

Dragon Slayers resemble Bursters in many ways, though their abilities are attuned to more than only fire. The dragons of Earth Land all seem to have a connection to one natural force, an “element” (for lack of a better name) that defines their abilities. Known Dragon Slayers wield the powers of the air, light, lightning, metal, poison, and shadow; dragons not affiliated with a Dragon Slayer have shown affinity with stone and jade, produced laser-like beams, and even projected eggs from their body that immediately hatched into humanoid dragon-kin (though what element the last embodies is the subject of much speculation).

 

Dragon Slayers’ elemental affinity makes them immune to their element and resistant to closely-related elements. In addition, they can devour their element for temporary bursts of strength. 

 

Drawing upon draconic power not truly their own, Dragon Slayers are limited to a list of 15 possible powers.The specific powers available to a Dragon Slayer reflect their elemental affinity, and should be worked out between the Game Master and player during character creation. Most Dragon Slayer powers are overtly destructive, but some elements – like air – allow Dragon Slayers access to gentler arts. Some examples of element/power combinations are:

• Air: armor, boost/lower trait, burst, damage field, deflection, detect/conceal arcana, dispel, divination, elemental manipulation, greater healing, healing, pummel, quickness, smite, speed 
• Darkness: armor, blast, blind, boost/lower trait, burst, damage field, darksight, dispel, entangle, fear, intangibility, obscure, puppet, smite, teleport 
• Fire: armor, blast, bolt, boost/lower trait, burst, damage field, dispel, elemental manipulation, fear, havoc, light, pummel, quickness, smite, warrior’s gift

DRAGON SLAYER ABILITIES AND BONUSES 

Infused with the incredible raw power of dragons, Dragon Slayers rival Bursters and Flame Wind Dragon Hatchlings for sheer destructive power.  

• Arcane Background (Magic): a second-generation Dragon Slayer begins with three powers from the list above, 20 PPE, and a d8 Spellcasting skill. 
• Draconic Resilience: Dragon Slayers gain +6 Toughness from their attunement to dragons and have the Slow Regeneration ability. 
• Dragon Roar: Dragon Slayers can roar forth a punishing cyclone of their element. This roar does 4d6 Damage in a Cone Template, costs no PPE, and does Mega Damage. The Dragon Slayer may impose a -2 on opponents’ Dexerity rolls to avoid damage by spending 1 PPE or -4 for 2 PPE (the bonus is doubled for the same cost when on a ley line). 
• Dragon Stomach: A Dragon Slayer on Hold who succeeds in interrupting an opponent attacking with the Dragon Slayer’s element may instead devour that attack, converting the damage dealt to PPE (a fire Dragon Slayer might swallow a plasma bolt while a metal Dragon Slayer might devour bullets). A Dragon Slayer may also make an unarmed attack against an inanimate object of his or her element, eating the damage they deal to the object as PPE (see Breaking Things in Savage Worlds for information on attacking inanimate objects). Dragon Slayers may not consume their element if it was created by their own magic. 
• Elemental Immunity: A second-generation Dragon Slayer is immune to the element he is attuned to and only suffers half damage from the nearest related element of the player’s choosing (light or lightning for an air or fire Dragon Slayer, for example). The relationship of the elements is often more a matter of metaphor than physics (a metal Dragon Slayer might be resistant to poison because heavy metals are often poisonous, or darkness because of the shadow over his own heart). 
• Enhanced Senses: All Dragon Slayers have the Alertness Edge. 
• Instinctual Spellcaster: Unlike other spellcasters with Arcane Background (Magic), Dragon Slayers’ Spellcasting skill is linked to their Spirit, not their Smarts. (Spirit also serves as the required Attribute when taking magic-related Edges – like Master of Magic – that require specific Smarts rankings.)

DRAGON SLAYER COMPLICATIONS

Dragon Slayers’ attunement to the elemental power of dragons results in minor physical mutations that make them stand out in a crowd, as well as some oddly debilitating side effects.

• Cybernetics: The fusion of a lacrima to a second-generation Dragon Slayer creates a physical as well as metaphysical change in the recipient – a change that is damaged by the addition of cybernetic implants. Each point of Strain accrued from cybernetic enhancements and replacements to a Dragon Slayer imposes a -1 penalty on Spellcasting rolls. 
• Enemies: The Coalition has bounties out on the heads of all identified second-generation Dragon Slayers on Rifts® Earth – and back in Earth Land, the terrifying dragon Acnologia is happy to hunt them down.
• Motion Sickness: All Dragon Slayers suffer from terrible motion sickness and cannot ride in vehicles without suffering a -4 penalty to all rolls while the vehicle is in motion. This motion sickness lasts until the Dragon Slayer disembarks the vehicle and makes a successful Vigor roll.  

 

NOW I’VE GOT A FIRE IN MY BELLY!

• The charisma and strong spirits of most second-generation Dragon Slayers make them natural (if rough-edged) leaders.
• Dragon Slayers do not begin with the Master of Magic Edge. Don’t forget to take it and other Dragon Slayer Edges as soon as you qualify.
• Do not gaze too long into the abyss. Do not become a dragon yourself. 

 

New Edges

Dragon Force
Requirements: Second-Generation Dragon Slayer, Veteran, Spellcasting d12+
For a cost of 3 PPE, the Dragon Slayer manifests increased draconic traits. The Dragon Slayer grows scales offering +6 M.D.C. Armor (stacking with the armor power) and exudes an aura matching his element; this aura does 3d6 Mega Damage to anyone striking the Dragon Slayer in melee and can be added to the Dragon Slayer’s Fighting attacks. The Dragon Force dissipates if the Dragon Slayer is incapacitated or decides to end it.

Second-Source Dragon Force
Requirements: Dragon Force, Second-Source Dragon Stomach
The Dragon Slayer has learned to integrate the related element she has learned to devour into her Dragon Force aura; this adds an additional +2 M.D.C. Armor and +1d6 Mega Damage. In addition, foes who immune to the Dragon Slayer’s primary element now take half damage attacks using that element (unless they are also immune to the secondary element). Finally, the second element adds +1 die of damage to the slayer’s Dragon Roar.

This Edge can be taken multiple times to match elements chosen by taking the Second-Source Dragon Stomach Edge.   

Improved Dragon Roar
Requirements: Novice, Second-Generation Dragon Slayer, Spirit d10+
The damage of the Dragon Slayer’s roar increases to 6d6.

Greater Dragon Roar
Requirements: Veteran, Secret Art: Improved Dragon RoarThis Edge brings the damage of the roar up to 6d8 and increases the range to two Cone Templates laid end to end.

Second-Source Dragon Stomach
Requirements: Novice, Second-Generation Dragon Slayer
The Dragon Slayer’s ability to ingest magical energy extends beyond her chosen element. The Dragon Slayer may now gain PPE by eating damage from their chosen related element (as per the Elemental Immunity feature).

This Edge may be taken multiple times. Every time after the first that it is taken, it adds another element to both those that the Dragon Slayer can devour and those the Dragon Slayer takes half damage from.