Hello Scions,
We're in our final week of the campaign, working our way towards our conclusion next Thursday, November 17th at 2:00 PM EST. As noted yesterday, I've got a couple more sneak peeks to share before our final manuscript drop on Tuesday, and I'll also be touching on a few key reminders about the campaign over these last 6 days to make sure we're all on the same page as we come to the conclusion.

Today I'm happy to share a final fiction piece with you, something that will be in the final book, coming as the last bit of text in Scion: God, after the antagonists chapter I think. So we're jumping ahead of our manuscript drafts a bit, but I wouldn't worry about reading it all in order. 
 
It's a pretty big story, though, so I'm not going to fill your e-mail with it. Instead, we'll have this full update available to read on the website after the image below. So, click to visit and read some excellent fiction from The World, and please continue to share your enthusiasm and excitement for this campaign with potential backers as we approach the finish line. 

Hello Scions,

We're officially in the Final Week countdown for this BackerKit crowdfunding campaign. Even with our weird time change day we can only carry on for so many hours, and we'll be coming to an end next Thursday, November 17th.

Over this final week I'll be touching on a handful of instructional and review-type posts about Pledge Tiers and reward lists and Add On options, and also reviewing our Stretch Goal progress and outlining what comes next. So if you've got any process questions or are wondering about any of the parts of this campaign, hopefully I'll answer those questions as we work towards the end. Of course, if you're still wondering about something, please ask and I'll help as best I can.

I know, this is something I've already said many times (and seem to say during every project!), but for this final week, you are officially the Messenger of the Gods and can invite anyone to this campaign to dance with the divine and see if they've got an interest in joining our cause. By that strained metaphor, I'm saying it's time to share your excitement for Scion: God! Basically, we want to recruit as many interested heroes and demigods as possible to form our own mighty pantheon over this final week.

I know I end every update post with "Keep spreading the word! Invite others to join in!" - but what does that mean, and how do you do it?

Easy answer - don't stop talking about Scion: God until 2:01 PM EST next Thursday November 17th (when the campaign has ended). Yes, family and friends (and the people getting their tires swapped earlier this morning) were tired of me talking about it, but what else have I got to talk about? And they've learned to tolerate me during a crowdfunding campaign. But here's the thing - there are others around who haven't heard or don't know about the campaign.

We've branched out into a new realm with this campaign - a new Terra Incognita or Overworld perhaps - utilizing BackerKit's brand new crowdfunding platform. Though most of our previous backers have utilized BackerKit in some capacity, many may not be aware of this aspect of their services or the fact that our crowdfunding campaign is currently running. So, please, spread the word as best you can, sharing in your social circles and on your social media as much as possible over this final week.

All of that said, there are a few things to remember before we finish the campaign and your pledges are collected. I don't think these are really deterrents, but it is stuff best discussed and referenced before we finish to ensure everyone has a complete understanding of the process.

You'll have the current approved draft manuscript in your hands at the end of the campaign. And, really, aside from some minor corrections and maybe some rules clarifications, you'll have everything you need to start exploring the epic scope of Scion: God.

Which is good, because these books take some time to put together. Even though we'll have the nearly there manuscript, Onyx Path works very hard to create these books at a high standard, and that takes time. In our FAQ, you'll see that the PDF reward is projected to release to backers by March 2024, and the hardcover by September 2024. The plan is to get them to you earlier - as quickly as possible while managing workloads and quality - but things happen to slow the process sometimes. We've built in plenty of padding in those dates to account for some of the unexpected hurdles, but just be aware that we're at the beginning of the process, not yet in sight of the finish line.

I will be in constant contact after the campaign, and you'll know about each stage of progress along the way. I'll talk more about that on our final update, when we go over the Next Steps.

One quick note about International Shipping before we get into the manuscript previews. Unlike most previous Onyx Path crowdfunded projects, we won’t be collecting funds to cover International Shipping during this campaign. Instead, we’ll be charging for shipping in the Pledge Manager once the books are being printed and we can deal with the actual shipping charges rather than using our best-guesses this far out. We’re still anticipating pretty hefty costs to ship the book internationally (see our current guesses on the front page) so be forewarned, but we’ll cross that enormous bridge when we get to it.

And lastly, something to think about - before the end of this campaign, before any pledges are processed or payments are collected, you'll be able to read the entire Scion: God book. This allows you to ensure that you're backing a project you're interested in and know exactly what you're getting in to. We've got a final preview to share on Tuesday, but there are no secrets we're keeping about this project. Once the campaign is finished, the process to move it along the progress track starts immediately, and we want to make sure that everyone is interested in coming along with us on the ride.

So, if you've reviewed the material and this game isn't for you, you can cancel your pledge before next Thursday and we'll wish you well and hope a future project captures your interest. If you're on the fence, it's best to pledge to a reward tier that you can afford and are comfortable with now - you'll be able to upgrade your pledge after the campaign, but it's much more difficult to reverse a decision filled with regret later.

And with those caveats covered, I also want to point out the really great stuff about supporting the project and backing now. First off, not only do backers have access to the draft manuscript, but you've also got access to the Feedback Form which Onyx Path is using during this campaign to collect errata and see what needs to be clarified or corrected. The Feedback Form goes directly to the developers and writers for this project and will help guide them through the next steps of development and editing as the project continues down the progress path.

We've unlocked three new supplements via our Funding Accomplishment stretch goals, and these rewards will be added - for free - as bonus rewards to backers receiving the Scion: God PDF as one of their pledge rewards. The Scion: God Jumpstart PDF, the Scion: God Companion PDF, and Divine Inspiration PDF are all new rewards that only existed as ideas before the campaign started, but thanks to the support of all backers they will become a reality. And better, they'll automatically be rewarded to those who supported this campaign. 

In fact, these projects are still growing - we've got Stretch Goal targets ahead that further expand the material that may be included. The more backers we have, the bigger these projects get, and the more backers we'll be sending them out to when completed.

I'll talk about this a bit more when I talk about our next steps on our final day, but backing the campaign now - at any pledge level - opens up full participation in the Pledge Manager after the crowdfunding campaign concludes. Within the Pledge Manager, you'll be able to confirm or select Add On options as well as upgrading your reward tier should you wish. So backing now opens up access to flexibility and additional options right up until we're ready to ship our rewards.

We've got one week to go, everyone! Thank you all so much for your support! Like new gods forming their own pantheon, we've come together to achieve mighty goals! Over the past 3 weeks, working together, we've funded the book and unlocked SEVEN stretch goals, including a jumpstart with ready-made characters, the Companion providing additional insight and rules for aspects of your game, and Divine Inspiration to help build your own epic mythology and stories!

Let's continue to work together to grow our backer count and enjoy these moments of escape from the chaos and confusion of the world, if only for a brief moment. Let's trade some quips, speculate about upcoming Overworlds and Adversaries and imagine new Legendary Relics and epic deeds, and celebrate all that this campaign has done in the next week!

And let's continue our campaign towards the next Stretch Goal! Will we have more to review next Wednesday when we share the wonder of our discoveries? I certainly think so!

Hello Scions,

We're in the Final third of the campaign - the last ten days - and we've got another big manuscript preview for you today!

For the first time in this campaign, we've got two chapters in one preview! OK, we had the introduction in with Chapter 1 in the first preview, but this time we've got two complete chapters, with numbers!

What that means is a big pile of fun to read for the Scion fans! I'm sure it'll be a good distraction while our American friends are waiting for preliminary election results tonight. So, let's get to it...

Remember, thanks to BackerKit magic, these download links are visible to Backers only - you must be logged in and reading this on the website to have access to the manuscript preview links. So, if you're reading this via e-mail, click that "Read The Update" link on the bottom and I'll see you below the title treatment...

Hello Scions,

Another sneak peek today, from a pretty hefty chapter that we'll see in full on Tuesday. Today we're looking a bits from Chapter 5, which covers the Purviews of the Gods. This sneak peek will touch on Legend, Legendary Relics, and new Birthrights!

At each step of their journey, from Visitation to Apotheosis, a Scion’s Legend ebbs and flows. Their deeds and misdeeds form the basis of their mantle and give rise to the very foundation that firmly establishes their place in both their Pantheons and within The World. 

Upon Apotheosis, a new God’s Legend is transformed into something far more substantial than as a Hero or Demigod. First, you integrate into the cosmology of your Pantheon. Or, if you are the sort to have bucked tradition and started your own Pantheon with Blackjack and illicit substances, you are the cosmology — especially if Creator is one of your Callings. You can also find yourself commonly referred to by your Legendary Titles. Just as Odin’s title, All-Father, is central to his identity, so too can your Legendary Titles become an epithet by which others invoke you and your deeds.

However, now your Legend makes you a prime target for ambitious Heroes and Demigods. As difficult as it is to attain Godhood, maintaining it can prove to be an unbelievably challenging task. You cannot simply rest upon your golden laurels and expect the continued adoration of your followers — even Gods must work and nurture belief in themselves. In failing to do so, they run into the real possibility that they may become forgotten or lose their standing in their Pantheon, being relegated to a mere Demigod or worse — just a Hero in another Demigod or God’s story. Who knows how many Pantheons and Gods rose only to fall into obscurity throughout the ages, their names forgotten, and their mantles left by the wayside? 

Your God-level character receives a new Boon per dot of Legend and a new Calling dot for every even-numbered dot of Legend.

•••• •••• • Singular. You are a fledgling God, whose Legend is secure, but can still grow. You have taken the first step into full Divinity and many newly visited Scions aspire to your ideals and achievements. A religious order is started in your hometown or where one of your most important deeds took place. 9 Boons.

•••• •••• •• Incomparable. You have fully integrated into your Pantheon’s structure, finding a niche for yourself, allowing for wider spread proliferation of your worship to extend far beyond the lands of your birth. 10 Boons, +1 Calling dot.

•••• •••• ••• Unparalleled. Your deeds and actions shape the values of your Pantheon, becoming the basis for belief and how your followers emulate you. Religious orders and cults dedicated to you now extend across the world. 11 Boons.

•••• •••• •••• Peerless. You are inextricably linked to your Pantheon and its mythos, for better or worse. Whether you have been part of it since its creation or through the forging of your own myth, none can deny your place in its cosmology. Your words are gospel unto themselves, etched into stone, the hearts of your believers, and the very cosmos themselves. 12 Boons, +1 Calling dot.

From the time that a Scion experiences their visitation up until the moment of their Apotheosis into Godhood, they have been aided by their Birthrights — creatures, guides, followers, and relics — who have grown alongside with them in both utility and power. These Birthrights can and often do become part of a God’s Legend, attaching themselves to perhaps a specific mantle or incarnation. 

In The World, there are a multitude of birthrights of varying degrees of power, some tied more intimately to the Legend of a Scion, Demigod, or God themselves than others — all of which were created from being part of a legend or mythic stories — have spawned what could essentially be considered homages to the original. These relics, while powerful in their own right, pale in comparison to those which truly have earned the moniker “legendary”. 

Take Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. By itself, it is a powerful relic capable of great feats of strength and drawing down thunder and lightening from the skies by its wielder. Anyone capable of forging birthrights can make a facsimile and attempt to pass it off as the real deal, but the truth is, as they say, is in the pudding. Or in this case: it’s matching belt, Megingjörð. While Thor’s belt is not a relic in the traditional sense, without it the true power of Mjolnir cannot be unlocked. 

Truly legendary relics like Mjolnir, Caladbolg, Aegis, or the Cloud-Stepping Boots are infused with a piece of the wielding Gods Legend, imbuing them with a greater power than lesser versions, but with a catch: they now have invocation or Legend requirements to unlock their true power. 

See below for a couple examples of Relics from Scion: Hero and Scion: Demigod that have been brought up to God-level:

Mjolnir (••••)
Legendary
Purviews: Epic Dexterity, Epic Strength, Sky
Often imitated, but never truly replicated, the true Mjolnir — the one which Thor himself, and Thor alone, has wielded — is a sight to behold. It radiates power, with ripples of electricity crackling as soon as it is handled. Crafted by the dwarf brothers Eitri and Brokkr, it is part of a regalia including a belt and iron gloves worn by Thor during his greatest adventures. Those seeking to emulate, or even seize the mantle of Thor, have sought after the true pieces as proof of their mettle and prowess.
Knack: The Scion imbues a number of Legend points into Mjolnir and gains that many dots of Might for a scene.
Tags: Lethal, Melee, Thrown, Versatile
Requirement: To fully unlock the legendary power of Mjolnir, user must also be equipped with the Megingjörð — the Power Belt. Otherwise, it remains inert and access to its Purviews and Knack are restricted.

Golden Stag (•••••)
Legendary
Purviews: Journeys, Moon, Wild
In the days of old, the Golden Stag was exactly that: a golden-antlered stag that pulled Artemis’ chariot through the night sky while on her hunts. Today, it appears as a custom chopper and helmet combo that moves faster than any other motorbike in The World, with its handlebars similar in shape and style to a stag’s horns.
Enhancement: 3 general, or 4 while attempting Stealth
Knack: For the purpose of hunts, the Golden Stag can traverse to any place in The World, as well as Terra Incognita or Dominions so long as there is a moon in that place.
Requirement: The Scion must have engaged in some manner of hunt (not all hunts involve animals) to ride the Golden Stag of Artemis, up to and including requests to enact vengeance on a wronged party. Attempting to ride the stag without a hunt being called will result in them being bucked off if it is in stag form or the engine not turning over if in motorcycle form.

As new Pantheons come into the collective consciousness of The World, so, too, do new Birthrights become known and available to those born, chosen, or created to wield them.

Considered to be spirits of good luck among worshippers of the K’uh, and appearing as traditionally dressed Mayans, albeit no taller than a child’s doll, the Aluxob are a welcomed presence on farms the world over, with small roadside shrines built next to local farm stands. beware: if an Aluxob’s request for an offering is refused— be it a small bit of dried corn or other fruit of one’s labor — bad luck will follow until the proper reparations are made.
Qualities: Shroud
Flair: Curse

To most, bats are creatures to be feared, and superstitions about them run rampant across the world. This is not the case for the Ghost Bats, who inhabit paradise of Coaybay. Each of them was once the soul of a living person, who in the nighttime leave their paradise to return to their families and watch over them. Offerings of guava fruit are often left for the Ghost Bats and is said to be useful in summoning them and getting them to share their eons of knowledge.
Qualities: Flight
Flair: Mirror, Mirror

Moving together in packs, these hounds — referred to lovingly as ‘sato’ or ‘street dogs’ — share no one appearance on account of their being crafted from the wood of the kapok tree. Their purpose is to act as a guide for those seeking the paradise of Coaybay, acting as companions for the journey. While they are not as hard one would expect for hounds made of wood, there is a cottony quality to the feel of the wood that lends them to being often pet and doted upon as “goodest boys or girls”.
Qualities: Armor Piercing
Flair: Penetrator

Shamans and medicine people of the Taino, they can speak with plants to uncover their medicinal and spiritual properties. Further still, they know the language of the Zemi themselves and act as the conduit between the Gods and their faithful. So honeyed are their words that they are even said to have used their skill to calm the rage of the Titan Juracán, and there are few situations that they cannot talk themselves (or the Scions they follow) out of.
Tags: Consultant, Helpful, Knack (Combat Medic)

Servants of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, one of the Heavenly Kings and Guardian of the East, these celestial beings are skilled in song and dance bringing not only joy to sad events but using their talents as an act of meditation in hopes to bring enlightenment to those in their presence — and hopefully faring better in this incarnation than their last, which led them to being gandharvas in the first place. Perhaps if they stopped bothering meditating monks, they’d fare better in the next life.
Tags: Entourage, Knack (Fluid Appeal), Smooth

Among the many Gods of the K’uh, Acan is said to be the life of the party. A boisterous and exciting God, who enjoys partying and being the clown of the group, Acan’s gift to humanity was intoxication and altered conscious by way of his sacred brew made of fermented honey and the bark of the balche tree. Scions seek Acan out when they need to gain otherworldly or spiritual incite and need the help of a more experienced partier than themselves.
Asset Skills: Culture, Occult
Guide Stunt (1 or 2): Gain an Enhancement equal to successes spent on this stunt on your next Culture or Occult roll to glean helpful information.

Known as the Black War Chief or the Black Scorpion, Ek Chuaj has worn many hats: as a God of merchants, a God of war, and even the patron of the cacao plant. Being multifaced has proven to be part of his staying power and he teaches Scions to not put all their eggs in one basket: diversifying your talents and skills is the best way to get ahead — especially in business and war.
Asset Skill: Persuasion
Purview: War
Guide Stunt: Gain an Enhancement equal to the number of successes on the next Persuasion roll to improve the Attitude of the target in your favor.

A highly sought-after material to be forged into jewelry or as accents on weaponry, Anat’s Rib isn’t Anat’s — it is a sliver of bone from Ba’al’s body which she reconstructed after after Mot slew him. Many see it as a sign of Anat’s devotion to Ba’al as well as her inclination towards righteous fury — you may have slain her beloved, but she will use parts of him to enact her vengeance.
Knack: If the Scion is Taken Out, they gain a second wind and unmark Taken Out. Only usable once per battle/scene.
Enhancement: 1 when engaging in battle or feats of strength.

Purview: Journeys
Motif: Wherever you go, there you are.
While ancient Phoenicians did not have a compass in a way that resembles modern ones, they were nevertheless granted the means to navigate their way home by the God Dagon. The item can take a multitude of forms: a classic hand-held compass, a needle on a magnetized rock in a bowl of water, or even an app on a smartphone — whose icon is silhouette of a dolphin jumping from the water. No matter where a Scion is, this compass can guide them wherever they need to go or be — be it in The World or otherwise.
Enhancement: 1 to finding or entering Terra Incognitae or Underworlds, 2 to navigating to anywhere else in The World.

Purview: Moon
Forged out of guanin, an alloy consisting of copper, silver, and gold, this bow is modeled after the one wielded by the Goddess Maroya, who hunted down the unworthy dead in the night shooting beams of moonlight to banish them to oblivion. A more modest in appearance recurve bow in the modern era, scenes of Coaybay are etched into it, it has become popular among hunters and even Artemis has commented that she, too, wished she had such a bow.
Knack: When a Scion is facing down dishonorable undead, the arrows fired from the Moonlight Bow appear as brilliant beams of moonlight and deals one additional damage against such creatures after purchasing either the Inflict Injury or Critical Stunts.


Well, there's just a tiny tease of what's coming on Tuesday. We'll have more for all of these sections, plus Knacks and Pantheon-specific Purviews, not to mention an expanded section on Creating Pantheons that we shared yesterday!

All backers will be able to download the next draft manuscript preview on Tuesday, and will be able to read the entire draft of Scion: God before the end of the campaign, prior to any pledges being processed or payments collected. 

Hello Scions,
Well, we've accomplished a mighty Deed indeed!

We've crossed the $100,000 Funding level!
 
Working together, we've unlocked our latest Achievement, expanding the Scion: God Companion supplement a third time and giving the developers and writers more geography to explore Realms and related concepts.


ACHIEVED! - At $100,000 in Funding – Scion: God Companion Supplement III – More on Realms! The Companion supplement will expand and clarify rules around Terra Incognita, Realms, and Sancta. Rules and guidance may include information on ruling over Realms, creating or destroying Realms, Realm Conditions, and Realm challenges.

So... do we rest on our accomplishments? NO! More victories surely lie ahead...

Similar to our previous set of Stretch Goals, we'll have a milestone marker celebration at the next $5K number, and then add additional content to one of our supplemental projects at the next $10K target. Remember, all Stretch Goal projects are bonus rewards, added to various rewards list at no additional cost. If you're receiving the Scion: God PDF as part of your rewards, you'll be receiving the Jumpstart PDF, the Companion PDF, and the Divine Inspiration PDF as additional rewards in thanks for your support in this crowdfunding effort!


At $105,000 in Funding - Digital Wallpaper – Dress up your monitor with an epic scene from Scion: God, automatically added to the rewards list for all backers.


At $110,000 in Funding – Divine Inspiration Supplement II – Plot Seed Packs, sets of thematically-connected plot seeds that can be threaded together for a larger story will be added to the Divine Inspiration supplement. 

So let's keep up the good work! Please continue to let friends and friendly gamers know about this project. Share on your social media and in your social circles, and let's see if we can't get a second round of Divine Inspiration!