Years active 1993-present System(s) Immortal | Genre(s) Modern fantasy, horror | |
Designer(s) Brianna Von Gries; Ran Valerhon; Rick Don Publisher(s) Precedence Entertainment, Jikkarro Enterprises Publication date December 31, 1993; 23 years ago (1993-12-31) | ||
Immortal: The Invisible War is a role-playing game created by artist and writer Ran Valerhon. Characters discover that they are part of an ancient race of shape-shifters with the power to alter reality itself. Immortals have the ability to literally reinvent themselves through a special form of reincarnation-like evolution. Characters may have been an ancient god, mythical creature, or legendary hero in a former incarnation. As the characters struggle to remember who and what they truly are these past-lives continue to inform, empower, and confound the character's current incarnation; They also must re-acclimate to a millennia old war against dark forces to save their last bastion in the universe, Earth.
Contents
The game is set in modern-day earth, but makes extensive use of world mythology, high fantasy elements, and an original alternative earth history.
Background
Millions of years ago the dragon immortals known as the Abzulim enslaved nearly all other immortal creatures. They created an empire spanning the cosmos and made war with the Primals: elemental entities older than the universe itself. When the war ended, the Abzulim fled this world and the Primals all but vanished from existence. Now freed, the various himsati species of slave immortals wandered in groups called Prides until the coming of humanity. Both blessed and cursed by mortal faith, the immortals were transformed into human-like guises; they were exalted as gods, monsters and supernatural heroes by the infant human race. But internal strife and hatred between the Pantheons led to their own wars and the end of their stewardship over humanity. The immortals went into seclusion for eons until they eventually filtered back out amongst humanity, in secret, several thousand years ago.
Upon their return, they fought against other immortals who served dark ancient powers from before the dawn of time. After many bitter defeats, and with scar-laden souls, they beat back their enemies and thought they had finally won; it was only the beginning. Somewhere out there the Deepwalkers, mightiest of the Abzulim, have returned to Earth and evolved beyond the ability of normal immortals to see them for their true selves. Now the Twelve Tribes of the himsati race—descendants of their own mythical past—wage war against the Droves, groups of dark twisted mortal creatures and their immortal leaders known as the Progeny. Possessed of supernatural powers and the ability to shapeshift into primordial forms of animal, plant, and element, the immortals must wield their awesome powers in order to save their last refuge, Earth. All the while the mortal world continues on close to what we have always known, unaware of the invisible war that transpires around and within.
The players discover that their characters are part of an ancient race of immortal, shapeshifters known as the Himsati that have the power to alter reality with the power of their voice. The weight of immortality causes these beings to literally reinvent themselves through a special form of reincarnation-like evolution called Lethe. You may have been an ancient god, a mythical creature or legendary hero in ages past but reborn into the modern world. You and other immortals wage war against to save your last bastion in the universe, Earth. The Immortals battle each other immortals and mortal agents both normal and twisted by the dark powers of the mighty Abzulim. The Abzulim are a draconian race known to be the first immortals; former masters of all the other immortals who they enslaved for millions of year. But the end of the modern world draws near as the facade of the myths humanity holds dear begin to crumble; ancient gods, myths and legends are rising from their secret places to fight this final war against the forces of darkness. A new age of legend is dawning, terrible, magical and breathtaking. Centuries ago, a small handful of immortals were chosen; to be the last salvation, or damnation, of the immortal race.
The Twelve Tribes
Game system
Immortal uses its own custom system.
Publication History
The game was created in the 1980s with a public release in 1993 as Immortal: Invisible War by Precedence Entertainment. Due to issues with the original publisher over the creation of Immortal: Millennium (2nd Edition), the game's original creator took back control of the product and a decision was made to continue on with a 3rd Edition to clarify and rectify those issues. Immortal: The Invisible War (3rd Edition) was released via the game's website as a free PDF.