Crystalicum

The game features numerous planets for the GM to use as a setting for his party's adventures, and since quite a number of maps depicting formerly charted space have been lost, new ones can be added as one wills it.

In-game they are called worlds, as the term (and name) Planet is reserved for a single world, which is also considered to be the centre of the universe.

In-between the worlds players find what is called the Void. The Void however is anything but empty. Most notably it contains a breathable atmosphere, and is a habitat for a number of species (mostly, but not exclusively, based on fish). The temperature of the Void seems to be higher than that on some of the planets.

Gravity seems to work most of the time, but the issue of "where is up and down" in the Void has yet to be established. While on a ship, down is towards the deck, when you fall out of a vessel however, you more or less hurl through the Void, until you [or your corpse] get caught by a world's gravitational pull, or a ship stumbles upon you and decides to take you on board). Also, the card Ingenious Maneuver ("Błyskotliwy Manewr") features the following flavor text:

Did you see that? He flew with his deck upside-down! I had no idea it is possible!
- Luciano de Vela

Widziałeś? Przeleciał pokładem w dół! Nie miałem pojęcia, że to możliwe!
- Luciano de Vela

The Great Void is a vast stretch of the Void surrounding the Known Universe. Due to the lack of planets or even substantial rocks, preventing placing even a small resupply point for ships, it has for a long time been an impassable barrier, and the object of many tales regarding what (if anything) lies beneath. Recently however, Cristobal Catarribera y Natalez Salazar de Vela, the Dragon Prince, ruler of the Dragon Dwarves led an expedition meant to traverse and see what lies beyond the Great Void.

The Card Game expansion "Under Set Sails" takes place after the return of the expedition, proving that there are worlds inhabited by till then unknown races beyond the Great Void.

The Role-Playing Game is a bit unclear on its specific time placement. While the Great Void is mentioned as impassable in the player's guide, "The Known Universe" ends with the protagonist telling the news of the Dragon King's expedition's return and deciding to travel to the newly discovered worlds.

A unique celestial body, the Red Moon travels between worlds in a somewhat erratic, yet possible to predict pattern (astronomers have devised ways to establish the Red Moon's course, and some people are born with the innate ability of sensing its coming to the world they are on). It is the scourge of all beings, as whatever living thing is basked in its light mutates both physically and mentally, becoming a raving monster.

The term "monster" in Crystalicum applies only to the victims of the Red Moon, be they a sentient race, animal or plant.

One of the most widely featured extraordinary substances in Crystalicum. Found on all worlds save one (The Planet), it develops underneath the Earth's surface and is therefore mined and extracted. The crystal has numerous uses. After being set in a special socket it can bestow the socketed item with special or magical properties. It can be used as a battery for crystal-based weaponry. Crystals power the Void-faring ships' engines. In fact, they power many more or less mundane devices, usually fitted to the crystal's elemental manifestation. They are also an integral part of focuses - items characters with magical abilities use to perform their magic (a Crystal fit to be set in a focus is both rare and valuable, since it cannot be worked in any way, and must have developed the right shape naturally).

Though coming from beneath the earth, most Crystals require sunlight to fuel their powers. A Crystal that has expended its energy takes more or less thirty hours in the sun to recharge, half the time if it is recharged in the Void. Other, more effective means of recharging a Crystal do exist however.

Crystal develops an elemental affinity, according to the nature of the world it comes from.

Air Crystals - translucent Crystals which distort light, creating tiny rainbows around them, they are found on cold and windy worlds. Affiliated with the mind, genius and deception. These Crystals can increase one's perception, cause a chameleon effect, outright invisibility, cause an item to glow, allow a weapon to fight on its own or bestow the ability to fly (which makes them the power source for world-faring ships).

Earth Crystals - dark green Crystals found on worlds with a rich flora and fauna. Affiliated with energy, life and power. They can cause additional wounds on a successful hit, increase a character's strength or dexterity and agility, make the character more resistant to wounds, imbue it with the power of regeneration or repair broken items. They also have a distinct ability - they can store twice as much energy as other Crystals of the same level could, which makes them the most common choice where a crystal is used only as a source of power (e.g. machines).

Fire Crystals - glowing red Crystals found on dry and hot worlds. Affiliated with the untouchable sphere of life that is luck. Fire Crystals can cause darkness, allow one to see in it, drain elemental energy used against a character, increase its luck or speed or cure diseases. Fire Crystals have the most straightforward manifestation of power among crystals, which makes them widely used in heating devices, weaponry, but also in ship engines.

Water Crystals - dark-azure Crystals found on worlds with high humidity - ones that have a lot of rivers and lakes, vast seas, regular downpours or are shrouded in mist all the time. Affiliated with the spirit, relations between beings and all things ever-changing. They allow the weapon to deal poisoned or stunning strikes, pass through an opponent's armor, let the character comprehend languages, shapeshift or strengthen its will. These Crystals are rarely used for non-magic purposes, partially because their powers are the most enigmatic and least known.

Crystals can also hold spells within them. The Crystal's affinity has to correspond with the type of magic it is supposed to hold, its size must also be sufficient. Once in a Crystal, a spell can be released by anyone simply by shattering it, making it a means of access to magic for non-spellcasters, or for spellcasters to have a quick spell ready for dire emergencies. The obvious downsides are the single-use nature of such item, as well as the fixed nature of a spell contained inside.

Another extraordinary substance, Overmetal is one of the things that differentiate a common character from a hero. The substance, also mined from beneath a world's earth, can be used to make weapons, armor and items of extraordinary durability and high quality. However its true value shows when used by characters who "resonate" with Overmetal. It then grows with the wielder/owner, increasing in power, gaining abilities, and changing its appearance to reflect his/her power and character. By default, all player characters resonate and start with an Overmetal item (known as that character's Overmetal Heritage [Nadmetalowe Dziedzictwo]).

One of the benefits of possessing an item crafted from this ore (and resonating with it), is the possibility of having special slots for Crystals in it, which imbue the item and/or its owner with additional powers (usually called upon when needed). A Crystal placed in an Overmetal item does not need sunshine, instead drawing upon the owner's life force to recharge. Recharging a Crystal in such a way usually takes only a few hours.

The ability to harness one's magic ability. If a character is not born with the Gift, he or she will most probably never be able to use magic, unless some extraordinary circumstances arise (some say the Prophet was not able to use magic until his return with the Crystal Hand).

A character's Gift is dependent on his or her race, and cannot be changed. To tap into it, aside from training, a focus is required. A focus is a specific item (tied to the gifted player's race) with a special crystal set within (its affinity also tied to the gift), that holds no power aside from channeling magical energy.

The study of magic is divided into paths. There are universal paths, available to every race, focusing on the harness and use of magic, and race-specific paths, which allow the channeling of specific effects.

A gifted character also has better control over spells contained within Crystals. The attitude towards the practice of storing spells this way differs from race to race. The Ice Elves combat the practice of capturing their spells in Crystals for use by anyone of not Ice Elven descent. The Dwarves on the other hand, with their utilitarian approach to magic, have no trouble selling Crystals with their spells within.

Attitudes towards gifted ones are as differed as the worlds themselves, and on some spellcasters are in-born elites, on some they are revered, other worlds hold spellcasting as just another respectable professions, while on certain worlds the gifted are outright hunted.

There do not exist boundaries which cannot be passed, spaces which cannot be traversed, nor wonders which cannot be comprehended. It takes only for us to extend our hand, and we shall reach the stars.
- Alexandreos Megas

Nie istnieją granice, których nie można przekroczyć, przestrzenie, których nie można przebyć ani cuda, których nie da się pojąć. Wystarczy, że wyciągniemy rękę, a sięgniemy gwiazd.
- Alexandreos Megas

Focus: Even though it's called a bracelet, it resembles a glove worn on the right hand, with an Air Crystal set in the palm. As it grows, it climbs up the forearm, it's Overmetal threads forming more intricate lines and patterns. The hand part however, alters significantly less, especially the part touching the palm, which stays flat the entire time, making this focus unobstructive in nature, allowing the character to even wield a weapon in that hand effectively.

The Ice Elves are divided into coteries, which were originally established by the Kaiser to augment his power. Each coterie has some purpose or specialisation, and while not all of its members are solely devoted to it, it can be reasonably expected for a member of a coterie to be reasonable knowledgeable/proficient in his/her coterie's intended role.

As times changed, some coteries dissipated, while new ones have been created. Also, some worlds with only a marginal Ice Elven populace are known to have coteries whose members are tied only by being members of it, with no focus on a skill or role whatsoever.

Known coteries include, but are not limited to:

The Dikastirio Coterie This coterie focuses on political influence. Most diplomats and ambassadors hail from it. Originally it was meant to strengthen the Kaiser's political influence on conquered worlds, but with the decline of the Dominion, its members turned to political games within the Dominion itself. Most Kaisers in recent history have hailed from this coterie, and even today, when the formal Kaiser is Eirene Dasma, its influence on Ice Elven politics in the form of Gerasimos Pagos can be strongly felt.

The Dioxi Coterie A relatively new coterie (no more than a few hundred years old), it was formed some time after the Gnomes opened up for trade and services. Its purpose is to search the universe for Crystals containing Ice Elven spells and repossess or destroy them. Also, if said Crystals happen to be owned by a Gnome from the Guild of Gloves, said Gnome can prepare himself for a very painful death.

The Krystallos Coterie A coterie devoted to the study and practice of magic. Most of its members are Gifted, some however only aid the theoretical aspect of studying magic (in such cases they usually focus on the Gifts of other races). While not all Gifted Ice Elves join this coterie, most Gifted members of other coteries have discovered their abilities after leaving the nursery. Due to the nature of the Ice Elven Gift, this coterie is both feared and revered even by other Ice Elves.

The Naftis Coterie A coterie from which most ship captains in the Dominion are recruited. Its members are expected to be masterful captains and fleet commanders. The current Kaiser, Eirene Dasma hails from this coterie, and since she's been brought up to be a ship captain most of her life, she runs the Dominion not unlike as if she'd run a ship.

The Proaspizo Coterie Created for a single purpose - waging war against the Dwarves. Even though the Ice Elves lost the war against them, this coterie has not been disbanded, and its members are still active, though their role has shifted towards instigation and sabotage, instead of outright conflict. However, if there's a clash between Dwarven and Elven forces, you can expect members of this coterie to play some role in it.

The Zamoi Coterie A "diasporan"-type coterie gathering all the Ice Elves from Zemos. One day, all of its members disappeared from the face of the world, and their palace stands empty to this day, not even the locals dare enter it. Gerasimos Pagos sent out one of his agents to solve the mystery of their disappearance. If the inhabitants of Zemos turn out to be responsible, the agent is to organize a massive genocide, killing every fifth of them.

• Jakub Osiejewski, Crystalicum, 27 July 2007, polter.pl