CONVERGENCE
"Power does not exist in a vacuum. It demands a witness, and it invites a challenger."
Ascendants (the Major Arcana) generally ignore mortals, but they cannot ignore each other. When multiple Ascendants exert influence on a single location, reality buckles under the weight of their conflicting aspects.
In WaySpace, the Major Arcana are not just abstract concepts; they are the "World Rules" currently in play - their effect will be preeminent at that location, and not going away soon.
When a card is played, it stays face-up on the table, forming the Convergence Arena
1. The Pressure Check
Every time a new Major Arcana card is placed on the table (adding to those already there), the GM must make a Convergence Check.
Roll a d20.
The Threat Range: The Check fails if the result is equal to or lower than [Number of Active Cards × 3].
1 Card Threat Range: 1-3 (d20) Probability: Low (15%)
2 Cards Threat Range: 1-6 (d20) Probability: Moderate (30%)
3 Cards Threat Range: 1-9 (d20) Probability: High (45%)
4 Cards Threat Range: 1-12 (d20) Probability: Severe (60%)
5+ Cards Threat Range: 1-20 (d20) Probability: Inevitable
2. The Trigger
If the check is passed (roll is high), the cards coexist uneasily. The tension remains. If the check fails (roll is low), CONVERGENCE OCCURS.
3. The Resolution: The Clash of Ascendants
When Convergence triggers, the outcome depends entirely on how many cards were on the table. The Ascendants are no longer looking at the players; they are looking at each other.
Clear the Convergence Arena after resolving the effect. The pressure resets.
THE AVATAR
(1 Card on Table)
Triggered on a roll of 1-3 when only one card is present. The Ascendant is unchallenged. It stops influencing the environment and manifests a physical Avatar to enforce its will directly.
Effect: The card becomes an NPC (Friend or Foe, based on context) for 1d4 rounds.
Example (The Chariot): A spectral tank or a knight in power armor plows through the wall, attacks the strongest combatant, and vanishes.
THE RESONANCE
(2 Cards on Table)
Triggered on a roll of 1-6 when two cards are present. The two Ascendants combine their aspects, creating a Hybrid Rule that warps reality. The GM interprets the combination of the two cards.
Examples of Resonance:
The Tower + The Magician = "Arcane Fallout."
Logic: Destruction + Magic.
Effect: Every spell cast or tech item used causes a localized explosion (1d6 damage to user).
The Lovers + Death = "The Romeo & Juliet Pact."
Logic: Bond + End.
Effect: All combatants are mentally linked to one enemy. If you take damage, your linked enemy takes equal damage. If one dies, the other dies.
THE WAR OF ASCENDANTS
(3+ Cards on Table)
Triggered when 3 or more cards are present. This is a Malazan-style Convergence. The Ascendants are too powerful to coexist. They go to war through the players and the environment. The scene becomes a disaster zone, possibly as follows:
Total Negation: All active cards are nullified instantly. All Magic, Tech, and Psionics cease to function for 1 round as reality reboots.
The Choosing: Each player is "claimed" by one of the cards on the table. They gain Advantage on all rolls associated with that card's Attribute but Disadvantage on everything else.
Planar Bleed: The cards tear the map apart. The battlefield splits into 3 distinct zones, each governed by one of the cards' physics. Players must physically move between zones to survive.
The Prison: The ground opens. An ancient prison mechanism attempts to capture the Ascendants. Everyone (Players and Enemies) must make a Force (Strength) save to avoid being dragged into an eternal prison dimension.
