Pyramid Review
Ruins of Rathess (for Exalted)
Published by White Wolf Publishing
Written by James Maliszewski and John Snead
Illustrated by Ed Bourelle, Leanne Buckley, Ross Campbell, Shane Coppage & UDON
Cover by Kevin Lao & UDON
96-page b&w softcover; $16.95
Ruins of Rathess is the newest supplement for White Wolf Publishing's RPG set before the World of Darkness and after the First Age, in the Age of Sorrows, Exalted. It bears similarities with the previously released Time of Tumult, but is not an anthology of adventures. Instead it terms itself, "A Deadly Adventure Locale," detailing as it does the crumbling city of Rathess, capital of the Dragon Kings and once prime city of the First Age, the capital of Creation. As an adventure locale, no plot or actual scenario is given in Ruins of Rathess, but rather the authors give us a treatment of the city's history, its surroundings, important buildings and utilities, denizens and foes, plus its dangers and rewards. All of which can be used as a place to loot, a place to hide, a place to explore, or even as a place in which to find allies and restore . . . Which of course, will attract the attention of more Solar Exalted and the unwanted attention of the Terrestrial Exalted.
The book is up to White Wolf's usual production standards, and is both well written and engaging. It does open with several pages of history, which like the first few pages of the core book is not as interesting and easy to read as the rest of the supplement. That said, . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: October 3, 2003
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