Version 6

Welcome to Kinship's sixth version: Riftgate! This version will be packed with chaos, celestial intrigue, and opportunities of all kinds! Below you'll find an overview of key changes and themes that will define this version; we'll dive deeper into the specific in other sections of the guide. I've made a few updates to the Codex already, but will be working to finalize the rest in the next few weeks; if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out either in the designated Questions channel or through your private support channel!

What's happening with this version?

• In character, it has been about a year and a half since the Shardfall Disaster first began. The Shardfalls have started to slow in frequency and intensity, shifting into a more natural phenomenon -- still dangerous, but now a part of Kinship’s environment, much like blizzards or other intense, natural storms.
  • The Heralds are no longer tied to the Shardfalls, appearing and disappearing in areas seemingly at random. We have learned that they are survivors of the initial conflict between the Dreadnought and the Paragon, but which side -- if any -- they stood on remains to be seen.
  • The Dreadnought remains an ever-present threat, hunting the Starchildren and seeking to consume celestial power to fuel its own resurgence.

• Our primary focus will now shift from Shardfalls to a new phenomenon: Riftgates. These unstable portals appear wherever the Dreadnought roams, tearing through reality due to the clash between its corrupting energy and the fragmented celestial forces still trapped within it. Each Riftgate is chaotic, unpredictable—some expel strange beings and artifacts into the world while others pull in unsuspecting travelers to realms unknown.
  • At the heart of every Riftgate is a Gatekeeper fragment. These celestial generals once fought to imprison the Dreadnought, sacrificing everything in the process. Their broken remnants are now trapped in the Riftgates, waiting to be recovered. Mortals who enter can prove themselves through trials set by the Gatekeepers, reclaiming pieces of their power and gradually restoring them to full strength.
  • Our goal is to collect five Fragments from each of the five Gatekeepers, allowing us to use their power in a final fight against the Dreadnought. If a Rift remains open too long, the Dreadnought will reabsorb the Keeper's fragment instead, growing even stronger and more dangerous. If five Fragments are lost, the Gatekeeper will be fully consumed by the Dreadnought

The Gatekeepers

The Gatekeepers are celestial beings—once the greatest generals in the Paragon's army—who risked everything in an attempt to bring down the Dreadnought. Their sacrifice slowed its advance, weakening it just enough for the Paragon to seal it away. But the Dreadnought did not merely destroy them—it consumed them. Now, fragmented and scattered across the Riftgates, they linger in broken pieces, lost between time and space.

Each Gatekeeper is bound to specific types of Riftgates, reflecting aspects of their former selves. Though shattered, their influence remains. As mortals venture into the Riftgates, they may encounter echoes of these lost warriors, their trials serving as both tests and desperate pleas for restoration. For each Gatekeeper, five fragments exist, waiting to be reclaimed.

Their return is not certain—if a fragment is not recovered in time, the Dreadnought will consume it once more, leaving them forever incomplete.

Gifts & Blessings

Though weakened, the Gatekeepers remain celestial forces of immense power. They may take interest in newly joined characters, bestowing unique Talents or items upon them. They may also offer gifts when a Bond is completed, reinforcing the reality of mortal connections in defiance of the Dreadnought’s hunger. Unlike prior joining/bonding abilities, these can be reassigned or sold freely.

IXTHIA THE MIRRORBORNE

• Gate Types: Prismatic (illusions, fractured), Hollow (decay, skeletal ruins)
• Themes: Perception, rebirth, inevitability, duality, deception, shattered truth
• Appearance: A many-eyed, fox-like entity with a coat that constantly shifts between hues, refracting light like shattered glass. At times, her form is sleek and resplendent, the very image of celestial grace; in the next, she is decayed and skeletal, her fur peeling away to reveal something that should not be. Parts of her body flicker between states of being—sometimes solid, sometimes translucent, sometimes writhing with an unsettling, organic movement. When she speaks, her voices overlap—harmonious yet discordant, offering conflicting truths that never quite align. Where she treads, reality warps, her presence a rippling fracture in the fabric of existence.
• Personality: Ixthia exists between contradictions. She is both the question and the answer, the beginning and the end, the voice that reassures and the whisper that undermines. One moment, she may seem wise and nurturing, offering insight laced with riddles; the next, she is mocking, laughing at the futility of mortal understanding. She does not see the world in absolutes—only in shifting perspectives, endless possibilities.
• Flaws & Fracturing: The weight of infinite possibilities has broken Ixthia’s sense of self. She is trapped between countless versions of herself, never fully aligning with any one reality. At times, she recalls events that never happened, speaks to mortals as if they are someone else entirely, or reacts to a moment as though it has already concluded. She is unpredictable—even to herself. While she may genuinely wish to aid those who seek her, she can just as easily mislead them, either by accident or by deliberate whim. Her mind has no fixed shape, only spiraling echoes of what was, what could have been, and what might still come to pass.
• Mortal Interaction: Ixthia's trials are tests of perception, deception, and the embrace of uncertainty. She might offer conflicting advice to gauge a mortal’s discernment, construct elaborate illusions to see if they can separate truth from fiction, or force them into paradoxical choices where no answer is fully right or wrong. She favors those who challenge the idea of objective reality, drawn to tricksters, visionaries, and philosophers who accept that truth is rarely absolute. But those who seek simple answers will find only frustration—for to stand before Ixthia is to stand before a reflection that changes every time one blinks.

KAEMOR THE FROSTBOUND

• Gate Types: Frozen (glacial caverns), Abyssal (deep water, submerged ruins)
• Themes: Endurance, patience, unseen potential, duty, memory
• Appearance: A towering, stag-like beast with antlers sculpted from glacial ice, mist rolling from his fur as if he carries the deep cold with him. His body is heavy and solid, moving with the weight of ancient ice floes. His hooves leave behind frozen footprints, even on dry ground, and his breath emerges in slow, curling plumes of frost. When submerged in water, his form shifts—his fur taking on a sleek, abyssal sheen, his limbs lengthening, his antlers dissolving into drifting, luminescent spines like deep-sea coral. His eyes, distant and mournful, seem forever locked on something just out of reach.
• Personality: Kaemor exists as though the war never ended. He speaks to mortals as if they are soldiers under his command, issuing orders, relaying battlefield strategies, and preparing for an enemy that may not even be present. He is patient and measured, slow to anger but unyielding in his expectations. Though his presence is imposing, there is no malice in his voice—only the quiet, weary resolve of someone who has stood watch for far too long.
• Flaws & Fracturing: Kaemor's mind is trapped in an endless loop, reliving past battles and preparing for conflicts that have long since faded into history. He cannot distinguish between what was and what is, making him slow to recognize changing circumstances. He is wise but rigid, his sense of duty so deeply ingrained that he struggles to let go of tactics and plans that may no longer apply. Mortals may find it difficult to gain his trust, as he often mistakes them for warriors he once commanded—or believes they have already proven themselves, speaking to them as though they have fought at his side before.
• Mortal Interaction: Kaemor treats mortals as soldiers in a war that, to him, never ended. He expects discipline, endurance, and unwavering commitment. His trials demand patience, strategy, and resilience rather than brute force. He may present challenges that require resourcefulness over raw power—such as enduring extreme environments, rationing limited supplies, or standing firm against overwhelming odds. Those who listen and adapt will earn his respect, but those who act recklessly or fail to recognize the weight of their choices will find him cold and unyielding.

SYLTHIS THE STORMCLAW

• Gate Types: Wild (nature reclaiming ruins), Storm (chaotic lightning, floating islands)
• Themes: Growth, balance, recklessness, willpower, primal force

• Appearance: A massive feline-like beast, their fur a turbulent mix of storm-charged clouds and tangled, overgrown vines. Their claws crackle with arcs of untamed lightning, and their tail branches into antler-like prongs, flickering between vibrant greenery and violent electrical surges. Their form is never entirely still—wind and static energy ripple around them, leaves budding and wilting across their body in an endless cycle of creation and destruction. When they move, the ground pulses with raw elemental energy, as if the land itself breathes in their presence.

• Personality: Sylthis is wild and unrestrained, embracing the ever-changing nature of existence. They shift rapidly between emotions—joyous and laughing one moment, roaring with fury the next. They see no difference between creation and destruction, only the inevitability of both. To them, hesitation is a death sentence, and overthinking is a chain that binds the soul. They believe in acting instinctively, without fear or regret.

• Flaws & Fracturing: Sylthis' mind is as chaotic as the storm that follows them. Their fragmented consciousness makes them impulsive and unpredictable, leaping between emotions and decisions with no warning. They struggle with focus, often abandoning one course of action the moment another excites them. Their wisdom is raw and untamed—profound, yet often buried beneath their ever-shifting moods. Those who seek a steady hand or clear guidance may find only frustration, for Sylthis is a force of nature, not a patient teacher.

• Mortal Interaction: Sylthis tests mortals through trials of instinct, risk, and momentum. They may create challenges that force participants to act without hesitation—racing through crumbling landscapes, grasping lightning from the sky, or leaping from impossible heights to see who dares to trust the wind. They favor those who embrace chaos, who act with passion rather than deliberation. Caution earns their disdain, while boldness—whether wise or reckless—catches their interest. They are just as likely to bless a fool with fire as they are to strike down a cautious strategist for their hesitation.

TORRAN THE EMBERLORD

• Gate Types: Infernal (fire, volcanic), Crimson (battlefield, war-torn ruins)
• Themes: Power, ambition, destruction, sacrifice, wrath
• Appearance: A monstrous, wolf-like beast wreathed in smoldering embers, his obsidian-black armor cracked with glowing veins of molten heat. His mane roils like an eternal blaze, shifting between flickering flame and thick, choking smoke. His molten eyes seethe with barely contained fury, and his claws leave scorched prints in his wake, setting the ground ablaze with every step. Deep cracks run along his body, exposing raw, pulsing heat beneath—remnants of a power that threatens to consume him from within.
• Personality: Torran is wrath incarnate, a being of ceaseless intensity and smoldering rage. He does not tolerate weakness, indecision, or hesitation. Every breath he takes is a reminder of a war that was never truly won, and every encounter with mortals is a test of their worth. He respects strength—whether physical, mental, or emotional—but despises those who lack the will to act. To him, the only path forward is one forged through fire and sacrifice.
• Flaws & Fracturing: Torran’s mind is locked in the endless fury of a battle that never ended. He sees enemies in every shadow, betrayal in every delay. His rage is not mindless—it is sharp, purposeful, and fueled by centuries of frustration—but it blinds him to any path that does not involve conflict. He struggles to recognize peace, viewing diplomacy as cowardice and hesitation as betrayal. Those who attempt to reason with him will find only scorn, unless they prove their worth through action.
• Mortal Interaction: Torran tests mortals through trials of endurance, combat, and sacrifice. He may demand that they face impossible odds, endure searing flames, or give up something precious to them in exchange for power. He rewards those who refuse to break, those who embrace hardship as fuel for the fire within. But mercy earns his contempt, and hesitation is met with scorn. To stand before Torran is to stand before a storm of fire, where only the unyielding will survive.

VEYRITH THE UNBOUND

• Gate Types: Sky (floating ruins, clouds), Astral (celestial void, gravity shifts)
• Themes: Freedom, agility, fate, wisdom, transcendence
• Appearance: A towering owl-like entity, her skeletal frame wrapped in shifting, translucent feathers that seem more like strands of mist than solid form. When she moves, her wings stretch impossibly wide, trailing behind her in a way that suggests she is never fully bound to this world. Her eyes—vast and depthless—glow with a cold, cosmic light, unblinking and unreadable. At times, gravity itself bends in her presence, making the air ripple and distorting space as though she is caught between realms.
• Personality: Veyrith exists beyond the confines of time and place, untethered from the rigid expectations of reality. She is distant and detached, watching mortals with an unreadable gaze, her words flowing in riddles that may not make sense until long after they are spoken. She sees the world as a vast web of possibilities, each thread weaving into another—mortals are merely strands within it, and she has long since stopped distinguishing between past, present, and future.
• Flaws & Fracturing: Veyrith’s consciousness is stretched too thin across time and space, making it difficult for her to engage with any single moment. She may begin a conversation as if it has already ended or respond to questions that have yet to be asked. She does not lie, but her truths are rarely immediate, often obscured beneath layers of cryptic language. This detachment makes her appear emotionless, though in truth, she simply no longer experiences existence in a way mortals can comprehend.
• Mortal Interaction: Veyrith’s trials are tests of perception, foresight, and adaptability. She may place mortals in situations where they must trust in fate, forcing them to make decisions with incomplete knowledge. She might challenge them to navigate shifting landscapes, solve intricate puzzles, or embrace uncertainty. Those who prove themselves capable of thinking beyond the obvious or who move with purpose despite uncertainty earn her favor. But those who rely too much on rigid logic, or who demand clear and immediate answers, will find only frustration in her presence.

Interaction Opportunities

During this version, characters can interact with a number of forces through the ⁠ic-requests board; some individuals seen aiding the effort may also be contacted through the ⁠#bounty-board by some of these forces.

• The Paragon has been fully restored and stands as a beacon of guidance. Those who seek training in preparation for the coming battles can request its guidance through the ⁠#ic-requests channel.
• The Heralds can be contacted through the ⁠#ic-requests channel.  In addition to possible rewards, contacting them and completing tasks for them may encourage them to join the Paragon against the Dreadnought.
• The Gatekeepers can be contacted through the #⁠ic-requests channel to exchange Gate Tokens.  Characters may find ways to recover additional fragments through these interactions.

Gate Tokens

• Gate Tokens are typically dropped as Bonus rewards when a Fragment has been reclaimed, though they may be received as prizes for various other tasks and even during mini-games.  Gate Tokens are stored in your player inventory; they can be sold for up to 100c each.
• Gate Tokens can also be exchanged with Gatekeepers through the #⁠ic-requests channel.  Players are welcome to bargain with Gatekeepers in order to obtain unique opportunities or favors, training (new Talents or Progression points), custom rewards like items or pets, and much more.

Gatekeepers are open to negotiation, but as a general rule of thumb, here’s what players can expect when offering Gate Tokens:

• 1 - 3 Gate Tokens
  • Minor in-game perks (e.g., temporary buffs, access to minor restricted areas)
  • Small items (e.g., a piece of enchanted gear, a basic weapon)
  • Simple favors (e.g., a single-use teleport)
  • Minor progress in training (e.g., up to 20 Progression Points
  • Minor custom item or pet (simple appearance, no special abilities)
  • Opening an Easy Solo Gate
• 4 - 7 Gate Tokens
  • Acquisition of a basic Talent (valued up to 1000c)
  • One-time services from NPCs (e.g., assistance in a battle, completing a harvesting attempt for you)
  • Special permission (e.g., temporary access to a restricted place)
  • Mid-tier unique items (e.g., enchanted gear with minor effects)
  • Training for up to 50 Progression Points
  • Small pet or mount with minor traits
  • Opening a Medium Solo Gate
• 8 - 12 Gate Tokens
  • Acquisition of an advanced Talent (valued up to 1500c)
  • Training with a specialist NPC (e.g., a rare mentor, a powerful ally) for up to 75 Progression Points
  • A significant favor from a Gatekeeper or high-tier NPC
  • Rare or semi-custom items (e.g., unique weapons, armor with special traits)
  • Advanced mounts or pets with notable abilities
  • Opening a Hard Solo Gate
• 13+ Gate Tokens
  • Unlocking powerful abilities, such as a rare Talent (3000c+)
  • Custom-made legendary weapons, armor, or artifacts
  • A personal favor from the Gatekeeper, which may have lasting effects
  • A powerful companion, pet, or mount with unique features
  • Training for up to 100 Progression Points
  • Opening a Major Solo Gate

Riftborn Conditions

With the emergence of the Riftgates, reality itself has begun to warp, and some individuals have been permanently altered. These individuals, known as the Riftborn, bear the scars, gifts, and anomalies of direct exposure to the Rift’s unpredictable energies. Becoming Riftborn does not replace a character’s base race; it overlays unique effects, abilities, and mutations onto them. This means you may have a Riftborn Human or Riftborn Volari.

About the Conditions

Not all who come into contact with the Rift are changed. Its influence is unpredictable, chaotic, and often unstable. However, certain factors increase the likelihood of transformation:

• Threshold of Exposure:The longer someone spends around active Rifts, the more likely it is that they will gain the Riftborn condition. Characters standing near a Rift when it opens -- particularly Explosive Rifts -- have a much greater chance of being affected.
• Resonance Factor: Some individuals possess a natural affinity for Rift energy due to their bloodline, past experiences, or other metaphysical traits.
• Emotional or Physical State: Those experiencing extreme emotions like terror, rage, or despair may be more susceptible.
• *Survival Instinct or Willpower: Some mortals unconsciously resist the Rift’s pull, while others may choose to submit to it, welcoming the condition.
• Starlight Immunity: Starchildren and Starlight Guardians are immune to the Riftborn condition; this means they cannot become Riftborn and someone with the Riftborn condition cannot be made in to a Starchild unless they remove the condition first.

Condition Progression

• Characters and Companions who have a Riftborn Condition will have access to a unique secondary leveling system. This will be in addition to their standard tech or magic abilities.
• A post in which a character uses or mentions their Riftborn abilities will grant +15RP (Rift Points).
• Players should use the 'Riftborn' or 'Riftborn Companion' Progress boxes to claim these points.
• Riftborn Progression can be claimed in addition to regular claims (including magic or tech).

Riftborn Costs

• Unless otherwise specified, any character or Companion can become Riftborn.
• Your first Riftborn can be joined or converted for free. If converting a current character, please use your private support channel.
• Additional Riftborn can be joined or converted for 1000c each.
• The Riftborn condition can sometimes be dropped for free during Riftgate participation.
• Characters can remove the Riftborn condition for 500c or through completion of a special quest; please use your private support channel to request the update.
• Characters can switch between one of the three types for 750c or through completion of a special quest; please use your private support channel to request the update.

Condition Types

There are three primary Riftborn conditions, each have their own Progression system.

• The Rift-Forged: You are no longer what you once were. The Rift has rewritten your physical form, warping flesh, bone, and essence into something both greater and less than mortal. Keywords: Strength, Resilience, Aggression. They tank and overpower.
• The Symbiote: You are not alone. Something else came through the Rift with you -- or into you. Whether it is an entity, a presence, or something more abstract, it now resides within, shaping your existence to its own purposes. Keywords: Energy, Phasing, Consumption. They manipulate what exists... and what might exist.
• The Unstable: You are not meant to exist—not like this. The Rift didn’t just change you. It fractured you. You are a paradox wrapped in flesh, a walking contradiction that the world does not know how to accommodate. Keywords: Chaos, Distortion, Unnatural Intervention. They change what exists, rewriting the moment in ways that no one can prepare for.
• Custom Types: We are open to discussing custom Riftborn Conditions; please use your private support channel to share what you're looking for. Most custom Riftborn will cost an additional 3500c (total 4500c for the Condition).

More Conditions may also be discovered during this version!

New Factions

Three new Factions have been introduced:

• The Argent Accord is a coalition of warriors, scholars, and defenders who have sworn to safeguard Kinship from the escalating dangers of the Riftgates, the Dreadnought, and those who would exploit the chaos for personal gain. Working alongside the Paragon, they act as peacekeepers, Riftgate responders, and protectors of innocent lives. While some members are trained fighters, others specialize in celestial research, crisis response, and diplomacy, ensuring that knowledge and strength go hand in hand in the fight for Kinship’s survival.

• The Eclipsed is a fanatical doomsday cult that believes the Dreadnought is not a force of destruction, but a necessary step toward Kinship’s final transformation. Its followers view the weakening of the Paragon and the rise of the Dreadnought as a divine convergence—one that must be embraced, not resisted. They believe that by feeding Starchildren to the Dreadnought, they can accelerate its ascension and merge existence with the celestial unknown. Ritualistic and brutal, the Eclipsed are known for their chilling devotion, their eerie chants, and their unrelenting pursuit of those who would stand against the Dreadnought’s inevitable reign.

• The Rifstriders are a network of opportunists, scavengers, and explorers who thrive in the chaos left behind by the Dreadnought and the Riftgates. They see the celestial war as a golden age of discovery and profit, navigating Riftgates to claim powerful artifacts, exotic creatures, and rare information to sell to the highest bidder. Neither loyal to the Paragon nor the Dreadnought, the Riftstriders are driven by ambition, curiosity, and the promise of untold riches. Some act as mercenaries and guides through the dangerous rifts, while others traffic in stolen celestial relics or barter secrets gleaned from alien realms.

Site Updates

• Four new skins have been released for Version 6!
• The Vanguard, Warden, Paragon, and Dreadnought skins have received updates for readability/cohesion. The Dreadnought has a new image!
• Font options have been added to the theme picker dropdown!

• A "Featured" section can now be found at the bottom of the layout when signed in; features include players, companions, and characters. These features will change each time the page is refreshed!

• Our final Shardfall rolls will be done on Monday, March 17th. Characters can continue collecting shards until April 4th. The Shard Shop will close on Saturday, April 5th. Any shards remaining in inventories at that time will be converted to coppers at the highest value possible.

• I plan to do a refresh on the Marketplace soon; I would love ideas/feedback/thoughts!