Ethernalis Systems Reference

Game Systems

The laws that shape every dungeon, trade, and whispered spell.
- A rule-book account of how Altarmn works beneath the surface
13 Systems· 6 Magic Schools· 14 Material Domains· 10 Dungeon Themes

Each page below explains one of the game’s mechanical systems in full - how it works, what it governs, and how its parts interact. These are the rules of the world, not a spoiler list. The dungeon still holds its secrets.

SPL
Spellcraft

The Art of Spellcraft

Six magic schools, scroll mastery, the spellcraft roll, proficiency scaling, and conversion magic.

XP
Growth

Experience and Progression

Experience awards, level thresholds, class branches, use-based proficiencies, and XP as perk currency.

DNG
Generation

The Card-Dungeon

Random-walk generation, ten themes, five-card rooms, locks and keys, sub-dungeons, and post-processing.

MAT
Craft

Matter and Craft

Fourteen material domains, the quality scale, stat modifiers, durability, vulnerability, and crafting inheritance.

RUN
Runework

Sockets and Enchantments

Runic tools, socket creation, rune insertion, item buffs, room auras, enchantment rolls, and magical item risks.

ACT
Survival

Advanced Actions

Fishing, foraging, mining, washing, harvesting, tag-based object work, tool requirements, proficiency, and sustainable resources.

NPC
Living World

People of the Dungeon

Four NPC kinds, AI behavior, needs, equipment, companions, and how quest state lives on the player.

TRD
Commerce

The Trade Post

Three merchant types, buying, selling, stealing, merchant leveling, and how personality shapes trade.

TML
Fate

The Living Clock

Player-bound timelines, ten trigger types, timer mode, and how the world fires events at the right moment.

DRT
Grime

Grime, Blood, and Scent

Stains versus smells as separate systems, volume bands, comfort effects, enemy attraction, and decay.

TRT
Comfort

Character and Comfort

Eight trait kinds rolled at creation, comfort contributions, scope, race and class bias, and trait sources.

PRK
Growth

Perks

The XP-driven perk tree, cost scaling, prerequisite chains, instant stat bonuses, and all 54 perks with icons.

MIN
Extraction

Mining & Excavation

Pickaxe mechanics, wall durability, mineral yields, gem recovery, ceiling collapse risk, and location-based vein mining.