The Broken

An airbender featured as an example for the Broken playbook.

The Broken (復出者) is one of the playbooks for Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, an outline of a character archetype that can be customized in the game. The Broken is one of the four playbooks featured in the Uncle Iroh's Adventure Guide playbook, and is described as wracked, wistful, yearning, and merciful. Their balance principles are Restoration vs Reinvention.

Description

The Broken suffered a tragedy that shattered them; now, they are piecing themselves back together. Play the Broken if you want to strive to heal yourself and become someone new

Wracked, wistful, yearning, merciful. The Broken has endured something so terrible that it shattered their self-image and left them a wreck. Now, for the sake of others, they are rebuilding, returning to who they once were or becoming someone new, capable of moving forward and doing good. The Broken knows exactly how much the world can take from them, but they aren't driven by vengeance or hatred—instead, they have come through that cycle and see no path to healing through causing more pain. They give other people the ability to make the different choices they wish they could’ve made.

• Starting stats: Creativity -1, Focus -1, Harmony -1, Passion -1
• Demeanor options: Aloof, Benign, Generous, Melancholy, Succinct, Supportive

Principles

The Broken struggles between the principles of Restoration and Reinvention.

Their Restoration principle is all about returning to whom they once were before they broke. That person was impressive in some way; driven, skilled, capable, likely with a significant reputation inside of the scope of the setting. But that past person is also exactly the one who experienced their tragic moment, when they lost everything including themselves. A Restoration-focused Broken is getting back to whom they once were, repeating old patterns, potentially to their detriment.

Their Reinvention principle is all about becoming someone completely new, with their tragedy acting as a divide between who they were and who they are now. They see a way to take on a new mindset, new beliefs, and even a new set of responsibilities and ways of dealing with problems to ensure they never arrive at the doorstep of such tragedy again. A Reinvention-focused Broken is actively avoiding old patterns while experimenting with new ways of being.

The Broken tries to balance these two principles by finding a way to preserve the best pieces of themselves from before, without pretending that they haven't changed. There are aspects of whom they once were worth holding onto, but they also need to do things differently. The Broken's Moment of Balance exemplifies this, as they wield some knowledge or expertise from their past to accomplish something new they wouldn’t have sought before.

Characteristics

Moment of Balance

You've been trying to heal yourself, but it's painful to simply try to be the person you once were without acknowledging what you've been through, and that pain keeps you from doing good in the world. But now, you have a flash of inspiration of who you could be, melding the best of who you once were with the person who knows more, who has seen more, and who can use that wisdom to do real good. Tell the GM how you wield a piece of your training or knowledge from your past self in a brand new way to create something truly good or change someone for the better.

Moves

• Destiny is a Funny Thing
• True Humility
• Life Happens Where You Are
• Second Chances
• Give Yourself Hope

Growth question

Did you get someone to invest in their own future?

The Broken's growth question is about fixing themselves by fixing the world around them, helping others to think about their own futures and how to make things better for themselves and the world. The Broken's experience gives them a unique perspective on how to improve the world, and they grow when they share it.