# A Dynamic Balance

The various elements described in the previous page lead to a single, pivotal idea: balance. By this we don’t mean a static or artificial balance, a combination of order, immobility, and predictability, but rather the constantly shifting balance of nature, made of mistakes, joy, pain, regrets, and events both large and small, forming an interconnected network so vast that nobody can truly glimpse all its nuances. Being a natural fantasy hero means becoming an active and aware part of this cycle, protecting it from those who want to control or interrupt it out of fear.

## Friends and Family

In many campaigns of Fabula Ultima, the protagonists’ friends and families fade into the background or aren’t even mentioned unless they are key characters in the setting or, as is so very often the case, potential Villains. During a natural fantasy game, however, it’s a good idea to break away from this habit:

- Recurring NPCs. This option is ideal for campaigns that take place in a relatively small region: some NPCs might be childhood friends, relatives, or mentors to the protagonists. We should also see their evolution over the course of the story, without necessarily turning them into allies or antagonists.
- Bonds within the group. If the majority of the PCs come from the same community, it’s an excellent idea to represent their relationship using the Starting Bonds optional rule (see Core Rulebook, page 220). We recommend that you use negative as well as positive Bonds, to create more opportunities for character growth.

You can also establish that two or more Player Characters come from the same family, but if you do, make sure this relationship doesn’t mirror real life too closely and that it doesn’t create discomfort at the table.

## Sample Natural Fantasy Characters

The following pages provide profiles for ten Player Characters designed for natural fantasy contexts. In contrast to the new Classic Characters (see page 134), these examples focus on the thematic construction of the heroes and provide some tips on how to grow these characters and their role in the story.

All characters in the following pages use the optional rules for Quirks (see page 120) and some have Custom Weapons (see page 112).