# A RAW BEAUTY

The natural fantasy style relies on a careful balance between moments of calm, serenity and beauty, alternating with moments of raw and direct contact with the inevitable facts of life. Neither of these aspects can be sacrificed: keeping only the first means presenting a false and “sanitized” version of nature; keeping only the second leads to self-indulging morbidity.

This doesn’t mean that you have to include explicit or particularly gory descriptions. On the contrary, discussing how to handle scenes of violence and death is paramount, especially when they involve people or animals (see Core Rulebook, page 147).

## THE HUNT

Killing other living creatures to protect your community or provide resources is a common theme of natural fantasy and should be handled with care.

- Never minimize. Be it that of an animal, a plant, a person, or a spirit, death is a significant event that should be dignified. It should never be cold or systematic, especially in a natural fantasy game, where it should have ecological, emotional or spiritual consequences. As explained on page 86 of the Core Rulebook, there is no obligation to kill an enemy reduced to 0 Hit Points. It is a choice.
- Never demonize. If necessity demands it and proper respect is shown for the consequences, killing another creature to save lives, protect the ecosystem, or transform their body into nourishment, tools or instruments is an integral part of the cycle of life, not a violation.

## EVERY LIFE MATTERS

Even when the world revolves around the cyclical return of every lifeform to the stream of souls (one of the Eight Pillars of Fabula Ultima, as shown on page 9), one should never downplay the value of life. While it’s true that life (as a form of energy) lasts for eternity across countless incarnations, this life (the memories, personality, and feelings of a specific individual) is unique and irreplaceable, and the moment it leaves us should never not be seen as a tragedy.

### BEFORE WE START

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