Building a Character: Trinity Continuum: Æon

Welp, nobody told me to stop after the last one, so I'm back with another Trinity Continuum character. This time for Trinity Continuum: Æon!

This shouldn't be as long as my Trinity core post, though like the Trinity Continuum game line as a whole it does assume some familiarity with the process as presented in that post. Not that I'm gonna skip important stuff, but I'm not going to explain as much.

As I mentioned in that prior post, Trinity Continuum: Æon (which I'm gonna abbreviate as either TC: Æon or just Æon depending on how the mood takes me) is a sci-fi setting that encompasses many genres. The book picks up in the year 2123, and Earth is staring down multiple threats from the stars. First there are the Aberrants, quantum-powered metahumans who first ushered in a golden age and then turned on humanity over the course of a few decades. (This is extremely reductive, but I'm trying to keep the elevator pitch short here.) They were driven away but have since returned with a vengeance, menacing Earth and a few of Earth's colonies elsewhere in space. Next are the Chromatics, an alien species that came out of nowhere with light-bending powers and declared war on humanity. And then there's the Coalition, extraterrestrial conquerors coming for Earth with dark designs.

But fortunately humanity has psions, humans whose natural psychic potential has been activated by tanks of biotech goo called the Prometheus Chambers, and with the help of the Psi Orders and organizations such as the Æon Trinity are the first line of defense against all of these threats.

But I mentioned before a broad range of genres, and that's because different corners of the setting lend themselves to different styles of science-fiction. You can take to the stars in the Leviathan jumpships for Star Trek-style exploration and diplomacy, you can do cyberpunk dystopia in the Federated States of America or Nippon. You can do military sci-fi in the style of Starship Troopers fighting Aberrants or the Chromatics, or even get into some kinda-sorta post-apocalyptic wasteland stuff dealing with the damage the Aberrants' return has done to central Europe. Or you can delve into the more secretive threats and mysteries of the setting a little more in the style of Babylon 5. There's others but you get the point.

The first edition leaned a lot more on the mysteries and conspiracies stuff. As good as the game was, it's easy enough to look back and see just how very... 90's White Wolf it was. While a much more positive setting than, say, the World of Darkness, it was laden with a lot of morally-gray conspiracy material typical of the era. Pretty much every faction had (or was implied to have) a sinister 'doing evil for the greater good' element to it. The closest thing to an exception was ISRA, the Clairsentient Order, who were led by someone whose plans were so circuitous and inscrutable (due to a complicated relationship with linear time) that it was difficult to trust them.

The modern edition, TC: Æon, does a 180º on this element, making it clear that even the sneakier good guys are still good guys. I mean, it's not all space rainbows and cyber-daisies, but by default a player character from the main allegiances isn't going to suddenly discover that they're the baddies.

Also, before I get into it, I've got a bit of a personal history with Æon. The original edition was the first non-D&D RPG I got into back in high school (yeah, that's right, I was familiar with Trinity years before I'd ever heard of the World of Darkness), and the first RPG I played where the group actually got past the character creation session and played a story. Not only do I still have my original core book, I still have the free quickstart I picked up at Waldenbooks that led me to it. Which made it all the more meaningful when I was fortunate enough to get to work on several TC: Æon books, including the core. In fact, that story we played back in high school was a major inspiration for the opening fiction I wrote for Prometheus Unbound.

And with that, I think I'll get into it. Again, if you have any questions, comments, so on and so forth, feel free to comment here or anyplace else I'm active online. (For example I wouldn't be averse to writing up a different type of character for TC: Æon, like a Talent, psiad, alien, etc., if there's any interest.) As with my previous character, I'm probably going to stick with material from just the TC core and Æon core, but we'll see.

My Published Fiction

As you may have noticed, I've got a page where I keep track of gaming stuff I've written, that I update on occasion. I've been meaning to do so for my fiction work as well, and here we are. (Current as of 8/10/2026)

First, to get it out of the way, there's some stuff I have posted online, freely available. I have a bunch of furry fiction posted over at my FurAffinity page. (Note that while adult material is locked behind signing up for an account, the site may still trip some work filters.) Also, elsewhere on this blog, is a bunch of Chronicles of Darkness fanfic. There's also the 'writing' tag, but honestly I think the two pages linked already linked should cover pretty much anything listed there and more. This page isn't for highlighting those, but thoroughness demands I mention them while I'm here.

The intent with this page is serving as a central link to published fiction I've written. Some of it will be gaming-related (especially as of the initial writing of this), some will not, though for completeness' sake I am including links to gaming books where I wrote the opening fiction. (Free book previews on DriveThruRPG may extend far enough into the book that you can read the opening fictions for free.) I'm also mentioning stuff that's not out yet, but I'm not detailing those until they're available.

I'm going to loosely group these by genre, so let's get to it.

(As a reminder, some links may be affiliate links and I may benefit from their use.)

Urban Fantasy/Horror

Samhain Secrets: World Premiere, from Blackwarren Books, set in the Argent City. I wrote "The Kit Gloves Are Off," about a handful of Kitsune investigating an old mystery to prevent war between the City's Tricksters. Book blurb and alternate purchase links follow: 

In the Argent City, where supernatural creatures like dragons, fae, and tricksters live alongside blissfully unaware humanity, Halloween Night remains the craziest night of the year. A dragon who would be king struggles to establish his identity and find his passion in hosting a popular radio show, while the wily Kitsune seek to unmask a conspiracy against the feuding Tricksters of the City, where anyone could be the culprit. Across the City, a pair of Fae entrepreneurs stake their future on cleansing a murder site for the police, but a nosy Brownie can't accept the given cause of death and suspects murder. And finally, a hopeful actress takes a chance at scoring the lead in the reboot of a much-beloved vampire action series, only to find the audition process far more bizarre, and deadly, than even the most committed actor would expect.

Featuring contributions from Chris Shaffer, David DeMar, Vaughn R. Demont, and special guest Sierra Dean, the Argent City is explored through the eyes of the different denizens that call it home, and the one night a year where the brave and curious can discover the secrets lying just beyond the human eye.

Direct from publisher (as a reminder, the publisher and authors benefit more from buying direct)

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Apple Books

Smashwords

In addition, if you would like to listen to me read the story as part of Blackwarren's 'Allora Public Radio' podcast, it's in two hour-long parts: Part 1, Part 2

Gaming-related

The Idigam Chronicle Anthology, from Onyx Path Publishing, set in the Chronicles of Darkness. I wrote the fiction "Legacy," about a werewolf with personal baggage about leadership finding himself in charge of his first Sacred Hunt. Book blurb follows.

On the hunt, your blood races. When something hunts you, it runs cold. Your blood carries the future of Uratha and the burning fire of kuruth. It’s powerful, but ultimately transient.

You know things in your bones. They change with your forms but stay strong. The power of your teeth and claws comes from your bone. It runs deeper than blood, a slow power that doesn’t fade.

So you hunt. It’s what you do, a key part of your psyche. You hunt people and spirits, hosts and other werewolves. But those things hunt you in turn. Werewolves are always one bad choice away from being the prey.

The Idigam Chronicle Anthology contains 11 short stories (7 original to this collection) of bestial violence and supernatural terror, in celebration of the second edition of Werewolf: The Forsaken.

Realms of Magic and Mystery, a sourcebook for Scion Second Edition from Onyx Path Publishing. I wrote the opening fiction, "Inside Out," about an investigator finding the unseen side of an apartment building and a secret hidden within.

Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God, a sourcebook for Exalted Third Edition from Onyx Path Publishing. I wrote the one-page fictions at the start of Chapters Seven and Eight.

Sci-Fi

Gaming-related

Prometheus Unbound, a sourcebook for Trinity Continuum: Aeon from Onyx Path Publishing. I wrote the opening fiction, "Interlocking Pieces," wherein a group of psions from the different Psi Orders come together to stop a monstrous threat.

Trinity Continuum Player's Guide, a yet-to-be-released sourcebook for Trinity Continuum from Onyx Path Publishing, combining what was originally known as Brave New Worlds, which I initially worked on, and another book called the Talent Player's Guide. I wrote "Falling Into Place," originally intended to be the opening fiction for Brave New Worlds, which has been previewed as part of the crowdfunding campaign.

Anthro fiction

ROAR Volume 8, an anthology from Bad Dog Books with the theme of 'Paradise.' I wrote "Bite the Apple," about a journalist trying to uncover the secrets of a hotel that's too good to be true. Book blurb follows. (ebook link)

Paradise can be the stark natural beauty of our own world; it can be the connections we have with the people we love; it can be a moment in time. Paradise can be a place we're seeking or a place that we didn't realize we already had until it started to slip away. It can have a dark side. Even shining science-fiction utopias can come with a price.

Read this book and take a journey through eighteen different visions of paradise—beginning with the personal and natural, traveling through the societal and technological, and all the way out to the supernal and divine. A great book can heal you when you're hurting, give you an escape that you desperately need, or even rekindle a lost spark of hope.

Let this book be a small piece of paradise for you.

FANG Volume 8, a M/M adult anthology from Bad Dog Books, also with the theme of 'Paradise.' I wrote "Too Good," about someone discovering a hidden truth of what feels like the perfect resort. Book blurb follows. (ebook link)

Paradise: An ideal or idyllic place or state

 

Well that would be boring to read about. Join the authors of Fang 8 as they tease your senses, tug on your hearts, and in some cases stab you right in the gut. Paradise can be lost, paradise can be gained, paradise can be found, and in some cases paradise can even be made. Be it an underpaid college graduate finally finding his own way, a lover taking the ultimate risk to keep their perfect lives, diving into the darkest parts of the unconscious to build a future, or the crushing sorrow of realizing it was all a fantasy.

FANG Volume 9, a M/M adult anthology from Bad Dog Books with the theme of 'Bad Romance.' I wrote "Swipe Right, Now What," about an incognito celebrity trying to date like a normal person with hilarious results. Winner of a 2019 Leo Literary Award. Book blurb follows. (ebook link)

All your lovers revenge…

 

Fucking crazy can be crazy fucking hot. Bad Romances - we’ve all had them. Sometimes the sex is so good we can overlook the flaws in our relationship, sometimes a romance is bad because there isn’t enough time, and still others because we want to try and stop the train wreck we know is coming. Join the authors of Fang 9 as we explore doomed relationships and the hot times that keep them going. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll swear, and hopefully get turned on.

I've got a book out!

So I have a more general writing update coming, but until I can find the time/focus to crank that out, a gaming book I worked on has come out! It's called Prometheus Unbound, and it's for the Trinity Continuum: Æon line. As I type this, it's #1 on DriveThruRPG right now. It's a guide to the Psi Orders of the TC: Æon setting. I wrote the chapter concerning the Æsculapian Order, as well as the opening fiction! In fact, if you load up the PDF previews on the DriveThruRPG site, they have enough pages available that you can read said opening fiction for yourself (as long as you can cope with a 'Sample File' stamp).

Now I should point out that this is currently an 'Advance PDF' release, which means there may be a couple of typos here and there, and there are still "Page XX's" in. Also, this book was initially meant to be released right after another supplement, called Mission Statements, and it just shook out that this one came first, so there are some Page XX's referencing Mission Statements as well that will need filled in. So this might be in the Advance PDF stage for a little longer than normal. But once that's done, the PDF will be updated and if you bought it as an Advance PDF you'll get a discount code for a print copy as if you'd been able to get both as a bundle at the same time.

Just as a reminder, if you want to look up what other gaming books I've worked on, there's an index of those here. And if you do pick up the book (or any others that I worked on), make sure to leave a review for them! That sort of thing really matters!

Under Alien Skies is out!

I don't think there's anyone following this blog that isn't also following my Twitter, but just in case -- Under Alien Skies is available in Advance PDF. What this means is that there's still one more editing/errata pass to be made, but also if you get it now then when it becomes available in print-on-demand you'll get a coupon for a discount on said PoD as if you'd purchased them together as a bundle.

You can find Under Alien Skies at this finely-crafted link!

New Release: Terra Firma!

One of the books I worked on for Trinity Continuum: Æon is out today! Terra Firma is a supplement fleshing out chunks of Earth and the moon as they appear in the future of Æon. I worked on the sections for China/Shanghai, Luna/Olympus, and I did some of the 'Relics of Mad Science and the Nova Age' section. I'm not really sure what else to say about it, but if anyone has any questions feel free to ask.

Right now it's available as an 'advance' PDF, found here. What this means is that there's still going to be a round of errata and proofreading, but those of you who purchase the book will receive a link to report any problems you find. The print-on-demand version will be available when the final version of the book is uploaded, and anyone who purchases the book before it comes out will get a code to buy the PoD at a discount as if they'd been able to buy a PDF/print combo from the start. (Also, in case it needs to be said, using the book requires the Trinity Continuum core book and Trinity Continuum: Æon books.)

Trinity Continuum: Æon is available!

Okay, so the big day has come! The Trinity Continuum Core and Trinity Continuum: Æon corebooks are available in PDF and print on demand! As I've mentioned far too many times to anyone who'll listen, I worked on Æon and it's probably my best RPG work. I mean, I'd pitch you all on it, but to be honest I'd mostly just be repeating Ian Watson's descriptions, so let's skip the middleman...

The Trinity Continuum core is all-new. Adventure? Excitement? A Jedi many not crave these things, but you do.
Agents of SHIELD, Leverage, Global Frequency, Fringe, Human Target, and more. pic.twitter.com/7alF3xOgxX

— Ian A. A. Watson (@VonAether) December 4, 2019

Æon is a new edition of the Æon/Trinity RPG originally released in 1997. It's a kitchen sink RPG setting. The feel of it is very Mass Effect, except 10 years before Mass Effect came out. pic.twitter.com/KZoY91u3Fh

— Ian A. A. Watson (@VonAether) December 4, 2019

Anyhow, thank you for your time, and I hope you enjoy the game if you check it out!

They're here!

So my KS copies of the Trinity Continuum core and TC: Æon arrived today!

 

"But wait," you might ask. "Haven't you been going on and on about how you worked on Æon?"

Yes. Yes I have.

Space Brigade's Legacy (Gencon special!) [Æon]

Hey there, folks. Another Gencon has come and gone. I'll probably go into a more detailed run-down of the convention's events in another post, but for now I've got a write-up of the Æon game I ran at the convention, "Space Brigade's Legacy."

This adventure is a sequel to the one that I ran last year, following up on the question of of "Has the Russian mob on Luna been totally compromised by Aberrants?" that came up in last year's session. That said, I'm wondering if running a sequel was the best idea since I had to spend time doing a recap of last year's session while also explaining the setting and system to a few players. I'm pondering my options for next year.

Again, the books aren't out yet and it's still kind of a new system for a lot of people. So if you read this and have any questions, feel free to ask me here or anyplace else where you can find me.

My Game Writing

I thought it'd be good to create sort of a central list of RPG (and related) books I've worked on, basically so I've got something I can point people to if I need to. This is going to get updated as new stuff comes out, in case it needs to be said. I'll keep in-progress book status up to date as best as I can, but at least on the Onyx Path books the most recent information will be in the Monday Meeting notes. (Current as of 08/10/2026)

A similar page for my published fiction can be found here.

(By the way, full disclosure, using any of the links here and then buying something shortly afterwards will get me some DTRPG store credit.)

Trinity Continuum
(For Onyx Path)

Trinity Continuum: Æon -- One of the big setting books for the Trinity Continuum (and does require the Trinity Continuum core book), presenting a world of sci-fi adventure and heroics in the future of 2123. I wrote the section on Luna, as well as the write-ups for the Chromatics and the Coalition.
The links above are for PDFs and PoD copies. Traditionally-printed copies of the TC core book can also be found on Studio 2's website, but they're out of Æon. A new printing of the traditionally-printed books is in the works.

Terra Firma -- A setting book for Trinity Continuum: Æon, fleshing out 10 nations described in the core with a significant city detailed in each. It also includes threats and weirdness facing Earth, as well as a bunch of technology both mundane and bizarre. I wrote the sections on China/Shanghai, Luna/Olympus, and half of the 'Relics of Mad Science and the Nova Age.'

Under Alien Skies -- A sister-book to Distant Worlds, a guide to the alien races of Æon, including a guide on using them as player characters. I wrote the setting and Storyguiding information for the Coalition chapter.

Prometheus Unbound -- A guide to the Psi Orders of the TC: Æon setting. I wrote the opening fiction (which you can read in the in-site preview) and the Æsculapian chapter.

Trinity Continuum Player's Guide -- Trinity core supplement combining the Talent Player's Guide and Brave New Worlds, the latter of which I initially worked on. It fleshes out a bunch of factions and includes extra Gifts and systems for characters as well as guidelines for travel to other worlds and times. I worked on the time travel stuff (with some associated mechanical material), and wrote one of the fictions.

Scion

(For Onyx Path)

Realms of Magic and Mystery -- A guide to Terra Incognita for Scion: Second Edition, detailing strange places within The World, as well as Midrealms, Overworlds, and Underworlds. (This will require at least Scion: Origin to use, and probably also Scion: Hero.) I wrote the opening fiction, "Under the Bridge" under the section on 'Realms Next Door,' the Midrealm known as the Thrice-Tenth Kingdom, and the Underworld of Yomi. 

Exalted

(For Onyx Path)

Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God -- A sourcebook for playing the Alchemical Exalted, Chosen of the Great Maker, as well as the realm of Autochthonia in which they and the communities they serve live. I worked on a little bit of everything in the book. I wrote the one-page fictions at the start of Chapters Seven and Eight, the write-up for the city of Loran, the 'Bygone Predator' and 'Prismatic Bulwark' artifacts, and the 'Fix Beetle' and 'Crystal Fly' machine-spirits.

Chronicles of Darkness
(For White Wolf/CCP/Onyx Path)

Night Horrors: The Unbidden -- A book of antagonists for Mage: The Awakening. I wrote the Abyssal Imprint and the Lucid.

Night Horrors: The Tormented -- A book of antagonists for Promethean: The Created. I wrote a big chunk of the 'regular' Pandorans: The Cavin, the Hitchhiker, the Scrub Talons, the Stack, and the Student Project.



The Idigam Chronicle Anthology (fiction) -- A collection of Werewolf: The Forsaken stories. I wrote "Legacy."


Classic World of Darkness
(For White Wolf/CCP/Onyx Path)

W20 Rage Across the World -- A supplement for Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition, providing setting updates showing the state of the world in the 21st century. I wrote the "Weaver" Chapter.

W20 Umbra: The Velvet Shadow -- A supplement for Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th Anniversary Edition, updating mechanics and settings for the edition and providing an easy resource for Umbral Realms. I wrote the sections on the CyberRealm and Wolfhome, as well as pretty much the first half of the "Spirits" chapter (like, all of the setting stuff leading up to the 'Denizens' section).

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What Lies Buried (Gencon special!) [Æon]

Hey there, folks. So there will be a more complete and comprehensive write-up of my experiences at this year's Gen Con in a separate post, but I wanted to go ahead and put together a write-up for the Æon game I ran this year, using the new system.

I'll admit that I know the story title isn't too original or creative, but at the time it was the best I could come up with.

Also, it's worth noting that this adventure is a modified version of a one-off I came up with for a playtest session last year, updated and tweaked for the new rules (with one or two slip-ups in that regard on my part).

Now, as I know this is a new setting and system for a lot of people, if you read this and have any questions, feel free to ask me here or anyplace else where you can find me.