Book:Special Powers

Bedtime tales tell of the mysterious abilities held by legendary heroes and villains. The wizened old wizard who wields the power of sorcery. The humble martial artist who deals out justice through empowered fists. The spirit of rage in the berserk soldier who coldly cuts through lines of his enemies. A Special Power is a supernatural ability possessed of a character.

Purchasing

Special Powers have 5 ranks and each rank could be more costly than the previous. If a Special Power lists that its ranks cost 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Expoints, you end up spending 15 to attain all 5 ranks.

Note that each rank may carry requirements, such as a minimum number of ranks in a skill or attribute.

It is strongly recommended that a character not be allowed to buy more than one rank at once. For instance, a starting character cannot have more than one rank in a Special Power, nor can a player stockpile Expoints to purchase more than one rank at once. Like all rules, this can be waived at your GM's discretion, but it seems to help balance starting characters.

Special Powers

Below is the list of special powers, their ranks, prerequisites, and what increasing levels of the Power provides a character.

Berserker

When an enemy attacks you and deals damage, you must make a Virtue check at a DL of 15 or fly into an adrenaline-induced violent frenzy. You may spend a Fate point to avoid the frenzy and the Virtue check, you may also voluntarily fail the check. You remain Berserk for a number of rounds equal to your (temporarily enhanced) Endurance score, or until all combatants are disabled, whichever comes first. You may spend a Fate point to exit the Berserk frenzy.

In your rage, you must engage in combat; you may not use an item unless it has a direct offensive capability, you will always seek to advance to melee range, and may not use ranged attacks while there are melee opponents to fight. You may under no circumstances back down, surrender, or flee. You take a −4 to any Skill checks that are not combat-oriented with the exception of those augmented by your frenzy (anything under Muscle, Endurance, or Courage).

You will attack combatants hostile to you first, followed by whomever is at hand. Once you engage an enemy, you must attack it exclusively until it is dead (unless the enemy puts itself out of your reach). If there are no combatants left besides allies, you may make a second Virtue check. Allies can attempt to placate you using either a Leadership or Negotiate check against a DL of 18.

Each time you end a Berserk frenzy, you move one place down the Knockout Track as the process has exhausted your body. As is normal for impaired condition, the penalties go away once the character has rested.

Many other Trumps and Faults put a great strain on the Berserker character — in particular, Peacemaker/Pacifist and Called. Such a character may have to go to great lengths to atone for his actions while gripped by rage.

The bonuses listed below can exceed your normal racial limits.

Incompatible with: Perspective

Ranks

1. Bloodlust

5 points

You gain a +2 bonus to your Muscle (and thus Damage rolls), Endurance (and thus Guard rolls), and Courage.

2. Bloodbath

5 points

Your bonuses while frenzied are: +4 to Muscle, Endurance, and Courage.

3. Carnage

5 points

Most think allies with Carnage are a liability. While going Berserk your bonuses are: +6 to Muscle, Endurance, and Courage. You are unable to speak in your Berserk state, except for guttural screams and growls.

4. Slaughter

5 points

+8 to Muscle, Endurance, and Courage.

5. Massacre

5 points

A Berserker who can Massacre is a whispered nightmare among soldiers; a ruthless killing machine that stands on a mountain of corpses. You gain +10 to Muscle, Endurance, and Courage. You can keep attacking even if reduced to 0 Health Points with the expenditure of a Fate point. Nothing short of the disintegration of your body or severing of all of your limbs can cease your rage (even without a head, your body will still wildly flail at the nearest target).

Familiar

When the magic a mage wields becomes more of a partner than a servant, a unique phenomenon occurs. The mage can beseech the realm of magic to grant her the friendship of an elemental that manifests in the guise of an animal. Some call it a familiar spirit or animal guide. Others call it a faithful steed. Regardless of the name she gives it, the mage gains the company of a creature that follows her along on her adventures.

A familiar is considered a legendary creature (see Nature in Chapter 4: Life and Death). As the mage gains ranks in this Special Power, the potential Size, Intellect, and abilities of the familiar all increase. The owner of a familiar need not be a wizened old wizard or fiery sorceress; an adept of the wilderness forms bonds with nature in mystical ways, also.

The mage must choose an elemental to bind to an animal. Mages must labor over the decision. An elemental will only be compatible with an animal similar to its qualities. For instance, an air elemental would prefer a bird to a snake, and a lightning elemental would prefer a cheetah to a turtle. A mage can only recruit an elemental from one of the elements in which she has skill ranks. A mage with an Aura of Decay cannot recruit a verdance elemental. A mage who has Regeneration cannot recruit a ruin elemental. A mage who is Called cannot summon a dark elemental. A mage who has Fallen cannot summon a light elemental.

Despite their supernatural origins, familiars are flesh and blood, and can die in battle or be captured by enemies. The mage has the ability to call another when a familiar dies. The mage can also dismiss an existing familiar and call a replacement when she gains a new rank in this Special Power.

So long as the familiar is within 10 feet per rank in the element, the mage gains +1 to all rolls involving that Elemental Skill. If the elemental is next to you, you can parry attacks aimed at it.

Requires: At least 1 rank in an Elemental Skill.

Ranks

1. Least Elemental

Expoint Cost: 2 points

You call for aid, and a small friend answers. You can choose any animal Size −2 and below to be your familiar. It gains +1 to Intellect, Courage, and MDEF. It can communicate with any animal of its kind, and it can also understand any language you can.

2. Lesser Elemental

Expoint Cost: 3 points

A faithful companion takes your side. You can choose any animal Size 0 and below to be your familiar. It gains an additional point in the listed stats, to a total of +2 to Intellect, Courage, and MDEF. It can also speak any language you can.

3. Greater Elemental

Expoint Cost: 4 points

A sizeable ally is at your command and has your trust. You can choose any animal Size 2 and below to be your familiar. It gains an additional point in the listed stats, to a total of +3 to Intellect, Courage, and MDEF. You can now telepathically communicate with the familiar at any distance.

4. Major Elemental

Expoint Cost: 5 points

Your familiar weighs a metric ton or two. You can choose any animal Size 4 and below to be your familiar. It gains an additional point in the listed stats, to a total of +4 to Intellect, Courage, and MDEF. You can now, at any distance, share your familiar's senses: see through their eyes, hear through their ears, smell through their nostrils. As long as you concentrate, your perceive everything using your familiar's senses and not your own.

5. Arch-Elemental

Expoint Cost: 6 points

The legends tell of your gigantic steed, cloaked in magic power, bearing its archmage proudly. You can now choose any animal Size 6 and below to be your familiar. It gains an additional point in the listed stats, to a total of +5 to Intellect, Courage, and MDEF. You can now use your familiar as a conduit to deliver magic. At any distance, you can target anything your familiar can see or touch with your spells.

Hands of Fate

After intense study of the workings of your own hands and the force that you can exert through them, you have learned how to manipulate parts of the world around you with the expulsion of ki through your hands.

Incompatible with: Combat Shy, Coward, Frail, Straight-Shooter, and Unarmed.

Requires: Harness Spirit

Ranks

1. Breaking Touch

1 point

You have realized a Bakusai Tenketsu, a single striking point on any object that causes it to fall apart. Boulders, shields, doors, barrels, crates, chests, and the like crumble after your strike. (add an additional +4 to damage breaking objects)

Requires: 2 ranks in Hand-to-hand

2. Sleeping Touch

2 points

You have realized parts on the humanoid body that when struck cause the body to fatigue. Make a Called Shot attack against an opponent. If the opponent fails the defense roll, he or she immediately falls asleep for as many rounds as you have spent Spirit Points (e.g. 4 Spirit Points will cause your opponent to fall asleep for 4 rounds). This attack deals no damage. If any damage is done to the opponent while he or she is asleep, the effect ends and the opponent awakes immediately. This technique only works on living, humanoid creatures.

Requires: 4 ranks in Hand-to-hand

3. Paralyzing Touch

3 points

The flows of ki through the nerves and muscles of a body are now known to you. You have realized the Chin Na and can strike a part of a humanoid body and cause it to be paralyzed. Make a Called Shot against a part of an opponent's body. If the opponent fails the defense roll, that body part is paralyzed and unusable for as many rounds as you have spent Spirit Points (e.g. 4 Spirit Points will cause paralyzation for 4 rounds). This attack deals no damage. To paralyze an entire body, a Called Shot must be made for the base of the neck. This technique only works on living, humanoid creatures.

Requires: 6 ranks in Hand-to-hand

4. Healing Touch

4 points

You have learned Tui Na: how the flows of ki through the pressure points of the body strengthen and weaken it. You can spend Spirit Points to restore damage done to yourself or an ally you can touch. You restore 5 Health Points per Spirit Point spent.

Requires: 8 ranks in Hand-to-hand

5. Killing Touch

5 points

You have studied long and hard to realize the Dim Mak, the ability to strike an opponent and instantly kill. Spend a Spirit Point and make a called shot to a specific part of the head. If the opponent fails the Guard Roll, he or she must make a Mettle check against 5 plus any damage dealt. Even if the technique fails, this move still inflicts damage as normal. This technique only works on living, humanoid creatures.

Requires: 10 ranks in Hand-to-hand

Spellcasting

There are numbered in the world a people called spell weavers, sorcerers, witches, and other names, and you are one of them. You are a mage and are respected, feared, distrusted, and misunderstood by the common folk for good reason: you may wield tremendous arcane power.

Ranks

1. Innocent Mage

Expoint Cost: 1 point

These magi are known as Innocents. Their skill with magic is wild, untrained, and unrefined, but they carry a gift that requires honing. This rank allows you to cast any spell you know at Intensity 1.

2. Novice Mage

Expoint Cost: 2 points

These magi are known as Novices. They show a talent for commanding magic, but have much to learn. They truly realize the insurmountable power available to them after lengthy practice. This rank allows you to cast any spell you know at Intensity 2.

3. Adept Mage

Expoint Cost: 4 points

These magi are known as Adepts. At home amongst the flows of arcane power, the Adepts are well on their way to mastery of their craft. Years of dedication have sharpened their minds and souls. This rank allows you to cast any spell you know at Intensity 3.

4. Master Mage

Expoint Cost: 7 points

These magi are known as Masters. They show nearly complete authority over sorcery itself. They teach the less experienced, they author new spells, they ask the pressing questions to unravel the secrets of magic. This rank allows you to cast any spell you know at Intensity 4.

5. Archmage

Expoint Cost: 11 points

These magi are known as Archmagi. They are at one with magic and are exceedingly rare. An archmage has the power to leave a mark on history itself, be it a blemish or an adornment. This rank allows you to cast any spell you know at Intensity 5.

Spirit Blast

  

Rarity	1	Distance	Far
AP	4	Lasts	N/A
Target	Creature/Object	Save	Guard

One can wield the very life force inside oneself as a ranged weapon, and combat foes with tangible concentrations of ballistic spirit energy. Make an Attack Roll using the spirit weapon style. If the target fails its Dodge roll, the spirit artist makes a Focus Roll and the target makes its Guard Roll.

Concentration Effects

The bonus this spirit art grants to the Focus Roll depends on the level of Concentration.

1. +6 bonus to the Focus Roll
2. +12 bonus to the Focus Roll
3. +18 bonus to the Focus Roll
4. +24 bonus to the Focus Roll
5. +30 bonus to the Focus Roll

Teleport

  

Rarity	1	Distance	Self
AP	4	Lasts	N/A
Target	Self	Save	Resilience

Your intense study of the flows of spirit energy has brought you a powerful technique. Rather, that technique brings you places. Riding the flows of qi, a spirit artist can instantly convey her very soul to a distant place, dragging her body and worn equipment along behind it. One can travel great distances instantaneously, reach higher or lower ground without climbing, as well as circumvent walls, floors, ceilings, or other obstacles.

The spirit artist can choose to appear in any location within the allowed range, whether this is a balcony she can see with the naked eye, a city on a map she's never visited, or alongside a far-off ally in need of reinforcements. The more familiar the spirit artist is with the destination, the more accurate her position when she teleports. For instance, teleporting to one of her get-aways is a snap: her hometown, base of operations, cherished vacation spot, or local bar. However, teleporting to a town she's never seen might place her a mile outside the gates if none of her close friends are there to guide her spirit.

Concentration Effects

The higher the Concentration, the further one can teleport.

1. 1 mile
2. 10 miles
3. 100 miles
4. 1,000 miles
5. 10,000 miles

Therianthrope

Ancient tales speak of mysterious shape-shifters known as Therianthropes: people with supernatural powers who can assume the form of an animal. Some assume it to be a curse, the punishment for some moral indiscretion. Others guess it to be an affliction, a disease of sinister origin. Some cultures revere it as a privilege, a gift to walk between the worlds of animal and man.

Any sentient humanoid can be a Therianthrope. They typically seem a bit different from normal folk — slightly more perceptive, and with an air of brutality about them. The player must choose which animal is the one into which the character can transform, typically apex predators, and usually mammals. Therianthropes which transform into aquatic creatures (sharks, dolphins, etc.) can only do so when in water.

Therianthropes can either transform into the animal or a monstrous human/animal hybrid. The character must spend 2 Magic Points to begin the transformation, which takes 6 Action Points to complete. The character must spend 1 MP for each round spent in monstrous or animal form. Reverting to the original form takes 6 AP, but doesn't cost any MP. If the character runs out of MP or is killed while in monstrous or animal form, he or she immediately reverts to the original form. Since the transformation is decidedly magical in nature, the character cannot transform or remain transformed while inside of a Spell Ward or similar anti-magic field.

While in animal form, the character assumes the physical attributes, trumps, and faults of the animal itself. The character also receives the bonuses listed in the ranks below. While in monstrous form, the character keeps his or her own physical attributes, trumps, and faults, as well as the below bonuses. When the character transforms, anything being worn on the person (a backpack, clothing, armor) is "folded in" to the transformation and disappears, coming back when the character reverts. Anything the character is holding (e.g. a weapon) remains in hand. The character cannot cast spells while in animal form nor hold weapons. While in monstrous form, the character has no restrictions on holding equipment or spells. Attacks in monstrous or animal form using teeth, claws, horns, or whatever the creature has, use the Hand-to-hand skill.

If a GM wishes, and the campaign setting allows for it, the transformation may be affected by lunar events. For instance, the GM may allow the player to waive the MP requirement in the light of the full moon. Or perhaps, during the full moon, the character cannot control the transformation and must transform (maybe with sentient awareness, maybe not).

There is a little known weakness possessed by Therianthropes. Any weapon comprised partially or entirely of silver deals Tainted Damage to a Therianthrope. A character can be aware of this fact with a DL 20 Lore check.

Requires: Bloodhound and Animal Kinship with the type of transformation animal.

Ranks

1. The Critter Within

5 points

You hear dog whistles and always need to trim your nails. The character receives a +1 bonus to Perception, Stealth, and Intimidate in any form. While in monstrous or animal form, the character receives a +1 bonus to Muscle, Agility, Endurance, and Courage. The character also receives a +1 bonus to the Harm of Hand-to-hand attacks while in monstrous or animal form.

2. The Creature Within

5 points

House pets and children shy away from you, and you always find shed fur on your equipment. The character receives a total bonus of +2 to Perception, Stealth, and Intimidate in any form. While in monstrous or animal form, the character receives a +2 bonus to Muscle, Agility, Endurance, and Courage. The character also receives a +2 bonus to the Harm of Hand-to-hand attacks while in monstrous or animal form.

3. The Animal Within

5 points

You scare cattle at your approach and can smell their fear. The character receives a total bonus of +3 to Perception, Stealth, and Intimidate in any form. While in monstrous or animal form, the character receives a +3 bonus to Muscle, Agility, Endurance, and Courage. The character also receives a +3 bonus to the Harm of Hand-to-hand attacks while in monstrous or animal form.

4. The Beast Within

5 points

No one goes outside during a full moon in your home town thanks to you. The character receives a total bonus of +4 to Perception, Stealth, and Intimidate in any form. While in monstrous or animal form, the character receives a +4 bonus to Muscle, Agility, Endurance, and Courage. The character also receives a +4 bonus to the Harm of Hand-to-hand attacks while in monstrous or animal form.

5. The Monster Within

5 points

You are a savage, wild thing of unspeakable ferocity, and bar patrons the world over will tell others of the night they saw you in the forest. The character receives a total bonus of +5 to Perception, Stealth, and Intimidate in any form. While in monstrous or animal form, the character receives a +5 bonus to Muscle, Agility, Endurance, and Courage. The character also receives a +5 bonus to the Harm of Hand-to-hand attacks while in monstrous or animal form.

Third Eye

You are possessed of a supernatural resistance or immunity to Illusions and deceptions of all kinds. Effectively, you automatically pass all Lucidity checks. Surely you must be blessed of higher powers, for this is a rare gift indeed. You can be Blind and have the Third Eye, for not all illusions are visual. Against deceptions which are not magical or supernatural in nature (e.g. a prosthetic disguise) you receive a +1 to your Discern check for each rank of Third Eye you purchase.

Ranks

1. Closed Eye

3 points

Simple tricks and prestidigitations are foiled by you. You are immune to all Intensity 1 Illusion Spells and similar effects.

2. Bleary Eye

4 points

You can peer straight through cunning enchantments. You are immune to all Intensity 2 Illusion Spells and similar effects.

3. Open Eye

5 points

Powerful illusions are easily thrown aside by your piercing vision. You are immune to all Intensity 3 Illusion Spells and similar effects.

4. Lidless Eye

6 points

You can see through all but the most powerful magics. You are immune to all Intensity 4 Illusion Spells and similar effects.

5. Shining Eye

7 points

Some call you "The Seer", others "The Veil Lifter", or even "One Rooted in the Real". You are unaffected by Illusions of any kind, up to and including Intensity 5 Illusion Spells and similar effects.

Weapon Savant

You and your weapon are like an artist and his brush. A weapon savant knows how to use her weapon-of-choice better than any other, and even the act of watching a master practicing her art in combat is enough to awe onlookers. For details on the bonuses listed here, consult the Combat chapter.

Incompatible with: Combat Shy, Clumsy, Coward

Ranks

1. Weapon Discipline

Expoint Cost: 2 points

You have trained many hours with your chosen weapon type. All that practice has paid off and you gain a +1 to the Harm score of the weapon.

Requires: A minimum of 6 ranks in the weapon

2. Weapon Dedication

Expoint Cost: 3 points

Even those who are very familiar with your chosen weapon type regard you as more skilled than they will ever be. You gain an additional +1 to the Harm score of the weapon, to a total of +2. You also gain +1 to the Parry score.

Requires: A minimum of 7 ranks in the weapon

3. Weapon Specialist

Expoint Cost: 4 points

You are nearly unrivaled in your region in regards to skill with your chosen weapon. Spectators gather whenever you're in combat. You gain an additional +1 to the Harm score of the weapon, to a total of +3. You also gain +1 against being disarmed, and +1 to Accuracy.

Requires: A minimum of 8 ranks in the weapon

4. Weapon Master

Expoint Cost: 5 points

You can count on two hands the number of people as good as you in the world with your chosen weapon. Students beseech you to instruct them and damsels beg for you to fight in their honor. You gain an additional +1 to the Harm score of the weapon, to a total of +4. You also gain +1 to disarm someone with your weapon.

Requires: A minimum of 9 ranks in the weapon

5. Weapon Wizard

Expoint Cost: 6 points

Minstrels will tell tales of you long after you die. You have met two or three people in the entire world who can meet or best you with the weapon you have chosen. People name fighting styles after you. You gain an additional +1 to the Harm score of the weapon, to a total of +5. You also gain an additional +1 to Accuracy, to a total of +2.

Requires: A minimum of 10 ranks in the weapon