Grab

Sometimes you just gotta put someone on hold. Those skilled at hand-to-hand fighting are predisposed to the wrestling arts. It can be beneficial to incapacitate an enemy or pry something from their fingers.

Starting a Grab

Attempting a Grab takes 3 AP, and an attacker must roll their normal Hand-to-hand Attack Roll. Defenders must roll an Evasion Roll as they normally would. If the attacker is successful, instead of rolling Damage, he instead rolls a Grip check. The defender must roll either a Might check (to shove his way out) or a Thievery check (to wriggle his way out) at his option. If the attacker's Grip is higher than the Defender's Might or Thievery, both combatants are considered grabbed. A grabbed creature cannot use its movement Speed and takes −4 on Evasion Rolls. An attacker must have a free hand to start a Grab. If you have two hands, you can have up to two opponents grabbed at once.

When creatures of different sizes roll opposed Grip checks, each should add its Size Muscle Bonus. As noted in the Size table in the Life and Death chapter, a creature's Muscle Bonus is its Size × 5. Thus, firnoy have a penalty of −5 and kulgeris have a bonus of +5. This modifier should only be included when those rolling have different Size scores.

Example

Tim's character Drinnin tries to get a hold of Michelle's character Skorna

Drinnin's Hand-to-hand Attack Roll is a 19. Skorna's Evasion Roll is a 14. Drinnin's Grip check is 17. Skorna is stronger than she is agile, so she makes a Might check, but only rolls a 12.

Drinnin grabs Skorna. "You're goin' nowhere!"

While you're participating in a Grab, you can do pretty much anything that doesn't require you to move around or use both hands. You're free to make Attack Rolls against the other participant (or against any other combatant), as well as any tactics like a Disarm, Slam, or Trip. You can even cast spells.

After the Grab has been established, the attacker can perform any of the following special actions (either on the same turn if there's enough AP left, or on later turns).

• Release – 0 AP. The attacker is free to release the Grab at any time.
• Move – You can pick up the defender and drag or carry her along with you. Make opposed Might checks. If the attacker wins, he picks up the defender and carries her along at his full Speed.
• Immobilize – 3 AP. The attacker can use both hands to further restrain the defender. Make another Grab attempt (the attacker rolls Grip, the defender rolls either Might or Thievery). If the defender wins, the Grab is broken. If the attacker wins, the defender gains the immobilized condition. An immobilized creature cannot use its movement Speed. It automatically fails Attack Rolls and Evasion Rolls. An immobilized spellcaster cannot perform gestures (see the Magic chapter).

Once a defender is immobilized, the attacker can't use either hand, but they can perform any of the following special actions in addition to those listed above.

• Human Shield – 0 AP. The attacker uses the defender as Cover and receives +4 to Dodge.
• Hush – 0 AP. The attacker can cover the defender's mouth and keep them from speaking. The defender is considered muted as long as the attacker wishes.
• Squeeze – 3 AP. The attacker deals crushing damage using a normal hand-to-hand Damage Roll opposed by the target's Guard Roll. No Attack/Evasion is necessary.
• Choke – 3 AP. The attacker constricts the defender's airway, making it impossible to breathe. Make opposed Might checks. If the attacker wins, the defender is considered to be suffocating (see the Conditions section of the Life and Death chapter). If the defender breaks free of the Grab before falling unconscious, the penalties accrued from being choked immediately vanish. If the defender falls unconscious, the attacker has two options: let the defender drop prone or finish strangling them.

Escaping a Grab

For 3 AP on her turn, a defender who is grabbed or immobilized can try to break free. Either a Might check or a Thievery check can be used for this purpose, rolled against the attacker's Grip. If the defending character inflicts damage against the attacker while in the Grab, she can add the amount of damage done to her next Might or Thievery check. Personal-area damage spells such as Dangerous Body work very nicely in this situation.

Any tactic that moves the attacker away from you breaks the Grab as well. For instance, you could Slam or Trip the attacker.