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Malin Freeborn authoredMalin Freeborn authored
traits.tex 42.98 KiB
\chapter{Measurements}
\index{Traits}
Characters have only three kinds of basic Traits: Attributes define general aptitudes, Skills show what the character does with their time, and Knacks add any other flourishes character might require.
From these simple three, we can derive the other Traits, such as \glspl{hp}, their ability to start fires, et c.
\section{Attributes}
\label{randomAttributes}
\index{Attributes}
\begin{multicols}{2}
\sidebox{
\small
\begin{boxtable}
\hline
\textbf{Trait} & \textbf{Description} \\\hline
-3 & Abysmal -- a total liability. \\
-2 & Useless and pathetic. \\
-1 & Poor, clumsy, and a constant irritation. \\
+0 & Mediocre and unremarkable. \\
+1 & Notable and worthy. \\
+2 & Outstanding. \\
+3 & Peak performance\ldots and often strange. \\
\end{boxtable}
}
\noindent
Each character's Attributes range from -3 to +3, although most people have a Bonus of `0', in most Attributes.
Since these Attribute Bonuses adjust nearly every roll a character makes, they will determine the success or failure of a multitude of plans.
These averages vary by race.
Elves have a +1 penalty to Wits, so their `normal', is the equivalent of being notably sharp among other peoples.
Meanwhile, humans (being the tallest of races) have a standard +1 Bonus to Strength, so what they call `normal', others call `giant'.
The monstrous predators of \gls{fenestra} often have Attributes which go beyond the numbers here -- there are no hard limits!
\subsection{Body Attributes}
\index{Body Attributes}
\index{Physical Attributes}
\settoggle{examplecharacter}{false}
\subsubsection[Strength]{Strength \hint{muscle, brawn, toughness, height}}
Strength represents a character's muscles -- their ability to endure, to take damage, lift heavy objects, march for long distances and to wield heavy weapons without penalty.
\subsubsection[Dexterity]{Dexterity \hint{grace, co\"ordination, balance}}
Dexterity represents someone's hand-eye coordination and natural grace.
It's used to attack, parry, block and also to aim projectile weapons.
It is slightly less visible than the other Body Attributes, but others can still see the control over movement, especially when movement becomes difficult, as when hopping across challenging and changeable terrain.
\subsubsection[Speed]{Speed \hint{velocity, tendons,~vim}}
Speed represents a character's movement, how fast they attack, how often they can attack and how quickly they can run.
Since it allows characters to flee dangerous situations, a group can be held back by its slowest member.
A low Speed Bonus in a weak person might simply represent small muscles, while a low Speed Bonus in someone with an excellent Strength Bonus might mean the character is particularly fat.
Players can roll Speed in situations where a character's muscle-to-weight ratio are important, such as when climbing up a cliff or holding onto a ledge for a prolonged period of time.
\subsection{Mind Attributes}
\index{Mind Attributes}
\subsubsection[Intelligence]{Intelligence \hint{memory, logic, tenacity, cunning}}
Intelligent characters understand ideas, remember well, and always come prepared.
They find their own way home and pick up new languages fluidly.
Intelligence also covers artistic endeavours and a multitude of craftsmanship, whether composing songs or forging armour, picturing the finished product ahead of time will take brains.
\subsubsection[Wits]{Wits \hint{alacrity, levity, attention, acumen}}
Where intelligence represents how well a character thinks, Wits just tells you how fast they think.
The character's ability to observe, to tell enemy from friend, to spot people hiding in the bushes, to notice an off taste in that poisoned casserole or to just spot the perfect joke for the occasion are all covered under Wits.
Wits is also the primary Attribute for resisting magical enchantments and spotting illusions.
Wits is the only Mind Attribute available to animals.
\subsubsection[Charisma]{Charisma \hint{magnetism, gravitas, glamour, friendliness, symmetry}}
Finally, a character's ability to speak with people, make friends, speak convincingly, lead a group or barter for cheaper goods are all covered under Charisma.
Charisma also covers characters' luck, and therefore some measure of their ability to avoid Damaged, because the gods seem to love a chancer.
\end{multicols}
\section{Skills}
\index{Skills}
\label{skills}
\begin{multicols}{2}
\noindent
A character's Skills tell you what they do with most of their time.
A lot of Wyldcrafting means that someone can farm plants, and probably hunts, and a high Academics score means they read a lot, and communicate with other Academics.
\noindent
\begin{boxtable}[cL]
\hline
\textbf{Dots} & \textbf{Meaning} \\\hline
1 & A novice, who makes occasional use of the Skill \\
2 & A trained professional, who has spent years in these activities. \\
3 & A master of the art, who spends weeks focussing on the minutiae of every aspect of the Skill. \\
\end{boxtable}
Each Skill pairs up with different Attributes to show a multitude of different tasks.
A craftsman with great Dexterity may create beautiful and intricate items, but won't always craft with Speed, and if their Intelligence is poor, they may not be able to create new moulds well.
Have a look at this talented member of the \gls{guard}:
\npc{\F\Hu}{Grogfen}
\person{1}% STRENGTH
{0}% DEXTERITY
{1}% SPEED
{{-1}% INTELLIGENCE
{-1}% WITS
{1}}% CHARISMA
{0}% DR
{0}% COMBAT
{}% SKILLS
{\shortsword, cheese, pies, 50' rope}% EQUIPMENT
{
\setcounter{Brawl}{1}
\setcounter{Empathy}{2}
\setcounter{Deceit}{3} \setcounter{Larceny}{1}
\setcounter{Vigilance}{0}
}
Each Skill determines a wealth of different abilities.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Strength}{Deceit}]
allows her to intimidate with +4 to the roll.
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Empathy}]
gives her +2 to dancing.
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Larceny}]
gives her +1 to picking pockets.
\item[\roll{Speed}{Larceny}]
shows +2 to snatch-and-run attempts.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Deceit}]
gives +2 to planning a plausible lie.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Empathy}]
means a 0 penalty to negotiations.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Larceny}]
has her at +0 to plan a heist.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Deceit}]
gives her +2 to pull out a plausible lie on the spot.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Empathy}]
gives her +1 to see when someone lies to her.
\item[\roll{Charisma}{Deceit}]
gives her +4 to confidently sell someone on an idea.
\item[\roll{Charisma}{Empathy}]
gives her +3 when ingratiating herself with a new crowd.
\end{description}
Many pairings of an Attribute plus Skill will not come up often, but you should think of each likely pairing as an individual talent.
For example, a character with a Bonus to Academics and Vigilance has individual Bonuses for \textit{forgery}, \textit{recall}, \textit{resisting enchantments}, \textit{storytelling}, \textit{keeping watch}, \textit{investigation}, and \textit{spotting illusions}.
It's only two Skills on the sheet, but that's seven different ratings the character has.
See the table \vpageref{skillChart} for examples of how to view Skills in multiple ways.
\bigSkillsTable
\subsubsection{Further Skills}
The Skills here are examples, so this is not a complete list.
If you want Skills not listed, just run them by the \gls{gm} and discuss what kinds of tasks they cover.
When thinking up a new Skill, try to think about how it would work with each Attribute.
\subsubsection{Professionals}
Skills range from 1 to 5, but the character sheet only has three dots.
Those last bonuses are available to professionals, who take a \textit{Specialist Knack}, giving them a +2 Bonus in their narrow field.%
\footnote{See \autopageref{specialist} for the Specialist Knack.}
As a result, \glspl{pc} will rarely match the abilities of \pgls{npc} who performs the same task daily.
A shepherd, for example, will gain a +2 Bonus for herding sheep, so even when their \roll{Intelligence}{Wyldcrafting} only amount to a +2 Bonus, they will have a +4 Bonus in total.
\subsection{Academics}
The Academics Skill covers a love of learning facts, some of which may one day prove useful.
Academics study history, architecture, local politics, literature, and how to study more.
This `study of study', can involve reading, mnemonics, and teaching.
\sidebox{
\begin{boxtable}[cX]
\hline
\textbf{\glsentrytext{tn}} & \textbf{Question} \\\hline
7 & Simple \\
10 & Standard \\
13 & Obscure \\
15 & Secret \\
17 & Dangerous \\
\end{boxtable}
}
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Strength}{Academics}]
covers oration, as speaking to a large crowd requires strong lungs.
A full auditorium can grant a +2 Bonus to the roll due to good acoustics, or a big hat could grant a +1 Bonus for drawing everyone's attention.
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Academics}]
covers forgery, as the work needs a steady hand, along with an understanding of the meaning of every material and symbol upon coins, signet rings, and letters.
To perform well, forgers need a large variety of materials, in order to select something which precisely mimics their target.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Academics}]
lets characters recall facts about an area's history.
Libraries grant a bonus to the roll.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Academics}]
lets people resist spells of the Mind Sphere.
Some think this protection comes from so years of thinking in terms of abstraction, while others say that reading too much twists the mind, making it less intelligible to anyone who hasn't gained the same books, and therefore hasn't gained the same world-view.
\item[\roll{Charisma}{Academics}]
covers storytelling.
Travelling a little can grant a bonus, as people always like hearing new stories.
Travelling a lot gives a penalty, as anyone too far removed from the storyteller struggles to understand the people, places, and even the values the story rests on.
\end{description}
\begin{exampletext}
The \gls{jotter}'s purple veins throbbed, from his ears to his eyeballs.
``Third time.
First, yous wouldn't help \pgls{village}, second yous were too good to clean up \pgls{bothy}, and now you've come back from the \gls{edge} without a single basilisk egg.
Everyone's demoted.
Yous are now considered `Fodder', and you can leave the swords for the new recruits.
Yous can go hunt bandits with sticks for all I care, and leave the armour too!''
Hunting bandits without weapons effectively meant a death sentence.
Luckily, Minkrash had been following the recent rulings in the \gls{court}.
Minkrash sighed -- ``Could do\ldots or we could ask the \gls{warden} if he wants to eat his words''.
``The fuck are you talking about?!
You think the \gls{warden} wants to listen to you?''
``Not exactly, but she'll listen to herself.
Last month \pgls{jotter} sent out a bunch of new recruits, armed only with daggers.
When they didn't return, the family summoned that \gls{jotter} to the \gls{court}, and \gls{warden} Carnyx agreed that he'd been negligent.
He's still in the oubliette.
It's a tiny room, barely enough room to turn around, and he never lies down.
They say you can learn to sleep standing up after a couple of weeks, but then the spine never really recovers.''
The \gls{jotter}'s pulsing veins changed direction, and he resolved to kill each of these miscreants one way or another.
But at least they'd be well armed\ldots
\end{exampletext}
\subsection{Athletics}
This covers all manner of fancy movements, from somersaults and rolling to climbing and circus skills.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Strength}{Athletics}]
covers lifting and throwing heavy objects.
Rope will help with some items, as does a good place to grab onto something. \item[\roll{Dexterity}{Athletics}]
covers climbing.
Rope is sometimes a requirement, but that does not make it a bonus.
Climbers can gain a bonus from a solid plan -- many mountain faces are simply impossible without knowing the best route up.
\item[\roll{Speed}{Athletics}]
covers sprinting.
Almost all of the \gls{guard} can sprint well, as the slowest members of any group tend to become something's lunch.
Open roads may help someone fleeing pursuit, but only when the pursuer does not run on the same road (otherwise both have a bonus, and they cancel each other out).
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Athletics}]
lets someone identify the best climbing route before they begin, which lets gain a bonus to actually climbing later.
\item[\roll{Charisma}{Athletics}]
covers stage tumbling and circus acrobatics.
\end{description}
\begin{exampletext}
Climbing the mansion's ivy-straddled walls wouldn't challenge any child of the streets, but getting the crew up required real understanding.
Coalgrit looked at the ivy climbing two stories up towards the rotten shutters.
It wouldn't hold his first companion (a bulky gnome), never mind the mad thug who'd joined the \gls{guard} voluntarily (apparently just to crack bandit skulls).
He ascended carefully, and found an impenetrable window.
It was bronze mesh, filled with glass, hard set into the wall with deep nails.
Nothing could get in, except Sunlight.
He took out his chisel, rested his elbows on the window's sill, rummaged his foot along the ivy to find the best place to steady his body, then pulled a hammer from his tool-belt.
A `clank' went out as he punctured a glass piece at the base of the bronze-meshed window.
He looped the hammer's claw round to puncture another bit of glass from the inside, and let it land below.
With his work done, Coalgrit dropped the tools, letting them land in the soft earth below with a timid `thunk', and spread his weight across different ivy strands once more.
He climbed down the building's floors with a plan in mind.
Collecting his tools and a single shared of glass from the ground, Coalgrit began walking home, and thought over the equipment for that night -- one knotted rope to tie through the openings in the bronze grate, and a saw to cut through the rotten window-latch.
After that, everyone would follow up the rope without issue.
\end{exampletext}
\subsection{Caving}
\index{Spelunking!Caving Skill}
Caving includes navigation, foraging, building basic structures, and some understanding of the typical plants and beast found within caves.
Just as most humans understand some basic Wyldcrafting, almost all dwarves and gnomes know a little of the Caving Skill.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Strength}{Caving}]
covers throwing stone out of the way to form a path.
With a good pickaxe, cavers can mine out new paths.
Of course, mining out paths becomes easier with the right kind of fire-starting equipment.
Sufficiently hot rock-faces may become weak, or even shatter.
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Caving}]
covers climbing across caverns, or navigating dangerous routes.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Caving}]
covers remembering all the twists and turns on a long journey, and remembering to bring the right supplies.
It also helps one avoid foolish mistakes, such as lighting a fire underground.
Of course, one can always coordinate easier with a map, or at least something to takes notes on.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Caving}]
covers spotting dangerous areas, or keeping track of one's altitude.
\end{description}
\begin{exampletext}
``And where do you think you're going, wearing that elf-getup?''
``It's not elvish, it's my Summer wardrobe'', said the \gls{seeker}.
``I don't like armour -- it makes me all sweaty.''
``And will this `wardrobe' protect you from the cold down there?
And what the hell are \emph{you} wearing?''
``Full plate armour'', he smiled proudly.
``I thought dwarves invented plate armour''.
``Correct, but we invented it to protect perimeters, not to invade warrens.
Can you fit through a goblin-sized tunnel in that?
Will it make a noise when we try to creep up on any sentries?
Will you be able to see the ceiling at \emph{all times}?
And what the hell are you carrying?''
``You don't use torches underground?
I don't know about dwarves, but humans need light to see.''
``And do you need air?
Because if we light two of those in a narrow passage and don't get out within five minutes, we'll be rolling around, giggling like a bunch of juvenile princesses.''
They all laughed.
Apparently hypoxia was some kind of joke to these idiots.
The dwarf just sighed, and regretted every decision that lead him into the \gls{guard}.
\index{Hypoxia}
\end{exampletext}
\subsection{Craft}
The Craft Skill allows \glspl{pc} to make, fix, and occasionally break things.
Exactly what the character can craft depends on their other Skills.
\craftingReqList
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Strength}{Crafts}]
lets characters kick down a door.
Muscle can help, but it won't help that much when kicking the wrong spot on the door.
And of course, a heavy-duty battering ram can grant a +2 bonus.
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Crafts}]
covers making any item the character can use.
The character must have at least one level in the Skill they want to use for crafting.
Crafting arrows requires Projectiles, and making backpacks requires Wyldcrafting.
All craftsmen require tools to work.
Better tools, good schematics, and quality moulds can grant bonuses, while shoddy equipment can inflict penalties.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Crafts}]
lets characters make good moulds and plans, for themselves or others.
\end{description}
\begin{exampletext}
The little contingent of \glspl{guard} woke to find the \gls{village} mourning their fletcher.
A woodspy had unlocked his door with a clever tentacle, and entered his home.
Nobody could loose an arrow at it, firstly because it had entered a house, and secondly because they had run out of arrows while defending their \gls{village}.
``Shame'', one said.
``We'll miss his arrows, especially this far out''.
The \glspl{guard} knew their duty -- they would have to enter the house, and kill it, so they entered slowly, with swords out, and carefully stabbed at every bed, cushion, shelf, or any other medium-sized object they could stab.
``Real shame'', one of them said with a long sigh.
``Nobody knows that we cleared the road out of here, so the traders won't come up here until we return down that road, and tell them they can come up here safely.
If we don't return, they'll assume we died, because of the same thing that killed everyone else coming up here.''
By the time they'd finished stabbing at everything in the house, they realized that the woodspy had long-since left, unnoticed, after eating the fletcher and his child.
And with the morning entirely spent, they would have to return back along the lonely road quickly, if it wasn't too late already.
Of course, that would leave the \gls{village} without any arrows, at night, which would mean that if anything approached, they would have to repel it with their weapons: two spears, a plough, and several flails.
They \glspl{guard} stared at the fletcher's equipment, and thought of trying their hand at make-shift arrows, and whether the farmers would be better off with loosely-fitted arrow-heads and false-hope than they would be without.
``Damned shame'', they started to realize that the \gls{village} could fall before they returned with reinforcements, all for the want of their fletcher.
\end{exampletext}
\subsection{Deceit}
Someone proficient at deception can make others see white as black by sheer confidence.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Strength}{Deceit}]
covers intimidation.
Weapons can help with this endeavour just as well as they do with M\^{e}l\'ee, so an axe which grants +3 to hit in combat will also give +3 to intimidation attempts.
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Deceit}]
covers fake spell-casting.
People fear fake curses just as much as real ones!
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Deceit}]
covers elaborate lies and ruses.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Deceit}]
covers on-the-spot lies, for when you just need to explain your presence in a rush.
\item[\roll{Charisma}{Deceit}]
means selling something -- an idea, a plan, an item, or a road.
With enough confidence and gravitas, characters can sell anything.
Of course having quality ideas and goods helps a lot, so they can add a bonus (or penalty) to the roll.
\end{description}
\begin{exampletext}
Vanw\"e returned to the \gls{broch} with that creepy elven scowl that looks half-way between solving a puzzle, and getting ready to stab someone.
\Gls{jotter} Coriolis began hopefully, before reorganizing her attitude.
``So what did you find in the city?
How much gold can I put in the\ldots
where are the others?''
The scowl didn't move.
``At the tavern, in \emph{town}, all drinking.''
``Vanw\"e'', she said, trying to sound like an authority.
``You know that you can't go into towns.
It's forbidden for the \gls{guard} to\ldots''
``Three days we searched.
The place looks a century old.
Not a bit of wood remains.
It's pretty obvious that the place must have been raided ten times over by now, but we trusted you when you said it had valuables.
We searched through the ruins for two days, and found nothing but acidic creatures, slowly inching towards us.
And we could out-run them, but had nowhere to sleep.
Did you send us out to die?''
The \gls{jotter}'s attitude had finally turned full circle.
She'd have to mark the abandoned city off her to-do list and her map if it really was that old and ravaged.
``I had no idea.
I am sorry.
Listen, I'll write you all a note, stating some business in town.
Why don't you join the others, and you can all have a few nights in town to relax after the dangerous journey?''
Vanw\"e held her vicious gaze silently, then took the note of permission, and went to town.
And on the way, she nipped into the forest, to pick up the little bag of golden rings, rubies, and ancient alchemical books they'd found in the abandoned city.
\end{exampletext}
\subsection{Empathy}
The art of understanding people is practised by kind souls as well as malicious.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Empathy}]
covers dancing, and the minstrels add a bonus or penalty.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Empathy}] covers negotiating skills and puzzling out someone's likely motivations.
Bonuses and penalties depend on leverage and information.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Empathy}]
helps spotting lies and judging someone's abilities.
\item[\roll{Charisma}{Empathy}]
covers making new allies.
\end{description}
\begin{exampletext}
Nine or ten young men.
Eleven or twelve eligible young ladies.
One elf, polymorphed into a young noble.
The \gls{seeker} requested a dance, and complemented the young lady's style.
It wasn't her.
She was strong, but hid her strength well.
The second was clumsy -- she didn't know the dance.
She repeatedly looked up at him with a little flecks of embarrassment.
The third seemed disinterested, but still tried to lead the dance.
Her fragile arms hadn't the muscle to properly telegraph her movements, and the dance soon became awkward.
Bingo.
\end{exampletext}
\subsection{Larceny}
Theft, looting and arson all benefit from experience.
Of course the \gls{guard} have no use for any of those horrible things, but since most \glspl{guard} begin as criminals, most groups have a pick-pocket, cut-throat, or brigand, ready to employ their abilities if they find half a chance.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Larceny}]
covers picking pockets.
\item[\roll{Speed}{Larceny}]
covers snatch-and-run jobs, which is what usually happens to a failed attempt to pick someone's pockets.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Larceny}]
covers picking locks, as someone has to understand the mechanism, without seeing it.
Picking locks always requires equipment, but someone can always attempt to make materials out of items they have to-hand, if they don't mind a sharp penalty to the roll.
A tie generally indicates that the lock opens, but also breaks, leaving the entry obvious.
\item[\roll{Charisma}{Larceny}]
helps to create a distraction.
\end{description}
\begin{exampletext}
``This is fucking ridiculous.
The painting alone should be worth fifty \glsentrylongpl{gp}.
And we can't buy a sword, crossbow, or even a fucking bed with a back-pack full of treasures.''
Gritsnatch slumped by the fire, and dumped the oversized canvas backpack full of more valuables than he could buy in a hundred lifetimes with a \gls{guard}'s wage.
``We need a fence'', Vanw\"e told him.
``Nah, a hedge won't hide it.
Besides, the water will get in eventually.
We need to sell it, but there's nobody -- I've asked all over town.''
The rest moaned, hands on faces, but Vanw\"e continued her glass-eyed stare.
``A fence is a type of human who buys valuable things without regard to the laws of the other humans.''
``Oh, you mean a `fence'?
Like I said, the town has none.
I've asked.''
``You asked to sell. We should try to buy instead.
We should ask to purchase art to decorate a small mansion.''
``Why in the blue fuck would I want to buy art when I have art, and have no fucking money and no kind of mansion?''
Vanw\"e swivelled her stare to the other humans, which indicated that she hard started to count how long until they figured something out.
This ranked among her top-three most annoying habits, but everyone started pondering anyway.
\end{exampletext}
\subsection{Medicine}
Medicine is a primitive but effective art, regrettably full of nonsense and superstition, but mandatory when it comes to keeping someone with a serious wound alive.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Medicine}]
lets someone fix a twisted bone or nose.
If someone has only 1~\gls{hp} of Damage, a medic can heal it, leaving them with only 1~\gls{ep} instead.
A failed roll inflicts an additional \gls{hp} of Damage instead.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Medicine}]
covers making poisons, and figuring out which poison has affected someone.
See \autopageref{poison} for details.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Medicine}]
covers stopping someone bleeding out.
See \autopageref{death} for more on this.
\end{description}
\begin{exampletext}
``Blood-letting doesn't work on gnomes'', he protested.
``We need all our blood to work''.
``Not the bad blood'', she smiled.
``If you get an injury and fill up with `angry~blood' when the second moon is above those three stars you'll catch a fever, now sit still\ldots''
\end{exampletext}
\subsection{Performance}
This skill covers acting, instruments, crowd control, and storytelling.
Those with Performance will pick up at least one instrument per level.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Strength}{Performance}]
covers long sessions performing.
Minstrels with limited stamina never last long.
The bonus depends on the quality of the instruments, with a standard range of -1 to +1.
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Performance}]
covers lively performances, playing challenging pieces with a string-instrument, mime-acting and being understood by a whole crowd.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Performance}]
covers crafting new creations, such as plays or songs.
Creators can gain a bonus if they have an unlimited supply of paper, ink and candles.
When used responsibly, this ability can also provide a Bonus to spreading information.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Performance}]
to come up with an insulting rhyme.
\end{description}
\begin{exampletext}
The elf looked sad.
He had played for three hours, and he thought he had sung well.
The notes were crystal-clear, his fingers delicately pulled twelve notes every breath he took.
His songs had made the nobles who hosted the troupe cry, but here in the market the crowd remained three beggars and a dog.
Fensoak smiled at her companion's incompetence.
He still didn't really understand humans.
Fensoak pulled all the thick smells of the marketplace into her lungs and began.
``Hoo-rah, up she rises!'',
(she beckoned the elf to strum along)
``Hoo-rah, \emph{up} she rises!'',
(she mimed to the elf to thrash the strings harder)
``Hoo-RAH, up she \emph{rises}!'',
And half the market -- already her crowd -- sang the next line in response.
\end{exampletext}
\subsection{Seafaring}
\index{Sailing}
Sailors don't just sail, they typically know how to fish, coordinate reefs, work with others on larger boats, mend masts, sails and nets, and generally do a lot of sewing.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Strength}{Seafaring}]
holding the boom against a strong wind.
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Seafaring}]
mending a sail in a storm.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Seafaring}]
navigating the open oceans.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Seafaring}]
noting a sudden storm brewing.
\end{description}
\begin{exampletext}
The assassin finished his finest piece.
It had cost him two whole \glsentrylongpl{gp} to gather the wool, paper, and wax, and have the \gls{paperGuild} fashion the white squares.
It took him \emph{days} to sew everything together.
The assassin tested the sails on a warm, sunny day.
They billowed fine, and looked perfect.
And tomorrow, he would sell them for a good price to the captain of the Black Seal -- a proud captain, but a cruel and mean man.
The captain would demand they go up, his men (who knew better than to argue with him, or question his judgement) would put up the sails, and off they would go.
And the sails should hold, at least till they had gone out a day.
Once the sail went up, he would work on their anchor's chain.
The captain (and his crew) didn't stand a chance.
The assassin relieved the desk of the weight of his large stomach, greeted the shop-keeper with a friendly wave, and asked cheerily if the shop intended to purchase and mend old sales when they sell new ones.
``Of course -- we can always salvage some material, but just give them a little discount.''
The assassin had his trophy.
The ship's old sale would identify it by the weave, the holes, and little adverts woven into the edges, along with the date.
\end{exampletext}
\subsection{Stealth}
Stealthy movements can begin with pranking siblings, or abusive parents, and then most lose the knack as they grow up.
But a little practice and aptitude can let someone wander like a ghost.
In most cases, opponents resist with \roll{Wits}{Vigilance} to spot the character or spot the ruse.
While sneaking, players can say anything about what their character does, but any remotely in-character speech directed at another \gls{pc} means their character has communicated, someone spots them, and they lose \pgls{ap}.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Strength}{Stealth}]
to pull open a bale of hay, and hide inside.
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Stealth}]
to move silently across squelching mud.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Stealth}]
to find the perfect spot to listen, without being noticed.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Stealth}]
to jump into hiding as someone unexpected walks up the stairs.
\end{description}
\begin{exampletext}
Snow changes travel, but with enough cosy clothes, some pies, and a little gumption, \glspl{jotter} can still order the \gls{guard} to go anywhere, as if it were the height of Summer.
Grogfen cursed the \gls{jotter} for the tenth time that journey.
``I hope she lies down with \gls{sable} until her fingers turn black and rot away.''
``Not all bad though'', she mused.
``The frost brings some safety, since the basilisks and chitincrawlers hibernate.
I hear the basilisks go underground.
What do you think happens to the chitincrawlers, Sootfilch?''
``Is that one there?''
``Nah, Soot.
They're hibernating.
But where do you think they hibernate?''
``Right here'', she said again.
{\small
``That's the mouth-bits, sticking out.
That's them in those snow-mounds, and the black bits at the top are the mouth-bits, so we should\ldots''
``\Gls{sylf}-crap, stop making that noise when you move.''
}{\footnotesize
``We're all making noise when we walk.
That's one of the back legs sticking out --- is it moving?
Do you think they laid webs under the snow?''
Grogfen stopped moving.
Don't be stupid, webs can't be in snow\ldots can they?
}{\scriptsize
``Wait'',
Grogfen held up her hand as three long, black, legs slowly came out of the first snow pile.
``We don't have to move back.
We can move forwards.
They haven't woken yet, so we could just\ldots maybe\ldots
}
\end{exampletext}
\subsection{Tactics}
Tactics allows people to plan concise victories.
The utility quickly fades when battles become drawn-out and unpredictable, but the initial benefits from going into battle with a good plan are great.
It can be used to understand why people are employing apparently odd battle-tactics, or uses Charisma to impress people concerning one's military ability.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Strength}{Tactics}]
to cobble together the right kind of wall to hide behind with a bow.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Tactics}]
means planning battles.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Tactics}]
lets someone notice an ambush.
\item[\roll{Charisma}{Tactics}]
dictates with the drawn-out negotiations, dances, and dinners of the wardens.
\end{description}
When going into combat, someone who has time to prepare for a battle by running through instructions with receptive troops gains a bonus to their \glspl{ap} equal to their Tactics Skill.
This bonus only ever counts for the first \gls{round}.
The enemy resist with \roll{Wits}{Tactics}.
\begin{exampletext}
``\ldots I realize this unfortunate news comes as a shock.
Disloyalty may be the worst of all crimes.''
``Did you get all that?'', the Overseer asked.
``Yes, sir'', said the ranger.
``Yours eternally, \ldots Overseer Coreolis''
``Let me see what you've written.
Okay\ldots yes\ldots
Is this meant be my name at the end?''
``Signatures should look like that, sir, so it looks official.''
``Do the double seaman's knot.
I don't want anyone to even think he can open this without clearly breaking the seal upon the king's messages.''
``Yes, sir.
Double seaman's knot, sir''
The ranger cut the paper's edge with a knife, punctured it in the centre, rolled it up, and looped the stray paper-edges through the hole.
Nobody could open the scroll without breaking the paper.
The ranger applied the wax, and handed it to his Overseer to push his seal into the wax.
``Now run along, and send it to the messenger-crew, quick man!''
``Yes sir'', and out the door he went, pressing the scroll into a button on his chest.
The wax seal would be his.
The handwriting, also his.
He would be the natural successor to the post of Overseer.
That left only one more thing to take care of\ldots
\end{exampletext}
\subsection{Vigilance}
Everyone in the \gls{guard} practices paranoia daily.
When the new fodder enter, they see their superiors flinching at every noise and staying awake all night with their backs to the fire, staring into the darkness wide-eyed, for hours; and they think `maybe that could be me one day'.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Strength}{Vigilance}]
lets one keep watch over a camp, despite a long day's march and a quiet fire.
Staying up all night inflicts 3~\glspl{ep}, so a troupe can divide this into the first watch receiving 2~\glspl{ep} and the second receiving 1, or any other combination.
Travelling troupes make a single group roll to keep watch.
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Vigilance}]
to feel out the right route in a lightless labyrinth.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Vigilance}]
to collect clues in a crime-scene.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Vigilance}]
to notice imminent danger.
\item[\roll{Charisma}{Vigilance}]
investigating a rumour.
\end{description}
\ifodd\value{r4}
\begin{exampletext}
Goutfrak had raided a local tomb, but found it already ransacked, and was down to her last \glsentrylong{gp}.
She examined the change from the bar.
The \glsentrylongpl{sp} came from the time of Rex Dalyus -- making them at least two centuries old -- but they looked nearly new.
It had to be the tomb raiders who had cleared out the nearby grave before she arrived.
She hopped back to the bar for another pint.
``Another \glsentrylong{gp}!'',
the barman exclaimed.
``I can't keep giving you change for this massive coinage!''.
``Sorry'',
she shrugged, as the barman handed over yet another shiny coin with the Rex's.
They were in here somewhere\ldots
\end{exampletext}
\else
\begin{exampletext}
``The beer arrived, fizzing but not frothing, and no head.
Everyone in the troupe downed their drink but Ratfix.
He stared, perturbed, mulling the problem, without a drink.
Soon after he mentioned to the rest,
``I think we may have been drugged, and not in the way we paid for.''
\end{exampletext}
\fi
\subsection{Wyldcrafting}
This skill covers everything from the initial forays into the wilderness, to fully cultivated land.
A wyldcrafter can navigate, track animals and other humanoids, and forage.
In calmer settings, wyldcrafting covers all the activities involved in farming -- from taming animals, and selecting the best soil to plant carrots.
\begin{description}
\item[\roll{Strength}{Wyldcrafting}]
to construct a fence.
\item[\roll{Dexterity}{Wyldcrafting}]
to move through a forest unheard.
\item[\roll{Speed}{Wyldcrafting}]
covers a dense woodland area with heavy undergrowth.
\item[\roll{Intelligence}{Wyldcrafting}]
covers pathfinding a shorter route between two known locations.
\item[\roll{Wits}{Wyldcrafting}]
to note rare and valuable plants in the wilderness.
\end{description}
\begin{exampletext}
``It was three years ago, just by the next \gls{village}, ten brigands came out of the snow, all carrying hunting bows.
We were wounded from the basilisk which we had fought just earlier that day, but we did not let our wounds show, and demanded that the brigands\ldots''
``During a snowstorm?'', one of the farmers asked.
``No, it wasn't a snowstorm, but the cold was bad, and so I said to them\ldots''
``It was a snowstorm'', the farmer insisted.
``Just after the blue moon, you said it was.
Three days of snowstorm.
Nobody was going anywhere, certainly not these `brigands', and the basilisk you fought should have been hibernating.''
``Well'', the young \gls{guard} said with less gusto.
``Maybe it had trouble sleeping\ldots''.
\end{exampletext}
\end{multicols}
\section{\glsentrylongpl{fp}}
\label{fate_points}
\index{Fate Points}
\begin{multicols}{2}
\noindent
Each of the \glspl{pc}, and some of the \glspl{npc} have a destiny.
However, destiny has a limited supply, so \glspl{pc} had best not rely on it.
\input{config/rules/fate.tex}
\Glspl{fp} provide much of the game's narrative flow, as \glspl{pc} encounter near-misses, then damage, and decide to run away as they're completely `out of luck'.
Soon after, they remain wounded, but their `luck has returned', and they can press-on, despite retaining a serious injury.
Losing \glspl{fp} can mean any number of things.
\Pgls{pc} might stumble slip and catch themselves just in time, causing an arrow to narrowly miss their head; or the enemy might swing their sword and strike a stray tree-branch.
\Glspl{pc} begin with a full allotment of \glspl{fp}, while \glspl{npc} start with none.
However, everyone (including \glspl{npc} present in the scene) regains $1D6$ \glspl{fp} at the end of each \gls{interval}.%
\footnote{See \autopageref{intervals} for more on \glspl{interval}.}
\Glsentrylongpl{fp} never stop \glsentrylongpl{ep}.
Character who can survive a dozen archers through luck can still become exhausted, or punched in the gut and dragged away.
\end{multicols}
\section{\Glsfmtlongpl{ep}}
\begin{multicols}{2}
\label{ep}
\noindent
Fighting, running and swimming can really take it out of you, especially when wearing heavy armour.
Characters gain \glspl{ep} for exerting themselves, and if they accrue too many then they will quickly start to become ineffective.
\input{config/rules/exhaustion.tex}
\noindent
\Glspl{ep} might inflict penalties because the character has 6~\glspl{hp} but gains a total of 8~\glspl{ep}, which results in a -2 penalty to all actions.
\begin{boxtable}[lllllllllX]
\multicolumn{10}{l}{6/6 \Glsentrytext{hp}} \\
\Repeat{6}{\statDot & } \Repeat{3}{\statCircle & } \statCircle
\\
\Repeat{9}{\Square &} \Square
\\
\multicolumn{10}{l}{\glspl{ep}} \\
\Repeat{8}{\XBox &} \Square & \Square \\
\multicolumn{10}{l}{Penalty: 2} \\
\end{boxtable}
But it might also occur because the character has 4~\glspl{ep} and then Damage reduces them to only 2~\glspl{hp}, leaving them with a -2 penalty to all actions yet again.
\begin{boxtable}[lllllllllX]
\multicolumn{10}{l}{2/6 \Glsentrytext{hp}} \\
\Repeat{6}{\statDot & } \Repeat{3}{\statCircle & } \statCircle
\\
\Repeat{2}{\Square &} \Repeat{4}{\XBox &} \Repeat{3}{\Square &} \Square
\\
\multicolumn{10}{l}{\glspl{ep}} \\
\Repeat{4}{\XBox &} \Repeat{5}{\Square &} \Square \\
\multicolumn{10}{l}{Penalty: 2} \\
\end{boxtable}
Characters may reach a maximum penalty of -5 due to \glspl{ep}, after which they fall unconscious.
If the character is accruing \glspl{ep} from running or wrestling, they would normally simply pass out at this point, but if they are gaining \glspl{ep} swimming or climbing a cliff, the character will almost certainly just die.
\Glspl{fp} cannot mitigate \glspl{ep}.
Characters with enough luck to avoid arrows and dragon-fire can easily be punched and dragged away, or collapse after a long run.
\subsubsection{Special Categories}
\Glspl{ep} can represent all manner of problems a character has -- not just tiredness -- and some remain for longer than others.
\paragraph{Marching} inflicts \pglspl{ep} each mile of rough terrain, such as wild forest, or mountains, and half that when walking on a road (meaning 1~\gls{ep} every 2 miles).
Since characters recover half their \glspl{ep} over \pgls{interval} of rest, a character with 8~\glspl{hp} could march 4 miles in the morning, recover 4~\glspl{ep} over an afternoon's rest, and repeat that over the evening and night.
That leaves characters marching a number of miles equal to their \glspl{hp} each day, without accruing \glspl{ep}, or double their \glspl{hp} when walking on a road.
Of course, characters can push themselves as much as they want, and cover as much ground as they want, until the \gls{ep} penalties stop them walking.
\paragraph{Poison} can become a nasty drag on a character, and a serious poisoning can prompt even the strongest fighter to go find a cure, before he vomits any more blood.
\paragraph{Starvation} is another special case.
\glspl{ep} inflicted from starvation are marked with an `$S$', and each of these points only heal once the character has had a full meal.
\makeAutoRule{npcFatigue}{\Glsfmtplural{npc} \Glsfmtlongpl{ep}}{assume \glsfmtplural{npc} start with half \glsfmtlongpl{ep} filled}
\Glspl{npc} should acrue \glspl{ep}, just like the \glspl{pc} do.
The \gls{gm} might assume \glspl{npc} have a number of \glspl{ep} equal to half their \glspl{hp} at any time, unless the situation suggests otherwise.
Players should be able to use this to their advantage, just as their \glspl{pc}' tired bodies work to their disadvantage.
\end{multicols}