Harold Polk’s mastery of language turns everyday phrases into tools of subtle influence, each carefully crafted to direct attention and control focus, whether in the courtroom or in casual conversation. His words are designed to blend seamlessly into any setting, creating a form of linguistic programming that shapes perception without raising suspicion. In the courtroom, phrases like “Objection,” “Eyes Only,” “Under Review,” “Leading the Witness,” and “Relevance” grant him control over proceedings, guiding attention where he needs it. In more covert settings, phrases such as “Just Between Us,” “By the Way,” “In the Meantime,” “That Reminds Me,” and “One More Thing” allow him to divert focus, prompt hesitation, or subtly steer actions, all within the flow of casual conversation. Each phrase becomes a tool of influence, enabling Harold to shape interactions with language alone, whether he’s in court or blending into the background.
Spend an Action. A number of Sapient, Living targets within 50 feet who can perceive you through no greater than your Charisma rating are affected. Audiences or mobs with a singular focus count as one target. Roll Charisma + Culture at Difficulty 6. All affected targets may resist by rolling Mind at Difficulty 7.
If you succeed, the targets will keep their full attention focused on you for as long as you maintain Concentration. They will automatically fail any rolls related to noticing anything other than you.
If you pass from their perception and they are unable to pursue you, the Effect ends. If they can follow you, they must do so for 2 Rounds or the Effect will end. The Effect ends early if the target is Injured or violence occurs nearby.
This does not affect the target’s opinion of you or their mood, and they may take any Actions while affected (including attacking), as long as that action centers on you. Fascinated targets cannot Concentrate.
You may activate this Effect as a Reaction to contest any Action a valid target is taking. The target does not roll to resist, and beating their Outcome does not fascinate them. This interrupts Concentration.
This Gift cannot have more than 3 Drawbacks, and its Gift Cost is capped at 2.
Drekhan plays his harp or does a fascinating dance to get the attention of the user. Wonderful colors flow around the user making them look attractive and irresistible.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. A number of Sapient, Living targets within 50 feet who can perceive you through no greater than your Charisma rating are affected. Audiences or mobs with a singular focus count as one target. Roll Charisma + Performance at Difficulty 6. All affected targets may resist by rolling Mind at Difficulty 7.
If you succeed, the targets will keep their full attention focused on you for Contested Outcome in minutes. They will automatically fail any rolls related to noticing anything other than you.
If you pass from their perception and they are unable to pursue you, the Effect ends. If they can follow you, they must do so for 2 Rounds or the Effect will end. The Effect will continue even if violence occurs nearby or if your target is Injured. It does end if the target takes Damage from a source other than you.
This does not affect the target’s opinion of you or their mood, and they may take any Actions while affected (including attacking), as long as that action centers on you. Fascinated targets cannot Concentrate.
Bu Fang, preparing a meal with such delicate care, ensures its made in such a way that they have their full attention drawn to the meal, eating it with just joy and galore they don't even realize their surrounding.
Exert your Mind and spend 30 seconds to turn A Fine meal into a trap. This trap lasts one day or until triggered or disarmed. Audiences or mobs with a singular focus count as one target. Roll Charisma + Crafts at Difficulty 6.
The trap looks like A Fine meal. Only those who have seen this trap before can identify it as a trap. Anyone who is aware of the trap may intuitively avoid, trigger, or destroy it.
Any Animate target within within 50 feet that uses the trap as A Fine meal will trigger it. All affected targets may resist by rolling Mind at Difficulty 7.
When the trap is triggered, the targets will keep their full attention focused on the trap for Contested Outcome in minutes. They will automatically fail any rolls related to noticing anything other than the trap.
The Effect ends if the trap is destroyed, or the target cannot perceive it. The Effect ends early if the target is Injured or violence occurs nearby.
This does not affect the target’s opinion of the trap or their mood, and they may take any Actions while affected (including attacking), as long as that action centers on the trap. Fascinated targets cannot Concentrate.
The Contractor began moving their body in a specific rhythm following a set of motions that portrays a different dance of emotion or current social situation. From a short jig, to a full blown performance.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. A number of Animate targets within 50 feet who can perceive you through no greater than your Charisma rating are affected. Audiences or mobs with a singular focus count as one target. Roll Charisma + Performance at Difficulty 6. All affected targets may resist by rolling Mind at Difficulty 7.
If you succeed, the targets will keep their full attention focused on you for as long as you maintain Concentration. They will automatically fail any rolls related to noticing anything other than you.
If you pass from their perception and they are unable to pursue you, the Effect ends. If they can follow you, they must do so for 2 Rounds or the Effect will end. The Effect ends early if the target is Injured or violence occurs nearby.
This does not affect the target’s opinion of you or their mood, and they may take any Actions while affected (including attacking), as long as that action centers on you. Fascinated targets cannot Concentrate.
Bu fang, within the kitchen set by his knife, feels as if he is empowered by the surrounding. Taking this opportunity, he takes out his ingredients and tosses them into the air, with quick movements, he prepares them in moments, faster than possible for the average man. Creating a meal so tantalizing even the undead are fascinated by it, keeping their attention on it, wishing for every second to be prolonged so that they can just enjoy the thought of eating this meal.
Edit: This power has been totally reconfigured. The two-step conditional is weird anyway, & fascinating things that don't eat w/ food is lame. Rather than be a highly leveraged pseudo stun lock, this power NOW serves a much more interesting role & relies on you doing what you do best - making people food.
As a Sabotaged item, it only works when people eat the meal - it can effect as many people as can sit down & eat that meal within 5ft. All of them stay fixated until the meal is complete & are at penalty for ALL your other effects while eating.
Even better, previously created fine meals could be stored for later use, so the 30 second cast time is irrelevant
Exert your Mind and spend 30 seconds to turn a fine meal into a trap. This trap lasts one day or until triggered or disarmed. Roll Charisma + Crafts at Difficulty 6.
The trap looks like a fine meal. Only those who have seen this trap before can identify it as a trap. Anyone who is aware of the trap may intuitively avoid, trigger, or destroy it.
Any Sapient, Living target within within 5 feet that uses the trap as a fine meal will trigger it. All affected targets may resist by rolling Mind at Difficulty 6.
When the trap is triggered, the targets will keep their full attention focused on the trap for contested Outcome in minutes. They will automatically fail any rolls related to noticing anything other than the trap. If they cannot perceive the trap through Smell for three Rounds, the Effect is broken. The Effect ends early if the target is Injured or violence occurs nearby.
This does not affect the target’s opinion of the trap or their mood, and they may take any Actions while affected (including attacking), as long as that action centers on the trap. Fascinated targets cannot Concentrate.
Fascinated targets are at a -2 dice penalty to any rolls they make to resist any other Effects that you attempt to use on them.
With a smile, and a spritz of perfume, Emily makes herself the center of the universe to people.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. A number of Sapient, Living targets within 50 feet who can perceive you through no greater than your Charisma rating are affected. Audiences or mobs with a singular focus count as one target. You must use up a vial of perfume in order to activate this Effect. Roll Charisma + Influence at Difficulty 6. All affected targets may resist by rolling Mind at Difficulty 7.
If you succeed, the targets will keep their full attention focused on you for Contested Outcome in Rounds. They will automatically fail any rolls related to noticing anything other than you.
If you pass from their perception and they are unable to pursue you, the Effect ends. If they can follow you, they must do so for 2 Rounds or the Effect will end. The Effect will continue even if violence occurs nearby or if your target is Injured. It does end if the target takes Damage from a source other than you.
This does not affect the target’s opinion of you or their mood, and they may take any Actions while affected (including attacking), as long as that action centers on you. Fascinated targets cannot Concentrate.
All it takes is a flick of your hair and a bat of your eyelashes, and you’ve got their attention.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. A number of Sapient, Living targets within 50 feet who can perceive you through no greater than your Charisma rating are affected. Audiences or mobs with a singular focus count as one target. Roll Charisma + Performance at Difficulty 6. All affected targets may resist by rolling Mind at Difficulty 7.
If you succeed, the targets will keep their full attention focused on you for Contested Outcome in Rounds. They will automatically fail any rolls related to noticing anything other than you.
If you pass from their perception and they are unable to pursue you, the Effect ends. If they can follow you, they must do so for 2 Rounds or the Effect will end. The Effect ends early if the target is Injured or violence occurs nearby.
This does not affect the target’s opinion of you or their mood, and they may take any Actions while affected (including attacking), as long as that action centers on you. Fascinated targets cannot Concentrate.