When this ability is activated, the user undergoes a dramatic transformation, morphing into a form that embodies the quintessence of combat readiness. This transformation is both a physical and mental assertion of readiness, spurred by the urgency and intensity of battle. The body becomes a perfect conduit for fighting prowess, optimized for strength, agility, and resilience.
In this enhanced state, the user can navigate the battlefield with exceptional ease, slipping through the smallest gaps as effortlessly as a rodent, allowing for strategic positioning and evasion. The form is incredibly durable, reducing the severity of incoming blows to mere scratches, though it remains vulnerable to widespread area effects which can penetrate its focused defenses.
Stripped of the ability to communicate or utilize equipment, the user becomes a silent avatar of combat. All extraneous elements are shed, leaving only the essential—every movement and action is driven by the singular purpose of overcoming the adversary. The transformation is subtle in its outward signs but unmistakable in its effect, a seamless integration of the fighter’s innate capabilities heightened to their peak.
This state is a testament to the fighter’s commitment to the confrontation, enduring until the threat is neutralized or until they choose to revert to their original form. The transformation is both a shield and a statement: a physical manifestation of the internal decision that this fight, once chosen, will be seen through with unwavering focus and unmatched tenacity.
Take a Severity-1 Injury and spend an Action.
You transform into A Perfect Fighting Stance for the next minute. You may end the effect early and return to your normal form at will. Your structure must remain relatively contiguous. It is not necessarily obvious that your transformed state is an unusual phenomena or that it is acting with singular purpose.
While in this form, you can squeeze through any gap that a rodent could fit through.
Injuries from standard attacks are reduced to Severity 1, but Damage from AOE effects is increased by 1.
You cannot communicate or use equipment while transformed. Your equipment does not transform with you beyond basic body coverings. You cannot carry any items while transformed.
You have access to your Powers while transformed.
As Grognar sharpens his axe, a soft golden glow spreads across the blade, pulsing with a steady rhythm, like the beating of a heart. Ghostly figures of Viking warriors appear in the air around him, their spectral forms standing proud and unbowed. They chant in low, resonant voices, their words carried by a faint breeze. The ground beneath Grognar trembles subtly, and the scent of salt air and pine forests fills the air. To onlookers, Grognar appears larger than life, his presence commanding and otherworldly, as though the ancient spirit of a Hersir has returned to the world.
This transformation stems from Grognar’s unbreakable connection to his past. As he sharpens his axe, he recalls the camaraderie, loyalty, and sacrifices of his comrades. Each motion honors their memory and rekindles his purpose as a Hersir. This ritual channels their enduring spirits, reminding Grognar—and all who witness it—that his strength lies not just in battle but in the unity and honor of those who fought beside him.
Exert your Mind and spend one minute. You must actively and obviously use His Axe (Specifically his Axe) to activate this Effect.
You transform into Hersir for 30 minutes. You have access to all of your Powers while you are Hersir, and you can use your equipment. Your Battle Scars, Injuries, and physical Liabilities are carried over between forms. Reverting from your Alternate Form cannot cause your existing Injuries to kill you. Instead, you remain Incapacitated.
While transformed, your Charisma is increased by 2 and your Intellect is increased by 2. Your Stress is reduced by 2.
Your body is adapted to Strategic (Planning or seeing trough others tactics) and Leadership (guide, befriend and lead a group or even a whole army). You receive +3 dice on non-attack rolls related to Strategic (Planning or seeing trough others tactics) and Leadership (guide, befriend and lead a group or even a whole army).
After this Effect ends, you cannot move quicker than a walk (15 feet per Round) for one minute and suffer a -1 dice penalty for an hour.
If you become Incapacitated or suffer an Injury Severity 4 or greater, this Effect ends.
Mikey is able to trust his feeling for when he needs to be aware and for where to best aim his attacks. His strong gut feelings can sometime however, cause severe revulsion in the face of the horrible.
You gain the following benefits as long as you have your Washboard sixpack.
Your Perception rating is increased by 1. You may Exert your Mind to automatically gain an Outcome of 5 on any roll that uses Perception (Cannot be used on combat rolls or Power activations).
If you are witnessed actively using this Effect, whoever sees it can make a Perception + Alertness roll at Difficulty 6. A complete success reveals the source of your power.
You also gain the following effects:
The first rule of Maze's Challenge is to try and escape the area, but he will make it very difficult if not impossible to do so without being accosted by the flying little dragons that would shoot gouts of fire on anyone who moves. He can direct them to 'attack' or 'hold off' with a simple condition if need be.
This Effect activates whenever someone takes the move action and travels at least 10ft. It does not require an Action or Exertion. Select a target within 300 feet which has both fuel and oxygen available (if you are starting a new fire). Your target should be intuitively based on the triggering event. This Effect cannot be used unless Atlas is active and the target is in the area of Challenge.
You may start a new fire as large as a fire in a residential fireplace at your target. Your fires require fuel and oxygen in order to continue burning.
Lighting a target on fire deals 3 Damage each Round on your turn, starting in the Round after the one in which they caught fire. This Damage is reduced by Armor, but the target’s Armor rating will be shredded by any Damage dealt, destroying material Armor once it reaches 0.
You may extinguish flames as a Reaction. This does not extend to explosives.
When you activate this Effect, instead of occurring immediately, you may choose to delay its effects until the target takes a particular Action. For example: "when they fire a gun" or "when they swim in deep water."
My skin becomes hardened and made of tree bark, I look like myself but encapsulated in tree bark.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
You are permanently and visibly transformed: Barky Skin and Muscle Tear. You are considered to be a Sapient, Living being when targeted. Your Brawn is increased by 2.
Your appendages can reach an additional 30 feet.
You may make a +2 Weapon Damage Bark Blade (Sword) attack without additional equipment.
The Severity of any Injury caused by Fire and Heat is increased by 2.
Scriggles has gained the powerful smell that a cat would usually have (his nose has been unblocked).
You gain the following benefits at all times.
Your senses are enhanced in the following way.
The spy can twist the urban environment to their whims, erecting fences, walls, and barriers as needed. They whistle and gesture to where the wall should be, and the surrounding materials fly into place.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Select a Location within 50 feet. You must be in an area abundant with man-made structures and materials.
Select one of the following alterations to create out of standard building materials originating at the target:
The alteration begins to form when you activate this Effect and finishes forming on your initiative in the next Round. Until it finishes forming, it is not guaranteed to function.
This alteration lasts one minute but may be prematurely destroyed or altered. Your alterations may be broken through with appropriate tools. Anyone attempting to break through must roll Brawn + a relevant Ability. A cumulative Outcome of 6 across all attempts breaks a hole large enough to move through. See the extended system text for GM guidance on various tools.
The Thief has a stash in which they can store a few objects. It can be accessed through any burlap sack.
Spend a Quick Action. You must actively and obviously use a burlap sack to activate this Effect.
You may withdraw an item from your stash, or add an item that is within arm’s reach to your stash. You may only stash targets which are in your possession, grappled, or otherwise controlled by you.
You may store Objects in your stash, each no larger than something which could fit inside a briefcase (15 liters), and you may store up to 3 things at a time.
You may choose to equip any equipment you withdraw at no additional cost.
While submerged, the aquamancer can fully sustain themselves from the waters around them, entirely forgoing food, drink, and even air. They may also enter a state of hibernation, remaining underwater and incapacitated for up to two months.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are submerged in water.
You no longer require any food, water, or air in order to survive. You no longer age naturally, and supernatural attempts to age you fail. Any roll to resist an Effect dependent on any affected requirement automatically succeeds.
You may spend one minute entering a state of hibernation, during which you are inanimate and unaffected by any requirements for life. You may still perceive the outside world and may spend 3 Rounds "waking up" to end it.
The Soldier has spent a healthy ten thousand hours training with the weapons of their military. They are deadly when wielding any firearm made in their home country. Drawing their standard issue at the start of a confrontation is pure reflex, and they may plan their shots to deal collateral damage to those behind their target.
You gain the following benefits as long as engaged in combat with firearms made in your home country.
+2 dice to all firearms made in your home country rolls.
You also gain the following effects:
The magician waves a handkerchief over an item, and it disappears! They may produce the object later by fluttering a scarf.
Spend a Quick Action. You must actively and obviously use a scarf, sheet, or handkerchief to activate this Effect.
You may withdraw an item from your stash, or add an item that is within arm’s reach to your stash. You may only stash targets which are in your possession, grappled, or otherwise controlled by you.
You may store Objects in your stash, each no larger than something which could fit inside a briefcase (15 liters), and you may store up to 3 things at a time.
You may choose to equip any equipment you withdraw at no additional cost.