Zephyren collects blades almost obsessively, perhaps because they are some of the least detectable weapons. Or, he does it instinctively because a bird is never complete without its talons. In result, he's also the most proficient with blades.
On weaponry:
People have guns (even in Canada, they're just quieter about it), but Zephyren legally cannot own one, and traveling with those can be such a pain for those with licenses anyway. He very much prefers a quieter option too. Also, blades are far more versatile. Never bring a sword to a gun fight? Think again.
On blade proficiency:
Fighting isn't the only thing Zephyren uses blades for. If anything he's rarely had to fight outside contracts; he mostly uses knives in the kitchen, and since he has been cooking from a very young age, there's no surprise that this is what he's the most comfortable with. In any video games, he also predominantly uses a knife or sword. Don't ask how he's gotten through Resident Evil; let's just say he had to face a lot of corpses up close.
On bird talons:
Thankfully Zephyren has never been attacked by a bird, but from what he's read, talons can be really sharp. They have to grip onto things after all, even if it means they'd puncture their target.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are engaged in combat with bladed weapons.
+2 dice to all rolls with bladed weapons. You may Defend against firearm attacks from any range using bladed weapons.
You also gain the following effects:
The constant channeling of ice spirits has permanently changed Angus' body. His body feels constantly sub-zero and he has become numb to physical trauma. Angus' veins have become partially frozen as a result, although no ill effects come from this. His brain is chilled slowing his perception of time slightly and granting him clarity at all times. As his affinity with ice increases, the more the spirits take... so far? just his ring finger on his left hand, But its getting worse.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
Your Stress from Injuries and Mind Damage is reduced to 0.
Possession of this Power grants the following Battle Scar: Missing fingers.
While morphed you gain increased fighting skills and abilities to help defend yourself and your allies.
You gain the following benefits as long as must me morphed and you are engaged in unarmed combat.
+2 dice to rolls for Attacking, Defending, and Clashing without a weapon. Unarmed attacks do +0 Weapon Damage (instead of -1).
You may Defend against melee, projectile, or firearm Attacks from any range and Clash with those in range of your Attacks. Attacking materials like steel or spikes will not Damage you unless it has an Effect that does so.
You also gain the following effects:
A candy heart has become the center stone in Bismarck's body, fully integrating his gusher-juice blood into something amazing. Whenever Bismarck needs to see better than normal, at any time, such as to react to something normally unseen or perhaps to avoid something hurdling towards him, his candy heart pumps something fierce to provide a surge of energy throughout his entire body that sends his gusher-juice-blood careening down his veins not unlike a burst of adrenaline.
However, his heart may be obviously seen as a new, easy target. After all, when it does make a beat like this, it glows so brightly that it can be seen through his clothes and hardened sugar skin, a clear, cherry colored silhouette that may be seen by the masses. Pray that no one catches it, lest they learn it's your Achilles heel.
You gain the following benefits as long as you have your heart.
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:
When he cleans up and puts on a tailored suit he somehow becomes sharper, more in focus than everything else in his surroundings.
You gain the following benefits at all times. You must actively and obviously be using Tailored Suit to gain the benefits of this Effect.
You are permanently and visibly transformed: More human than human. You are considered to be a Sapient, Living being when targeted. Your Brawn is increased by 1, your Dexterity is increased by 1, your Perception is increased by 1, your Charisma is increased by 1, and your Intellect is increased by 1.
Whenever you enter Combat, roll Self-Control. If you fail, you cannot choose which targets to attack and cannot stop fighting until there are no targets remaining.
Possession of this Power grants the following Trauma at all times: Paranoia: You have a natural distrust of everyone around you, and are always on edge looking for threats. You must roll Self Control in order to let another person remain in a position where they could easily hurt you, or to allow someone else to perform a task which is necessary to keep yourself safe.
As the star glints in the sunlight Cleatus is imbued with the firearms skill and knowledge of the good old boys who have come before him, every hunt, every moonlit one in a million shot, and exactly how they made it comes flooding into his mind as he's granted the skill of every gunslinger the great state of Indiana has ever laid claim to. Though with it comes the independent spirit of those who came before it, and as new to magic as Cleatus is he finds it hard to resist these impulses they've forced upon him.
You gain the following benefits as long as engaged in combat with firearms.
+2 dice to all firearms rolls.
Possession of this Power grants the following Trauma at all times: Must always speak in a southern accent and paranoia.
You also gain the following effects:
The Solider is accustomed to going long periods without food or water and can operate on very little sleep.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
You may go five times longer than a normal human without food, water, sleep, and air.
The detective has trained their eyes to notice the smallest of details.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
Your senses are enhanced in the following way.
Finally, the girls are fusing the way theyโve wanted to since they began Contracting, three and a half years ago. It took Graceโs left eye for them to try this, but the girls are now able to spend a week focusing their energy towards a Battle Scarred area and permanently replacing it with The Spiritโs ghostly flesh. The replaced chunks, eyes, arms, whatever may come, appear just as The Spiritโs: bluish and semi-transparent, but now function just as the respective physical flesh would.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
Any Injury you receive heals quickly, reducing its Severity by one level every day. Any Injuries you receive while this Effect is active automatically count as a successful Proper Stabilization and do not deteriorate further. Any Battle Scars caused by such an Injury will heal with the Injury.
You may choose to heal any Battle Scar on yourself that is not caused by an Injury. Recovery takes one day, and the Battle Scar affects you fully until that time.
Possession of this Power grants the following Battle Scar: any scars that heal this way leave the flesh in that area bluish and semi-transparent, causing you to be viewed as a freak by most people who see you.
The Ninja's incredible dedication to their discipline grants them supernatural dexterity and agility.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
Your Dexterity rating is increased by 1. You may Exert your Mind to automatically gain an Outcome of 5 on any roll that uses Dexterity (Cannot be used on combat rolls or Power activations).
Years of scouting in dangerous areas has left the survivalist hyper-vigilant. They are impossible to catch in a trap.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
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).
You also gain the following effects: