Well, clearly Bobbi had either gotten her dosage way too low, or her tranquilisers simply didn't work against boars when the animal in question was a spectral apparition of an Etruscan idol dated 500-600 BCE. Probably didn't help that it was the size of a family sedan either.
Bobbi tried very hard to ignore the quaking in her legs as the monstrous thing ran at her. This was just like that time she'd got a glancing blow with that Medi-Dart vaccine on that bull, right? It had raged and charged at her headlong just like this, but the pain of the needle and the drugs in its system had made its movements sloppy and predictable.
She just needed to follow up and then dive to one side, just like that. Only difference being she wasn't getting back up if she fucked this up.
Deep inhale. Tighten the stock a little more against your shoulder. Now-
In a lightning-fast blur her free hand had plucked another dart from the pouch at her waist, and a moment later it had embedded itself in the ghostly boar's head in such a way that it almost seemed to slow mid-charge -- its feet kicking up dust as they ground against the hard earth and granting Bobbi barely enough time to roll to the side.
Holy shit, it worked!
Its a lil weird, but Crossbows can either be tied to Firearm Mastery or Archery Mastery, since they are affected by both (+2 to Firearm rolls, and +2 to rolls with Crossbows) - and I'd rather have it tied to Firearm Mastery when it comes to this character
I don't plan on abusing this for any stupid stuff like taking both Gifts to get +4 to rolls (pretty sure that wouldn't work anyway), I'm picking flavour over actual mechanical strength. I think it'd make more sense for my character to know how to use crossbows and guns rather than crossbows and bows (and since Archery Mastery gets the Quick Fingers enhancement for free, I'm actually missing out on a Gift point to do this)
You gain the following benefits as long as engaged in combat with crossbows.
You receive +2 dice to all rolls using crossbows. Reloading is a Free Action, and drawing your weapon does not require a Quick Action as long as it is on your person.
You also gain the following effects:
This creatures limbs have swollen to an unnatural degree there are bright throbbing red veins
It seems these veins stem from the claws of the Necklace
When an arm extend large masses of fur and flesh build up around the shoulder region and then shoot out like a fire hydrant with blood and fluids spilling as the arms Contort to their new size
The action can be disturbing to those around the wielder and causes great pain to the user
You gain the following benefits at all times. You must actively and obviously be using Bear Necklace to gain the benefits of this Effect.
You are permanently and visibly transformed: Bear with swirls of Fur and Flesh. You are considered to be a Sapient, Non-Living Creature when targeted. Your Dexterity is increased by 1 and your Perception is increased by 1.
Your Injuries no longer degrade with time. You do not age naturally, and supernatural attempts to age you fail.
Your appendages have 30 feet of reach.
You may make a +2 Weapon Damage to brawl ferociously with your claws attack without additional equipment.
Any Animate being that consumes or is injected with your bodily fluids receives a Severity-1 Injury. Every Round, they must roll Body Difficulty 9. If they fail, the Injury worsens by 1 Severity. If they succeed, the Injury stops worsening.
You cannot be mistaken for a normal human. You cannot always use standard human clothes, equipment, vehicles, and facilities, and when you can, you suffer an increased Difficulty.
You are incapable of fine object manipulation and can only hold or grasp things in a crude, clumsy way.
You cannot ignore or decrease the effects of Stress for any Self-Control rolls you make.
It may not look like anything you've seen before, but that weirdly shaped hole at your feet isn't a real hole. Welcome to the funky mind of some crazy artist. Touch the illusion and POOF it's gone, but it can be a good distraction!
Spend one minute. Select a target within 45 feet. Choose an illusion to generate, which can be no larger than a briefcase.
The chosen illusion is generated at your target, and it will remain in place for the next minute or you choose to end it. It can be perceived by people through their sight. The illusion cannot be used as an attack. You cannot make an exact replica of an existing Animate being or Object.
Anyone who touches the illusion (or who would be able to perceive it significantly through a sense it cannot fool) realizes it is an illusion, and the entire effect will be ended for all targets.
The illusion will remain fixed to its initial target, and can only change locations if the initial target is mobile in some way. It may have moving parts and engage in simple, predetermined movements but cannot perform anything complex or interactive unless you maintain Concentration and “puppeteer” it.
This Gift's Cost is capped at 2 and cannot be increased further.
It all lies in the flesh, the meat, the primal desire within the soul. The Consumption of an animal to state the consummation of the soul.
Next to the desired creature, a spectral creature with a semi-translucent maw expels from Harald. Eating and Melding with the nearest raw meat in its vicinity.
It acting as the conduit as for the fed desire for primal hunger, having fed the power it enters the unwitting creature and takes over its mind. Unable to fight back against the true animal.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action or Reaction. Select a Creature target within arm's reach. You must use up Kilogram of Raw Meat in order to activate this Effect.
You possess your target and have control over their actions for the next hour. Your original body will be left behind, unconscious, in its same location. You may perceive through your original body's senses, at a -2 penalty to all Actions while doing so. If your original body is touched, you get a Perception check to notice. You may spend an Action to end the possession early.
Stats: Any Actions you take will use the possessed creature’s Brawn, Dexterity, and Perception, but use your own Charisma, Intellect, and Abilities.
Gifts: You do not have access to any Gifts while you are possessing your target.
Death: If the host becomes incapacitated or is destroyed, you are forcibly evicted back into your own body. If the possession ends and your original body was killed or destroyed, you will die.
Eviction: You are able to engage in combat or take other risky actions without being forced out of the host’s body. If you are forced out of the target's body prematurely, you must make a Trauma roll.
A ghastly silhouette perches atop the treeline, it see's a human alone and unarmed in the middle of a shadowed clearing. The figure readies itself, then pounced. Just as quickly as it leaped the human turned into a blur then a sudden collision met its jawline shattering it, tumbling mid-air hitting hard on the dirt ground the creature fumbles trying to stand. Suddenly, realising the tingling of a warm sensation flowing down it's neck the creature grasp it's throat, moving it's hand to meet it's eyes the creature saw a dark fluid clinging to its hand. Afterwards, darkness.
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).
Flame cloaks one of Tatalov's hands, melting away anything on it, leaving only blackened bone as he strikes a target. Upon contact with the target, the hand tears through them, ripping off chunks of flesh which fall to the ground and rot away to dust. The surrounding flesh seems boil and rot, leaking a black, tar-like substance that seems to eat away at anything remaining. Tatalov's hand will slowly return to normal over the next 5 minutes. Using this gift within this period resets the time.
Spend an Action. Select a target within arm's reach. Roll Dexterity + Melee Difficulty 6. The target may contest by rolling to Dodge or Defend as a Reaction, Difficulty 6.
If the Contested Outcome is positive, the target takes that much Damage plus 4.
You may use this Effect to Defend against any melee, projectile, or firearm Attacks within range or Clash against any Attack targeted at you. Using it to Defend deals no Damage but does not cost Exertion.
If the target suffers an Injury from this Effect, they will receive at least a Minor Battle Scar regardless of its Severity. When this Effect causes a Battle Scar, you may select which one of the appropriate level.
Anyone who witnesses you during this Effect's activation will almost certainly be disturbed to see Anything covering the hand I strike with melts away, leaving only a blackened skeletal hand. Upon contact with the target, the hand tears through them, ripping of chunks of flesh which fall to the ground and rot away to dust the area around the wound seems boil and rot, leaking a black, tar like substance that seems to eat away at any remaining flesh..
This Gift cannot have more than 3 Drawbacks, and its Gift Cost is capped at 2.
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.
Any successful musician knows the value of a good roadie. The musician calls for a roadie, and one will promptly arrive. The roadie doesn't talk much, and they aren't too bright, but they can sure haul gear.
After a couple hours of work, the roadie will retire to smoke and get some sleep.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action.
Summon a single Sapient roadie at your location. They last for two hours or until they are destroyed. They are controlled by the GM but will follow any commands you give. You may have at most one minion active at a time.
You may only use this Effect once per day.
The toon shouts a catchphrase, strikes a pose, and then zips away at a high speed, leaving a cloud of dust behind. While moving, they look like a blur.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action.
Lasts 1 minute. Whenever you use your Movement, after all other calculations, the distance you may travel is doubled.
The hacker can overload any electronic device by fiddling with their smart watch for a moment. The targeted device shudders and gets white-hot before bursting into deadly shrapnel.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Select a object that uses electricity within 20 feet no larger than a duffel bag (35 liters). You must actively and obviously use a smart watch to activate this Effect. Roll Intellect + Technology Difficulty 6.
If your Outcome is 4 or higher, the target will be completely destroyed and can no longer function, though it may still be repaired. If your Outcome is less than 4, the target will be partially damaged, and any attempts to use it will suffer a dice penalty equal to your Outcome.
When a target is destroyed, it sends shards flying. Anyone within 5 feet of the object rolls 4d10 at Difficulty 6 and takes damage equal to the Outcome. Can be reacted to.
As long as the ninja is carrying a weapon, their self-defense is almost subconscious. Subtle twitches and lighting-fast feints and parries using sword and scabbard can buy the ninja precious seconds to enact an escape plan or make the kill.
You gain the following benefits at all times. You must actively and obviously be using a sword to gain the benefits of this Effect.
You have 4 Armor, which reduces incoming Damage. Armor from multiple sources does not stack. This Armor cannot be circumvented with Called Shots.
Whenever your Armor reduces incoming Damage, you are immediately made aware of the source of the Damage. You may pinpoint their location for 30 seconds.
Any time your Armor prevents Damage, your Armor rating is temporarily decreased by 2. Whenever it goes five Rounds without preventing any Damage, it is restored back to its full value.