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:
...
You gain the following benefits at all times.
You are permanently and visibly transformed: ________. You are considered to be a Sapient, Living being when targeted. Your Dexterity is increased by 1.
The energy Iryna’s cells give off become their own power, a nuclear power plant of self contained fusion and fission, along with separating carbon from her oxygen allowing for infinite recycling. All she needs is a small flame to work as a pilot light, to kickstart the process.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
You no longer require any 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. While cocooned you can take a maximum of 1 Damage from any attack, and are impervious to environmental conditions.
Instead of food and water, you must consume a torch sized flame or any radiation daily for sustenance. For every day you fail to consume it, you lose a point of Brawn. If your Brawn falls to 0 in this way, you die. Your Brawn is fully restored to normal as soon as you fulfill your dietary needs.
Sketch holds their hands over a wound and concentrate, a greenish gold aura surrounding them and the injury, and it knits itself back together.
Exert your Mind and spend 1 minute to activate. Select a Living target within arm's reach. You cannot target yourself. Choose a specific Injury on your target that has not yet been treated with this Effect and roll Charisma + Medicine at Difficulty 8.
If you succeed, the Injury is reduced in Severity by your Outcome. If you reduce its Severity to 0, the Injury is fully healed. Otherwise, it is partially healed and will heal the rest of the way at its natural rate.
This counts as a successful Makeshift Stabilization if the Injury was not already Stabilized; any Battle Scars caused by the Injury will remain.
The Human Bullet builds up speed in his fists, making them insanely deadly weapons.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Select a target within arm's reach. This Effect cannot be used unless you succeed on a Difficulty 8 Dexterity + Athletics roll and are running at maximum speed. Roll Dexterity + Athletics 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 12.
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.
Anyone who witnesses you during this Effect's activation will almost certainly be disturbed to see the target likely explodes into viscera.
"...Come close, my brethren! Bask in the rainbow glow of the cosmos! Feel its energy radiate from your very mind, and feel its influence! Its power! That power which only *I* can bestow! Step forward, and be born anew! Stand with me, and bear the weight of the universe!..."
[Brain Hacks]: The boon provided has no physical marring and only weighs heavily on the afflicted's mind, not being actively harmful and merely taking up space. Its presence can always be felt, but is only a threat if the bearer already has too much on their mind.
[Critical Failure]: Serq is clumsily molding the power of the universe into the shape they see fit, fully aware of the consequences it might bring. Their link to The Mother protects them somewhat, but they are still susceptible to the psionic backlash created by pulling the wrong dimensional thread.
~~~
Cosmic Blessing: Specialized
(You are enhanced by the power of the cosmos, receiving +2 dice to [_____].)
Cosmic Blessing: Environmental Adaptation
(You are enhanced by the power of the cosmos, suffering no harm from heat, cold, pressure, or lack of oxygen while in [_____] - provided that challenge normally exists in that environment.)
Cosmic Blessing: Implanted Tool
(You are enhanced by the power of the cosmos, being able to act as if you always have a fully-functional [_____] on-hand.)
Cosmic Blessing: Armor
(You are enhanced by the power of the cosmos, gaining 2 Armor at all times.)
Cosmic Blessing: Pouch
(You are enhanced by the power of the cosmos, being granted a small dimensional portal somewhere inside your body that can hold no more than a briefcase (15 liters). Items stored in this space can still be detected by any means that would find them were they held in a physical pocket.)
Cosmic Blessing: Zippy
(You are enhanced by the power of the cosmos, gaining +10 feet of Free Movement.)
Cosmic Blessing: Maws and Claws
(You are enhanced by the power of the cosmos, dealing +2 Weapon damage with unarmed attacks instead of -1.)
Exert your Mind and spend 30 minutes. Select a Living target within arm's reach. Roll a single D10 as a critical failure check. If you roll a 1, the Effect fails, and you immediately receive 4 points of mind damage that cannot be prevented, reduced, or recovered via any means other than restful sleep. The target can easily Resist.
You may add one augmentation to your target. Each augmentation counts as a Trauma and can have exactly one of the following Effects:
The augmentations you provide are not outwardly visible nor obvious.
While addressing a crowd, the influencer may use coded language to send secret messages to a particular person in the crowd. These messages can't be noticed or understood by anyone but the intended target.
Spend an Action. Select a target any distance away from you. You must have a specific target in mind, but you require only an intuitive understanding of them, such as their name, face, or Location. This Effect cannot be used unless you are speaking to multiple people and the target is listening.
You may send a single message to your target. It can be no more complicated than a multi-page letter or a long email.
The message will only be perceived by the intended recipient. You must share a common language for your target to understand the message.
This Effect is not obvious, and the only sign you are using an Effect is your left hand making a fist. If someone suspects that an Effect was used, they must roll Perception + Alertness, Difficulty 8 to pick up on your Tell.
This Gift cannot have more than 3 Drawbacks, and its Gift Cost is capped at 2.
As long as the Ninja is dressed in an appropriate uniform, their movement is almost silent.
You gain the following benefits as long as as long as you are visibly dressed head to toe in black with hardly any skin showing.
You and everything you are carrying is obscured in one of the following manners. You may Spend an Action to change the way in which you're concealed.
While this Effect is active, any Effect that would obscure you or your equipment specifically from other, additional senses fails automatically.
If someone discovers you, this Effect will not help you hide from them for the next minute. Activating a targeted or obvious Effect, attacking, or being Injured ends the Effect. When the Effect ends, it is disabled for one minute.
You may turn this Effect on and off at will during its duration.
Possession of this Power grants the following Trauma at all times: compulsion to test the awareness of allies by sneaking up on them with a weapon.
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.
The creature's claws rip through the poor, defenseless doctor's coat, opening deep gashes in their gut. It bares its fangs to lunge for the killing blow, but the doctor looks up at the attacker. Their eyes filed not with utter terror at their imminent demise, only a look of disappointment and pity. Touched, the monster hesitates. . .
This Effect activates whenever you receive a Severity 2 or higher Injury from an attack. It does not require an Action or Exertion. Select a Living target within 45 feet. Your target should be intuitively based on the triggering event. Roll Charisma + Influence at Difficulty 6. Affected targets can resist by rolling Mind at Difficulty 6.
If you succeed, for the next minute, your target will do things they otherwise wouldn’t have done, inspired by remorse for hurting such a pure soul. They will not necessarily display their emotions in an obvious way.
Actions they take will be in keeping with their character and the way they tend to deal with strong emotions. They will be unlikely to change their mind about any actions taken or decisions made until after the Effect ends.
The Werewolf’s body, long caught in the crossfire between human and beast, has developed a powerful coping mechanism. It draws upon the conflict, healing severe injuries in a matter of days.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
Any Injury you receive from a source other than silver or fire. heals quickly, reducing its Severity by one level every 6 hours. Any Injuries you receive while this Effect is active do not deteriorate over time. However, any Battle Scars caused by such an Injury will remain unless it is Properly Stabilized as normal.
You may Exert your Mind and spend an Action to reduce the Severity of one of your Injuries by 2. Does not affect Injuries suffered as an activation cost for Effects.
Injuries you receive from silver or fire. are increased in Severity by 1.