Basic Skills
Basic Skill List
Free Skills
- Brawling
- Self-Defense
- Inner Light
Skills costs marked with * can be purchased multiple times.
Skills in bold are Gateway skills.
Discovery and Archaeology
General Skills
- Ponder
Explorer (3)
- Careful Footing (2*)
- Forage (2)
- Navigator (5*)
Herbalist (4)
- Poultice (2*)
- Read Personal Auras (3)
- Theriac (2*)
- Tisane (2*)
Mystic of the Sleeping Eye (4)
- Praxis (5*)
- Repel (1*)
- Shadow Pocket (3*)
- Theoria (5*)
Mystic of the Waking Eye (4)
- Invigorate (3*)
- Restoration (5*)
- Thallopoeia (2)
- Bestow Strength (2*)
Scholar (3)
- Decipher (1*)
- Legend Insight (5*)
- Reveal (3*)
Talismancer (4)
- Iosis (2*)
- Read Crafted Auras (3)
- Recharge Talisman (3*)
- Xanthosis (2*)
Tohunga (4)
- Augury (5*)
- Hexis Echo (3*)
- Quell (4*)
- Read Environmental Auras (3)
Monsters and the Wilderness
General Skills
- Conviction (4*)
- Repel (2*)
- Stun (3*)
Hegemon (4)
- Anchor (2*)
- Dyscrasia (3*)
- Intimidate (4*)
- Scourge (1*)
Hekayt (3)
- Shelter
- Rote (3*)
- Imbue Ollin (5)
Loviti (3)
- Hunt (2)
- Anchor (2*)
- Precision (5*)
Myrmidon (3)
- Brute (2*)
- Cataphract (3)
- Field Repair (2*)
Nawalli (4)
- Counterspell (2*)
- Decay (3*)
- Destroy Armor (3*)
- Venom Bolt (1*)
Ocelotl (3)
- Evasion (3*)
- Knockdown (1*)
- Resist Anchor (1*)
Taiaha (3)
- Fatigue (4*)
- Resist Stun (1*)
- Repel (1*)
Politics and Civics
General Skills
- Craft (3*)
- Trade (2*)
Commander (3)
- Leadership (5*)
- Rally (3*)
- Tactician (5*)
Medjai (3)
- Intercept (2*)
- Vow to Protect (4*)
- Secure
Nebhenta (4)
- Aegis (3*)
- Eucrasia (3*)
- Lithopoeia (3)
- Transmute
Pochtecatl (3)
- Conceal
- Contracts
- Residuals
Skomorokh (3)
- Busking
- Inspire
Sophist (4)
- Adviser (4*)
- Courtier Network (3)
- Cunning (5*)
- Retainer (3)
Vedmak (4)
- Bestow Skill (2*)
- Cure Anchor (2*)
- Sooth (3*)
- Reforge (2*)
Basic Skill Descriptions
Free Skills
All characters have the following skills for free.
Brawling
Everyone can throw some punches. See the Combat chapter for a full description of unarmed combat.
Self-Defense
You can wield any kind of weapon, including bows. You can also use a shield.
Inner Light
You can cast a red light spell, at will.
Discovery and Archaeology
General Skills
Explorer
Cost: 3 - You are a skilled traveler and navigator. You know how to use landmarks and stars to guide your journeys. Resonance: For every 10 points spent on skills in this Gateway, including the cost of the Gateway, your potency increases as a Navigator.
Careful Footing
Cost: 2* - You can expend this skill to resist the Knockdown effect, or a Pitfall.
Forage
Cost: 2 - Add ambrosia to the list of ingredients available to you (see the Trade skill). If you already know a Trade that allows you to collect ambrosia, then when you collect one or more units of ambrosia add an additional unit to your yield.
Navigator
Cost: 5* - You can spend a BGA to explore the wilderness, both on land and sea. This skill can be purchased up to 5 times; each additional purchase of this skill increases your potency while navigating. The results of your exploration will depend on a number of factors beyond your navigation skills, including (but not limited to): your understanding of the terrain and climate of your destination, the resources allocated to your journey, the severity of the terrain, and other situational concerns. When submitting your BGA, you must specify the following:
- Destination: Where are you focusing your exploration? What do you know about the destination?
- Supplies: How much coin and other goods are you spending on this operation? NOTE: These resources must be presented at checkout.
- Plan: Specify an operation type, from the following list:
- Scout: Search for locations and follow tracks.
- Lookout: Observe the general movements of groups around a specific area.
- Guide: Provide safe passage.
- Goal: Specify an explicit mission goal.
Herbalist
Cost: 4 - The techniques and methods of herbalism turn the latent sekhemic energy in plant and animal ingredients into a form that can be stored and consumed at a later time. The Herbalist studies and collects plants and animals to create potions. See the Herbalism appendix for more details about making potions. Resonance: For every 10 points spent on skills in this Gateway, including the cost of the Gateway, you gain one additional use of the Poultice skill.
Poultice
Cost: 2* - Delivery: Wand - Incant: See skill description - This skill allows you use a plant ingredient to heal someone's injuries. To perform this skill,
Read Personal Auras
Cost: 3 - Your knowledge of plants and animals allows you to investigate and interpret a person's aura. This skill has two uses:
- You can read tags that are labeled as Personal Auras.
- You can use this skill on a person (Delivery: Wand) by stating the incant: “By the star of Harmony, I read your aura” - After stating the incant, you may ask any of the following Yes-Or-No questions: Are you Demoralized? Are you Dead? Are you under the effects of a Compel? Do you have any bestows?
Theriac
Cost: 2* - A theriac is a potion made from an animal ingredient. Each purchase of this skill will give your character the knowledge to create theriacs from a specific animal ingredient of your choice. This skill may be purchased up to seven times (once for each type of animal ingredient).
Tisane
Cost: 2* - A tisane is a potion made from a plant ingredient. Each purchase of this skill will give your character the knowledge to create tisanes from a specific plant ingredient of your choice. This skill may be purchased up to seven times (once for each type of plant ingredient).
Mystic of the Sleeping Eye
Cost: 4 - A Mystic of the Sleeping Eye studies the mana resonating with concepts like discovery and reflection. Resonance: For every 10 points spent on skills in this Gateway, including the cost of the Gateway, your potency increases when using Theoria.
Theoria
Cost: 5* - You can spend a BGA to use a magic called Theoria which allows you to seek out knowledge with your psyche. This magic allows you to query the psyche that connects all people to the cosmos. The connections between minds is subtle; using Theoria is similar to the Ponder skill but makes use of other sources of knowledge to augment your own. This skill can be purchased up to 5 times; each additional purchase of this skill increases your potency while using Theoria.
Shadow Pocket
Cost: 3* - “By the Sleeping Eye, I bestow you/myself a conceal pouch” -
Praxis
Cost: 5* - Incant: “By the Sleeping Eye, I bestow myself one use of (skill name)” - This spell allows you to bestow yourself one use of a Basic Skill that someone has used and explicitly demonstrated for you in the last minute. The demonstrated skill still has its normal effect.
Repel
Cost: 1* - Delivery: Packet - Incant: “By the Sleeping Eye, Repel”
Mystic of the Waking Eye
Cost: 4 - A Mystic of the Waking Eye studies the world’s source of energy and the positive influences it brings. Resonance: For every 10 points spent on skills in this Gateway, including the cost of the Gateway, you gain one additional use of the Invigorate skill.
Invigorate
Cost: 3* - Delivery: Wand - Incant: “By the Waking Eye, I bestow you/myself one use of Conviction” - This spell allows you imbue someone’s aura with a reserve of sekhem which will heal them when their own body’s sekhem becomes injured.
Restoration
Cost: 5* - Delivery: Wand - Incant: “By the Waking Eye, I restore to you/myself one basic skill or spell.” - This spell allows you to pull mana into a person, renewing their abilities.
Bestow Strength
Cost: 3* - Delivery: Wand - Incant: “By the Waking Eye, I bestow you increased strength until twilight.”
Thallopoeia
Cost: 2 - Add manuka flower to the list of ingredients available to you (see the Trade skill). If you already know a Trade that allows you to collect manuka flower, then when you collect one or more units of manuka flower add an additional unit to your yield.
Scholar
You have formal education in record keeping and research.
Decipher
Cost:
Legend Insight
Cost:
Reveal
Cost:
Talismancer
Cost: 4 -
Iosis
Cost: 2* - Each purchase of this skill will give your character the knowledge to create talismans from a specific metal ingredient of your choice. This skill may be purchased up to seven times (once for each metal ingredient).
Read Crafted Aura
Cost: 3 - This skill allows you to read and interact with tags labeled with Crafted Aura.
Recharge Talisman
Cost: 3* -
Tohunga
Cost: 4 - A Tohunga studies the star of Harmony and the magics of connections, communication, and senses. Resonance: For every 10 points spent on skills in this Gateway, including the cost of the Gateway, your potency increases when performing an Augury.
Augury
Cost: 5* - You can spend a BGA to perform an Augury, which allows you to forecast future events. Your ability to perceive hexis on a grand scale allows you to make predictions about possible future events. An Augury is not prophecy and information becomes more unreliable the further you gaze into the future. Auguries are useful in investigating What-If scenarios to inform your decision making at important junctures. This skill can be purchased up to 5 times; each additional purchase of this skill increases your potency while performing an Augury.
Hexis Echo
Cost: 3* - Delivery: Varies - Incant: Varies - With this spell, the Mystic opens themselves to the imperceptible movement and tension (known as hexis) in the mana that surrounds them. The effect of this spell will change at each event. Mystic claim that the constellation currently at it's zenith is often the best predictor of how a Hexis Echo spell will behave. However, Sorcery and other powerful magics can have unpredictable influences over this spell. Check your character sheet at the start of an event to discover what this spell will do for the event.
Quell
Cost: 4* - Delivery: Packet - Incant: “By the star of Harmony, I compel you not to attack anyone that does not attack you” - This spell calms tensions and allows for diplomacy to be attempted.
Read Environmental Auras
Cost: 3 - This skill allows you to read and interact with tags labeled with Environmental Aura.
Monsters and the Wilderness
General Skills
Conviction
Cost: 3* - For each purchase of this skill, after 1 minute in the Demoralized condition, you are returned to the Healthy condition with all your limbs restored.
Stunning Blow
Cost: 2* - Delivery: Weapon (any) - Incant: "Knockdown!" -
Hegemon
Cost: 4 - A Hegemon studies the star of Dominance and wields spells of control and punishment. Resonance: For every 10 points spent on skills in this Gateway, including the cost of the Gateway, you gain one additional use of the Dyscrasia skill.
Anchor
Cost: 2* - Delivery: Packet - Incant: “By the star of Dominance, I anchor you” - This spell causes the target's feet to be anchored to the ground for one minute.
Dyscrasia
Cost: 3* - Delivery: Packet - Incant: “By the star of Dominance, I weaken you” - The target of this spell suffers the weaken effect; they are unable to run, and they may not deliver skills with their weapons.
Intimidation
Cost: 4* - Delivery: Packet - Incant: “By the star of Dominance, I compel you not to interfere with any of my actions” - This spell allows the Hegemon to exert their psyche on another person and instill fear in their mind. The target of this spell is still allowed to defend themselves should you choose to attack them.
Scourge
Cost: 1* - Delivery: Packet - Incant: “By the star of Dominance, Knockdown” - The target of this spell suffers the knockdown effect and they fall to the ground.
Hekayt
A Hekayt delves into the more complex arts of magic.
Loviti
Cost: 3 - You are trained in archery. Resonance:
Pin
Cost: 2* - Delivery: Weapon (Archery) - Incant: "Anchor!" -
Hunt
Cost: 2 - Add leather to the list of ingredients available to you (see the Trade skill). If you already know a Trade that allows you to collect leather, then when you collect one or more units of leather add an additional unit to your yield.
Precision
Cost: 5* - Delivery: Weapon (Archery) - Incant: "Demoralize!" -
Myrmidon
Cost: 3 - The Myrmidon style originates in Sybellos, where it is the standard style used by Sybellean soldiers. A Myrmidon is defined by their use of heavy armor. Resonance: For every 10 points spent on skills in this Gateway, including the cost of the Gateway, you gain one additional use of the Field Repair skill.
Brute
Cost: 2* - Your lifting strength is increased by one for each purchase of this skill. You may purchase this skill up to four times.
Cataphract
Cost: 3 - While you are wearing Heavy Armor (Full or Half suit), it’s armor rating is increased by one.
Field Repair
Cost: 2* - Incant: “By my skill, I repair my armor” - Each purchase of this skill allows you to restore your armor to its full rating.
Nawalli
Cost: 4 - A Nawalli studies the star of Sundering and the chaotic and destructive forces of nature. Resonance: For every 10 points spent on skills in this Gateway, including the cost of the Gateway, you gain one additional use of the Decay skill.
Counterspell
Cost: 2* - Delivery: Packet - Incant: “Counterspell” - This spell allows you to disrupt another Mystic’s psyche as they attempt to incant a spell.
Decay
Cost: 3* - Delivery: Wand - Incant: “By the star of Sundering, Coup De Grace” - With this spell you fatally disrupt someone’s weakened sekhem.
Destroy Armor
Cost: 3* - Delivery: Packet - Incant: “By the star of Sundering, I Destroy your armor.”
Venom Bolt
Cost: 1* - Delivery: Packet - Incant: “Venom Bolt” - This spell allows you to project a bolt of caustic energy that corrupts flesh and rusts armor.
Ocelotl
Cost: 3 - You prefer mobility to the encumbrance of armor. You are a skirmisher and flanker. You can only use these skills if you are not wearing Physical Armor. Resonance: Evasion
Evasion
Cost: 2* - Incant: "By my skill, I grant myself 2 points of armor" -
Skirmisher Knockdown
Cost: 1* - Delivery: Weapon - Incant: "Knockdown!" -
Resist Anchor
Cost: 2* - For each purchase of this skill, you can resist the Anchor effect.
Taiaha
Cost: 3 - Spear fighting from Kaitera
Resonance:
Resist Maim
Repel
Fatigue
Politics and Civics
General Skills
Craft
Cost: 3* - There are several craft skills, and each may be purchased multiple times. Purchasing a craft allows you to create simple goods from the ingredients associated with that craft. Additionally, each purchase of a craft allows you to work more efficiently and reduce the material cost to create an item. You are also able to spend a Minor BGA working your craft(s) between games to earn an income. The craft skills are: Culinary, Garment, Kiln, Metal, Scribe, Stone, and Wood. See the Craft appendix for more details on how these skills work.
Trade
Cost: 2* - You can spend a Minor BGA to receive 3 ingredients at the next event you attend. This can be any combination of the ingredients made available by the Trade skills you have learned. If you have learned more than one Trade, this does not increase the amount of ingredients you receive at check-in, but does increase the variety of ingredients you may select from.
Commander
Cost: 4 - You are a leader and organizer of soldiers. You may have trained formally with an army or navy, or learned tactics as part of a mercenary company. Resonance: For every 10 points spent on skills in this Gateway, including the cost of the Gateway, your potency increases while using Tactician.
Leadership
Cost: 5* - For each purchase of this skill, once per event when you lead a military planning session you can bolster the participant’s confidence. If the planning session lasts at least 10 minutes, then you can bolster up to four people that were present for the entire meeting; use this incant “By the star of Dominance, I bestow you one use of Stun by weapon.” You may expend additional uses of this skill to bolster additional people that were present during the entire meeting.
Rally
Cost: 3* - For each purchase of this skill, once per event you can heal someone you are leading in battle. There are two ways to use this skill. First, you can deliver the skill by touching your ally and stating the incant “By the star of Mercy, I Bolster your Morale.” Alternatively, if you know your ally’s name, and they are within 20 feet, you may deliver this skill by voice using the incant “Ally’s Name, by my Voice, I Bolster your Morale.” This skill cannot be used outside of battle, and cannot be used on someone that is not in a formation or unit that you lead.
Tactician
Cost: 5* - You can spend a Major BGA to lead a military operation. This skill can be purchased up to 5 times; each additional purchase of this skill increases your potency while leading military operations. The results of your mission will depend on a number of factors beyond your leadership skills, including (but not limited to): the quantity and quality of soldiers you have recruited, resources allotted, the strength of any opposing forces, and other situational concerns. When submitting your BGA, you must specify the following:
- Recruitment: Where are your troops coming from? You can recruit mercenaries, or other PCs to help you (PCs who wish to help with your operation must also devote their Major BGA). If you are working in service to a Laird, they may assign units to the operation.
- Supplies: How much coin and other goods are you spending on this operation? Soldiers need to eat, and mercenaries need to be paid. Are there any notable magical items or potions you are bringing? NOTE: These resources must be presented to staff at the end of the event.
- Plan: Specify an operation type, from the following list:
- Blockade: Preventing the movement of supplies, troops, etc, or defensive operations.
- Raid: Destroying structures, burning fields, etc.
- Strike: A single attack upon a specified target, seizing a position, etc.
- Other: Attempting a type of mission outside of the three standard categories greatly increases the chances of mission failure, but the risk is yours to take.
- Goal: Specify an explicit mission goal.
Medjai
Cost: 3 - Medjai are trained in protecting the weak against the strong. This involves both acting as a personal bodyguard, as well as guarding the community from thieves. Resonance:
Intercept
Cost: 2* - Delivery: Special - Incant: "Intercept!" - Expend this skill immediately after someone adjacent to you has been affected by a weapon delivered effect. The effect is removed from the original target and transferred to you. You cannot resist the effect that you intercept. You cannot intercept effects with the Piercing modifier.
Vow to Protect
Cost: 4* - Delivery: Special - Incant: "
Secure
Cost: 3* - Delivery: Wand - Incant: “By the star of Dominance, I secure this container.”
Nebhenta
Cost: 4 - A Nebhenta studies the star of Form and learns spells related to stability, purity, and patterns. Resonance: For every 10 points spent on skills in this Gateway, including the cost of the Gateway, you gain one additional use of the Aegis skill.
Aegis
Cost: 3* - Delivery: Wand - Incant: “By the star of Form, I grant you/myself 3 points of armor” - This spell provides magical protection from weapons. Note: Armor does not stack with other sources of armor.
Lithopoeia
Cost: 3 - Add stone and lead to the list of ingredients available to you (see the Trade skill). If you already know a Trade that allows you to collect one of those ingredients, then when you collect one or more units of stone or lead add an additional unit to your yield.
Reforge
Cost: 2* - Delivery: Wand - Incant: “By the star of Form, I repair your armor” -
Talisman
Cost: 2* - Each purchase of this skill will give your character the knowledge to create talismans from a specific mineral or metal ingredient of your choice.
Pochteca
Cost: 3 - You are part of the economic network in Nisia. Your formal connections allow you to import goods at reduced rates. Resonance: Volume of goods to be imported increases for every 10 cp spent.
Skomorokh
Cost: 3 -
Sophist
Cost: 4 - You are are skilled in politics and diplomacy. You might be a civil servant (i.e. a steward), a socialite, a political adviser, or an ambassador. Resonance: For every 10 points spent on skills in this Gateway, including the cost of the Gateway, your potency increases while using Cunning.
Adviser
Cost: 4* - For each purchase of this skill, once per event when you advise or consult with someone on a political or diplomatic issue, you can bolster their confidence. If the advisory meeting lasts at least 10 minutes, then you can bolster the person you are advising; use this incant “By the Waking Eye, I restore to you one basic skill.”
Courtier Network
Cost: 3 - Your experience in political circles has provided you with a network of contacts. You may use a BGA to seek information about current events and politics. This lore skill uses your Cunning potency to determine results.
Cunning
Cost: 5* - You can spend a Major BGA to run a political operation to influence a particular group or organization. This skill can be purchased up to 5 times; each additional purchase of this skill increases your potency while conducting political operations. The results of your mission will depend on a number of factors beyond your own potency, including (but not limited to): your understanding of the relevant political and cultural context, how much leverage you have to push your agenda, and how radical of a change you are attempting to make. When submitting your BGA, you must specify the following:
- Access: Do you have any kind of official or social connection to the group or organization you are targeting? How well do you understand the culture, values, and other context of your target?
- Visibility: Are you openly representing your agenda, or are you acting covertly? Both positions offer distinct advantages and disadvantages.
- Supplies: How much coin and other goods are you spending on this operation? NOTE: These resources must be presented to staff at the end of the event.
- Plan: Specify an operation type, from the following list:
- Support: Promote or assist a particular diplomatic or political action or position.
- Oppose: Prevent or delay a particular diplomatic or political action or position.
- Undermine: Obstruct or confound a group’s general activities.
- Goal: Specify an explicit mission goal.
Retainer
Cost: 3 - You can spend a Minor BGA to earn coin working as a steward, adviser, or similar. This is comparable to using a Craft skill to earn coin with a Minor BGA.
Vedmak
Cost: 4 - A Vedmak studies the star of Mercy and learns spells of restoration and healing.
Resonance: Sooth
Bestow Skill
Cost 2* - Delivery: Wand - Incant: “By the star of Mercy, I bestow you one use of skill name” - In addition to expending this skill, you must also expend one use of the skill you are bestowing. Only Basic Skills may be bestowed with this skill.
Sooth
Cost: 3* - Delivery: Wand - Incant: “By the star of Mercy, I Bolster your Morale” -
Cure Anchor
Cost: 2* - Delivery: Wand - Incant: “By the star of Mercy, I cure your/my anchoring” -
Eucrasia
Cost: 3* - Delivery: Wand - Incant: “By the star of Form, I cure your/my weakness” - This spell restores balance to a person's energies and removes weakness.