Runner Discipline

The Runner Discipline, sometimes called the Dexterity Discipline, involves itself with dodging attacks and fleeing danger.

Invest in this Discipline if:

• You want the ability to exit danger without pursuit

• You want to focus on the Dodge defense and improving it.

• You want to play an elusive fugitive, a shadowy scout, or an agile swashbuckler
  
  

DISCIPLINE OVERVIEW

BASIC SKILLS

Artful Dodger: Expend 1 Focus to negate attacks upon your person

Flee the Scene: After studying your situation, exit an area without being pursued.

Fleet of Foot: Use “Flee the Scene” without expending Focus

COMPLEX SKILLS

Armored Dodge: Gain the ability to Dodge while wearing Armor.

Athletics: Perform certain feats of athleticism.

Escape Artist: Use Flee the Scene and elude pursuers. 

Lead the Exodus: Bring others with you when you escape an area.

ERUDITE SKILLS

Dodger Aspect (ATN): Assume an aspect of swiftness to allow you to Dodge easily

Doubled Defenses: Augment your defenses to use them quickly in succession.

Like the Wind: Elude all but the most Skilled attempts to follow you when you Escape.

Supreme Exodus (1/P): Suddenly hide or escape.

Uncanny Defense: Augment your Dodge so that you can even Dodge attacks from behind.

BASIC SKILLS

ARTFUL DODGER

(Basic Runner; Active-Focus, Defense, +Resolve)

You gain the use of the Dodge defense as per below, also gaining Resolve after doing so.

Dodge: Invoke “Dodge!” and expend 1 Focus to negate all melee and ranged attacks that hit you within the last second. The following conditions must be fulfilled

• No Armor: You are not wearing any Armor (see Armored Dodge skill below)

• Mobility: Your character’s legs are not impaired in-game such as through Mangle, Snare, Grapple or similar effects.

• No Ambush attacks: None of the attacks come from behind you and hit your back torso (aka Ambush attacks)

• No Master attacks: None of the attacks are Master-type attacks

Artful Alacrity: As a response to using the Dodge defense to negate an attack, invoke and gain “Resolve 1” as an Aftereffect. This represents your artful poise while dodging. If you have Ironsoul Bravado or the Willful Tenacity ATN active, you gain “Resolve 2” instead.

Take note, you may only use one Aftereffect at a time in response to a specific action or event. Your Aftereffects may never trigger other Aftereffects from you. Additionally note that gaining Resolve overlaps with and does not add to your current Resolve.

FLEE THE SCENE

(Basic Runner; Active-Conc/Focus, Escape)

You may attempt to leave an area so quickly that only someone extremely skilled may attempt pursuit. Needless to say, this is useful for those who wish to survive a losing fight or leave an ambush.

You must fulfill the following requirements beforehand. You must be:

• Unencumbered: No Heavy/Ultraheavy Armor

• Mobile: You must not be immobilized by any effect (e.g. being tied up/hobbled)

Not Trapped: You must be in a place where you can run away. Locked rooms, prisons, pocket dimensions, etc will prevent the use of this skill.

To activate this skill, follow the instructions below.

• Step 1: Perform qConc-10 while studying the area and looking for a way out.

• Step 2: Expend 1 Focus. If you do not have any Focus, you cannot use this skill.

• Step 3: Invoke "Flee the Scene"

• Step 4: Begin an audible “Escape count” that goes up to 60, while slow or fast walking.

-- Put your hand or weapon atop your head to show that you are "out of game".

-- No one may interact with or pursue you without the proper Skills.

• Step 5: Ensure that these last 10 counts of the Escape effect are extra audible to indicate your return to the game environment

• Step 6: At “Escape 60”, lower your hand/weapon from your head, going back “in-game”. Take note that you may not return to the place where you fled from for 10 minutes.

Pursuit effects: Other creatures may use “Pursuit” effects to follow you. They will exit the game and enter the game at the same time you do so. Similarly, other characters may join your escape by using their Skill simultaneously to your own use.

FLEET OF FOOT

(Basic Runner; Active-Fleeing/Focus, Escape-Aug)

This skill grants you a greater expertise in escaping and eluding the danger of battle, allowing you to do so even when you are tired and unfocused.

If you have Flee the Scene, you can augment and invoke the skill as “Expert Flee the Scene”. This has the following adjustments:

• Waive the Skill’s Focus cost

• It requires qConc-15 instead of qConc-10

• You take a “Self-inflict 2 damage” effect, which cannot be negated by the user or redirected to someone else, although it can be cured or healed.

• Since this use of Flee the Scene is Augmented, it cannot be Augmented further.

COMPLEX SKILLS

ARMORED DODGE 

(Complex Runner; Defense-Aug)

Requires: Any two Basic Scrapper or Runner skills

• Armored Dodge (requires Dodge; Skill Aug, -Focus): You may augment and invoke the Dodge Defense as “Armored Dodge”. This has the following benefit: this use of Dodge can be done while wearing Body Armor or Heavy Armor, but not Ultraheavy Armor.

• Uncanny Aegis (Skill Aug, -Aegis): If you are wearing Heavy or Ultraheavy Armor, you are able to augment the Aegis defense and invoke it as “Uncanny Aegis”. This augmented defense can be used against Ambush-type attacks to negate them.

  • Ambush attacks are those ranged/melee attacks that come from behind and hit your back torso.

ATHLETICS

(Complex Fighter/Runner; Active-Self-Inflict/Focus, Aug)

Requires: Any two basic Runner or Fighter skills

You can exhaust yourself to perform feats of physical quickness and skill.

• Step 1: Invoke “Athletics”

• Step 2: Receive a “self-inflict 2”, mentally deducting 2 points from your HP.

  • Self-inflicts cannot be negated or redirected.

• Step 3: If you still have 1+ HP, you can choose one of the effects below

Climb: Halve (round up) the required Climb count of an obstacle (Normally Climb-10). This requires one or two free hands

Dash: If you use Flee the Scene, augment and invoke it as “Athletic Flee the Scene”. This reduces the required Concentration count to a Conc-3.

Duck: If you use the Dodge defense, you can augment it and invoke it as “Athletic Dodge”. When you do this, you may respond “Negate” to 3 different Ranged attacks within the next 3 seconds.

Slip Free: Escape a Basic Rope or Chain while it is binding you

Swim: In a hazardous water or quicksand scenario, invoke “Athletics, 5 seconds” to keep afloat and move normally for 5 seconds before you sink and drown (unless you can breathe water). This requires one or two free hands. Normally, characters can swim and float in calm waters.

Other: Game Staff may designate a scenario specific use for “Athletics”

Use Focus (1 Focus): You can augment this Skill, invoking it “Focused Athletics”. This allows you to spend 1 Focus instead of receiving “Self-inflict 2”

ESCAPE ARTIST

(Complex Runner; Active-Conc/Focus, Escape, Resolve, Cure Strike)

Requires: Any two Basic Runner skills including Flee the Scene

You cannot be easily captured or made helpless, a true artist of escaping.

When you use the Flee the Scene skill,, you augment and invoke the skill as “Artful Flee the Scene, Cure Strike (or Slip Free)”. This has the following effects:

• It clears Strike effects from you, if they would prevent you from Escaping.

• You can use the Skill while being bound by a Basic/Advanced Rope or Chain.

• Since this use of Flee the Scene is Augmented, it cannot be Augmented further.

• When you re-enter the game environment after using an Escape effect, gain “Resolve 3” as an Aftereffect.

Slip Free (Self-inflict 2): You can also invoke “Escape Artist” to Slip Free of a Basic Rope or Chain that is binding you. If you also have Athletics, Escape Artist allows you to slip free of Advanced Rope or Chain as well as Grapple effects.

LEAD THE EXODUS

(Complex Runner; Active-Conc/Focus, Escape, Resolve, Cure Strike)

Requires: Any two Basic Runner skills

When you escape a dangerous situation, you can take allies with you.

When you use the Flee the Scene skill, you may choose to gain the following benefit:

• You may bring along one ally with you.

• They must be within an arm’s reach and a step of you.

• If any of them are disrupted (i.e. made ineligible by an effect or Downed), you must either leave them behind or restart your own count.

The mechanics for escaping remain the same as above although your allies can wear Heavy or Ultraheavy Armor.

Bonded Allies: You may bring up to two allies with you if they are Bonded to you via Blood, Oath, or Allegiance.

This is not a Skill Augment, therefore Flee the Scene can still be Augmented by other effects such as Athletic, Artful, or Expert.

ERUDITE SKILLS

DODGER ASPECT 

(Erudite Runner; Active-Task/ATN,, Defense-Aug, Aspect, Aftereffect)

Requires: Any two Basic Runner skills and any two Complex Runner skills

This skill allows you to mantle your body and mind with swift athleticism and preternatural awareness, to the exclusion of other aspects of your personality. When you learn this Skill, you choose one of the Dodger Aspects below and you are stuck with that choice unless you unlearn this Skill and learn it again.

DOUBLED DEFENSES

(Erudite Defender/Runner; Defense-Aftereffect)

Requires: Any two basic Defender skills and any two Complex Defender skills

Your skill allows you to buttress your defensive techniques with even more defense.

Any Style (Aftereffect)

• Step 1: Use “Dodge”, “Parry” or “Guard”

• Step 2: Within the next 3 seconds, invoke “Expert Guard” to defend a nearby ally.

-- “Expert Guard” is augmented and is an Aftereffect to the initial defense and does not cost additional Focus to use.

Beastclaw Style (Aftereffect)

• Step 1: Use “Parry” while wielding two Small/Medium weapons,

• Step 2: Within the next 3 seconds, invoke “Off-hand Parry” to negate a melee attack

-- “Off-hand Parry” is augmented and is an Aftereffect to the initial defense.

Phalanx Style (Aftereffect)

• Step 1: Use “Block”

• Step 2: Within the next 3 seconds, invoke “Off-hand Block” to negate an attack

-- “Off-hand Block” is augmented and is an Aftereffect to the initial defense and does not cost additional Focus to use.

LIKE THE WIND

(Erudite Runner; Active-Fleeing/Focus, Escape, Pursuit-Defense)

Requires: Any two Basic Runner Skills and any two Complex Runner skills

You are swift as the wind and more slippery than a shadow. When you flee, you twist through labyrinthine paths, turning corners, and leaving branches untouched.

When you use the Flee the Scene skill and expend 1 Focus, you may invoke its effect as “Superior Escape” to prevent those with Pursue skills from following. Only a “Master Pursuit” skill may allow someone to chase you.

Supreme Exodus -- You can use Like the Wind and Supreme Exodus together, to quickly grant yourself a “Superior Escape” effect

SUPREME EXODUS

(Erudite Runner/Shadower; Active-Periodic/Concentration, Conceal/Escape)

Requires: Any two complex Shadower or Runner skills and any two basic Shadower or Runner skills

Your mastery of evasion and subterfuge has led you to this Skill, which allows you to immediately vanish from the sight of everyone there, although whether you are still present or have left the area is up to question.

Once per Period, invoke “Supreme Exodus”. This has one of two effects, chosen by you at the time of the Skill’s use.

• Instant Concealment: You instantly enter Concealment. You must still fulfill all the normal requirements except the Concentration count and the Focus cost.

• Instant Exodus: Grant yourself a Basic Escape effect. You must still fulfill all the normal requirements except for the Concentration count and the Focus cost.

Fade into Shadows skill: If you have this skill, you may imbue yourself with a Superior Conceal effect when using Supreme Exodus. When affected by an Unveiling, you may respond with “Superior Conceal” to continue hiding and take up to three steps away from your position. Only the incredibly rare “Master Unveiling” may reveal your location.

Like the Wind skill: If you have this skill, you may imbue yourself with a Superior Escape effect when using Supreme Exodus. When someone attempts to use a Pursue effect upon you, pause your count and clarify the effects of a Superior Escape if necessary. Only the incredibly rare “Master Pursue” may see through your evasions.

UNCANNY DEFENSE

(Erudite Defender/Runner; Defense-Aug)

Requires: Any two Basic Defender/Runner Skills and any two Complex Defender/Runner skills

Your skills are honed well enough to protect you even from sneak attacks.

• Step 1: You receive 1 or more attacks, including an Ambush-type attack

• Step 2: You are about to use “Block”, “Dodge”, or “Parry” as a Reaction to them.

• Step 3: Invoke the defense but prefix it with “Uncanny” (e.g. Uncanny Dodge)

• Step 4: This works as normal, but you can also negate Ambush attacks.

In addition, if you are suffering from a Blind effect of any duration,, you are able to use these augmented defenses. Normally, you would not be able to use most defenses while Blinded.