Initiative Checks
TN 1 Meditation check
Common Forms of Duels
- Iaijutsu Duel (to first strike or first blood)
- Iaijutsu Duel (to the death)
- Sparring Bout (to incapacitation)
- Warrior’s Duel (to defeat)
- Taryu-Jiai (to incapacitation)
Staredown
- Special step at the start of Phase 2: Take Turns
- Receive strife equal to the number of the round
- Bid additional strife (between 0 and their focus attribute) and adds to initiative
Finishing Blow
- First time their opponent becomes Compromised or unmasks during a duel
- Interrupts and can be interrupted by another finishing blow
- Attack action
- If successful, no damage, but critical strike with severity equal to two times the deadliness of the weapon or Attack action used, plus the attacker’s bonus successes
- Any other effects of the Attack action are resolved as usual
- Lower honour for tie break
Duel Actions
Calming Breath
Description
During a conflict, you may inhale deeply before exhaling, drawing upon your inner strength.
Activation
As a Support action, you may take a deep breath to calm yourself and recover stamina.
Effects
If your strife is greater than half your composure, you remove 1 strife. If your fatigue is greater than half your endurance, you remove 1 fatigue.
Centre
Description
You let the world around you slow as the Void overtakes your senses. Everything but the moment fades as you instinctively seek victory. Your mind weaves through infinite treacherous possibilities and the razor steel of your foe to the outcome you desire.
Activation
As a Support action in Void stance, you may focus your energy inward, envisioning your action in your mind and seeking the perfect moment to take it. You must name a skill when you use Centre.
Effects
Roll a number of Skill dice up to your ranks in the skill you chose and reserve any number of those dice. If you do, the next time you make a check using the chosen skill (or use the Centre action) this scene, after rolling dice, you may replace any number of rolled dice with the reserved dice (set to the results they were showing when reserved). You cannot reserve a number of dice greater than your ranks in the skill this way.
Predict
Description
You shift subtly to draw a reaction out of your foe by repositioning or signaling a strike you never intend to throw. By predicting your foe’s reaction, you aim to win the battle in the mind, leaving the foe open to a decisive strike or forcing them to attack early.
Activation
As an Attack and Scheme action, you may secretly select Air, Earth, Fire, or Water and record it.
Effects
The next time your opponent chooses their stance, you may reveal your selection; if it matches the stance they chose, your opponent receives 4 strife and must choose a different stance. This effect persists until the end of your next turn.
Prepare Item
Description
You prepare, ready, or stow one weapon or other item.
Activation
As a Support actoin, you may use this action.
Effects
Prepare one item for use, ready a weapon in a grip of your choice, or stow an item.
Strike
Description
You make an attack against a single foe.
Activation
As an Attack action using one readied weapon, you may make a TN 2 Martial Arts check using the appropriate skill for the weapon, targeting one character within the weapon’s range.
Effects
If you succeed, you deal physical damage to the target equal to the weapon’s base damage plus your bonus successes.
New Opportunities
(O)(O): If you succeed, inflict a critical strike on your target with severity equal to your weapon’s deadliness.
Unique Action
Description
You make a check using a skill for a mechanical or narrative effect.
Activation
As an action, you make a skill check to attempt a task you have described to the GM.
Effects
If you succeed, you may use the skill for its narrative effects, for implementing any sample use that can be completed in a single action, or for pursuing another task that the GM deems appropriate.
Duel Scoring
| Feat | Score |
|---|---|
| Achieved your objective | 6 |
| Struck the enemy first | 3 |
| Inflicted fatigue on the enemy | 1 per fatigue |
| Inflicted one or more critical strikes on the enemy | Severity of the highest critical strike (after reductions) |
| Killed the enemy (in a duel to the death only) | 14 |
| Unmasked | -2 |
| Was witnessed cheating | Automatic loss |
Duel Result
| Score | Outcome | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No Winner | |
| 1 | Narrow Victory | |
| 2 | Clear Victory | |
| 3-6 | Absolute Victory | If the winner receives a glory award, increase it by 3 |
| 7+ | No Contest | If the winner receives a glory award, increase it by 5 |