Battlecraft

By Daniel Mitchell (tempest@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au)

Description

Battlecraft is an Art found exclusively among members of House Scathach. It was created by Scathach herself after the battle in which Gwydion made her barren. Designed to complement the formidable skills of the members of House Scathach, it entrenches their status as dangerous killers and warriors.

Members of House Dougal, House Eiluned and House Gwydion may neither learn nor benefit from this Art.

Attribute: Dexterity

* Call To Arms

This basic cantrip allows a member of House Scathach to call her allies to their side. It can be used to marshall people before, during or after a battle, or as a homing beacon if captured or lost. Those summoned by this cantrip automatically know where to find the caster.

System: Actor and Fae are the usual realms, however Nature must be used if the ally is in animal form. Allies are usually defined as the characters' circlemates. The number of successes determines who gets there, subject to storyteller discretion -- it may not always be the closest ones that get Called To Arms!

Successes	Oathmates called
1	1
2	2
3	4
4	Entire oathcircle
5	Entire oathcircle, plus at least 1 NPC at the Storytellers' discretion.

Type: Chimerical

** All For One

This unusual cantrip forges a telepathic link between the caster and other people. Such a link can be used for instantaneous communication of orders during battle or to maintain contact during a covert operation.

System: Actor and Fae are the usual realms. The recipients of this cantrip do not have to be visible to the caster, only known. If this is cast on people who have been summoned by Call To Arms, it receives one extra success.

Successes	Persons linked to
1	1
2	5
3	10
4	20
5	Unlimited

Type: Chimerical

*** Shadowstrike

This cantrip is used mainly to set up assassination attempts. The caster becomes an oozing shadow, able to slip through cracks, slither up walls and is very difficult to see through. From this form, the changeling can attack his intended target swiftly and suddenly, using the element of surprise.

System: Actor and Fae are the usual realms. Each success in the casting roll subtracts one success from any attempt to see through the shadow to the changeling. When the changeling want to attack someone, the Shadow immediately dissipates, but the changeling has -2 difficulty to hit and adds the number of hit successes to damage. Additionally, opponents receive a -2 initiative penalty next turn. Botching this cantrip usually involves a penalty to all Stealth rolls equal to the number of 1's gained that lasts for a scene.

Type: Wyrd

**** Spirit Of Combat

This dangerous cantrip allows for a significant advantage in combat. The changeling is capable of striking with amazing speed, accuracy and power. Most fights against a Scathach armed with this cantrip end very quickly.

System: The realm is based on the recipient of the cantrip. This may only be cast before combat and lasts either one scene or the first turn of combat. In the first turn, the changeling receives a number of successes equal to the number of successes gained in the casting. These successes may be divided between initiative, to hit and damage roll results for the first turn of combat only. This cantrip may not be recast until the combat is over, and any unused successes are gone in the second turn (assuming there is one).

Casting this before a combat generally makes the changeling edgy and tense (+1 to all difficulties) and the changeling must make a Willpower (8) roll to not attack if surprised. Botching this casting has the same effect as botching the Dragon's Ire.

***** Scathach's Wrath

Scathach created this final cantrip after being cursed by the Tuatha de Danaan as an act of vengeance. To learn this final cantrip can only come as a reward from a quest nominated by Scathach herself. In rare instances it has been conferred without the quest, the most famous example being Cu Chulainn, who actually received this upon birth!

System: Because this may only be cast upon the person who knows it, Fae is the only possible realm available. This cantrip has three effects:

1. It alters the caster's fae mien into a horrifying visage (get the player to describe it) that causes intense fear in all who see it (except for members of House Fiona). This fear causes a penalty equal to the number of successes.



2. It automatically invokes the Dragon's Ire, with a number of Ire dice equal to double the number of casting successes.



3. Against members of Houses Dougal, Eiluned and Gwydion, the csaster will automatically win initiative, get another +1 bonus to Brawl and Melee rolls and inflicts an extra point of damage for every 2 successes.

The only bunk suitable for this cantrip is a direct invocation to Scathach herself, which takes at least 5 combat turns. Botching this cantrip is particularly dire. In addition to the traditional problem associated with botching a Dragon's Ire roll, the caster sustains unsoakable aggravated wounds equal to the number of 1's gained, loses all temporary Glamour and Willpower points and may not use any Battlecraft cantrip for a month.

Type: Wyrd