Secrets

Player characters may begin with special skills, known as a secrets. Each secret is represented by a score, based on the characters attributes.
Secrets improve like normal skills, but are not possessed intitially unless part of a profession. Each secret carries with it a curse; a quirk associated
with the secret. For example, characters with the secret ?ore of the Dead?have a morbid fascination with death. Curses are defined with the related secret.
Secrets are listed below, with the starting score noted in brackets.

LORE OF THE VAMPYRE (INT + POW)
The character has encountered the undead before, or has at least heard many tales about them.
The character is aware of their weaknesses (daylight, holy symbols, fire etc) and abilities (great strength,
command over beasts etc). The signs of vampiric presence, such as the noxious smell, the profusion of
insects, the desecration of holy sites and objects, and so on will be noted by a character with a successful roll.
This skill also confers some protection against vampires. When bitten by a vampire, there is a chance
that the character is immune to the effects (of the specific vampire). Make a roll on this skill and if
successful, the character is immune (but must roll for each vampire encountered). Curse: A dislike of
daylight, which causes the character to feel uncomfortable unless well covered.

LORE OF THE DEAD (INT + POW)
The character has had dealings with ghosts and spirits. The character is aware of their strengths
(incorporeality, posession etc) and weaknesses (inability to affect the real world, vulnerability to iron etc).
The signs of ghostly presence, such as cold spots and the profusion of dust and decay in an area,
will be noted by a character with a successful roll. This skill also determines wether a character can see a
specific ghost. When first encountered, a succesful roll indicates that the character can see a vague shape of
the ghost even when it is invisible to others. Curse: Morbid fascination with death, decay and disease.

LORE OF THE WOLF (INT + POW)
The character has had experience hunting werewolves. The character knows their strengths (shapeshifting,
stalking) and weaknesses (vulnerability to silver, governed by the moon). the signs of werewolf
presence, such as a profusion of animal carcasses and telltale blood trails, are known to a character with
this skill. Characters with this skill are often able to detect the presence of werewolves. A succesful roll will
reveal wether a wolf or human is in fact a werewolf. Curse: The character seems to attract certain animals
(mostly carnivores such as dogs), but is feared by other animals (such as birds, horses, deer).

ALCHEMY (INT x2)
The character has researched the mysteries of alchemy. Given time, and access to a laboratory, the
character could produce such remarkable effects as the transmutation of metals, creation of Golems and
Homonculi, the manufacture of potions to inhibit aging and so on. The character would be able to identify
items and effects made using alchemy (for example, telling the difference between normal gold and gold
produced from lead, or being able to identify the tracks of a Golem) in addition to knowing their weaknesses.
The GM must determine the time, cost and other factors for the creation of items. For example, creating an
homonculus might require a well stocked lab, an array of body parts (or, more gruesome, a foetus) and could
take months of work. The following can be used as a guide:
Golem creation: 240 minus skill days, cost 3D6 times 10c
Homonculus creation: 120 minus skill days, cost 2D8 times 10c
Mandrake creation: 120 minus skill days, cost 2D6 times 10c
Lead (10kg) into Gold (1kg): 300 minus skill days, cost 3D6 times 2c
Potion to arrest aging for 1 year: 150 minus skill days, cost 3D6 times 10c
Poison: POT times 20, minus skill hours, cost POT plus 3D6c.
Curse: The slight scent of brimstone surrounds the character, after years spent around chemicals.

MADNESS (POW X2)
The characters family is cursed with insanity, and the character has inherited this. This has its?benefits
(in game terms at least), for it grants the character insights during times of activity or stress. Whenever
the player fails a roll on any skill and the tens digit is an odd number, a roll on the madness skill can be made.
If successful, the character gains some sort of insight into the activity, and may be allowed (subject to GM
approval) another attempt.
For example, a character with madness fails a Listen roll while eavesdropping on a conversation and gets an
odd number on the tens digit. The madness roll is successful, so the GM informs the player that, on
reflection, he thinks he heard the words ?omeone .. listening? The character assumes he has been
?umbled made (10% or less of the number required) the character must do
something odd, and perhaps potentially dangerous. Thus, a character making a critical success with a
literacy roll while reading a book might finish it in record time, then throw it into a fire..

FORTUNE TELLING (POW + CHA)
The character can use cards or other items (suchas a crystal ball or dice) for divination. In game terms, a
player is allowed to make a fortune telling roll once per person per day. If the roll succeeds, it allows the player
of the character whose fortune was told to make a number of D100 rolls equal to the fortune tellers skill
divided by 10 (round up). The results are noted, and used for forthcoming skill rolls.
For example, a character tells his friends fortune (with a skill of 30%) and thus gets to make 3 rolls of D100.
The results of 52, 20 and 98 are noted. Now, the character knows that at some point in the future the
third roll his friend makes will be disastrous, while the second one will be good. Players may wish to concoct
a suitable story to go with their divination. Thus, with the example above the character might tell his friend
?hings will be well for the near future, but beware, for third time is unlucky for you? Curse: The character is
superstitious, especially with regard to one chosen area (such as a dislike for black cats).

MAGICKAL ARTS (INT + POW) /2
Magick covers the ability to utilise occult powers, and encompasses Ceremonial Magicians, Witches,
Necromancers and so on. For ease of play, all magick is treated in the same manner. In game terms, magick
works by making the impropable more likely to occur. The player states what he would like to happen and the
GM secretly rates the likelihood with a percentage (which will most likely be negative if the occurrence
seems even slightly improbable). The characters magick skill is added and a roll is made. If the roll is
successful, the event happens.. but may not occur as precisely as the player wished (the GM can add
nuances to this, magick is unpredicatble after all). For example, a Ceremonial Magician character wishes
to acquire enough cash to purchase a new rapier. The player states that his character will perform a short
ritual and then reach into his pocket and produce the money. The GM rates this as -80, since the character
is currently poor (so the likelihood of him finding ?orgotten?money in his pocket is extremely
improbable). Since the character has a magick skill of only 25, the action fails automatically. The player
tries later, this time describing how his character performs a ritual and then joins a gambling game and
plays for several hours. The GM rates this as 20, since it is quite possible for the character to win anyway. The
player makes the roll, getting 34 on his 45% chance. After several hours of playing, the GM informs the
player that his character has won nothing. The character, somewhat dejected, leaves the game, only
to be stopped at the door by an old friend who gives the character the 25C he borrowed several years ago..
The type of magick a character knows determines the paraphernalia and ritual required for each magick
attempt. Those who practice High Magick, Ceremonial Magick, Ritual Magick, Kabbalism etc require specific
tools (such as a dagger, wand, cup and pentacle) along with chanting Latin or Hebrew words, burning
incense and referring to old parchments. Witches may also have similar tools, along with herbs, corn dollies
and so on. Their chants will be to the Moon Goddess, and most likely they will be outdoors for the ritual.
Other types of magicians may use different things, such as Satanic Witches and Necromancers who might use
items associated with the church, but in some way corrupted (for example, inverted crosses and black
candles).Curse: All magick using characters have a strange aura, which causes a chosen odd event to
occur from time to time. Examples include: dogs bark at the character, children cry when the character is near,
plants wither when the character touches them, candles flicker when the character enters a room etc.

COMBAT

In a combat round, a character may make one action at his DEX. Aggressive actions (thrusts, slashes, disarms, trips etc) must occur on the characters DEX. Defensive actions
(parries, evasion) may occur as required. Certain abilities (such as riposte) may grant a character more than one action in a round and regardless of DEX, as described below.

Abilities explained:

THRUST: a basic duelling attack, which if successful inflicts the standard weapon damage.
PARRY: a basic duelling defence, which if successful prevents the character from injury.
DODGE: works exactly like a parry, but does not allow the option of a riposte.
RIPOSTE: A special counterattack that can only occur after a successful parry or balestra. If the riposte succeeds the target takes the normal weapon damage minus 1D4. A riposte may
be parried, and if the parry is successful allows a combatant to make a counter riposte.
LUNGE: A special duelling attack designed to add extra force to the blow. If successful, add 1D4 to damage.
FLECHE: A special duelling attack, essentially charging at a foe. If successful add 1D6 to damage.
BALESTRA: A duelling technique involving a quick jump that, if successful, distracts a foe. If the balestra succeeds, the character can make an immediate riposte attack which may not be
parried (but can be dodged or blocked).
FEINT: A fake attack. If successful, it halves the opponents chances for all actions during the next round.
ENGAGE: A successful engage causes the duelling blades to be pressed together, so that the combatants are ?n tune?with each other. This gives the character a ?eel?for his foes actions,
and vice versa. In game terms, the character receives a +20% bonus to all attacks against the engaged foe, while the foe receives +10% to all parries (but not dodges or blocks).
To negate the engage effect, the character or his opponent must make another successful engage roll (called a disengage).
SALUTE: The salute is an honourable duelling action that, if performed at all, must occur at the start of the combat (as the characters first action). A successful roll gives the character
a +10% bonus to all actions for the remainder of the combat.
DISARM: A disarm attempt can only be made if the character has previously initiated and succeeded with an engage action. If the roll is successful, the foe drops a held weapon.
The foe can avoid being disarmed by either successfully disengaging or making his own disarm attempt. If successful, the foe disarms the character, unless the character makes an
additional successful disarm roll. This can result in multiple disarm rolls, as the blades swirl around...
STRIKE: An attack with a non duelling weapon, such as a cudgel or axe.
BLOCK: A parry with an off hand weapon, such as a main gauche or shield. Does not allow a riposte.
BRAWL: An unarmed attack, such as a punch or kick.
THROW: An attack involving a thrown item, such as a dagger or rock.
SHOOT: A missile attack, such as from a crossbow or pistol.