Epic Fantasy Role Playing at its Best

• Strength (ST) - power, damage
• Agility (AG) - speed, movement, finesse
• Constitution (CO) - endurance, resistance, healing
• Intuition (IN) - perception, awareness, divine magic

Stats give bonuses (-3 to +3).

Skills represent training. Higher skill = better chance of success.

Skill Levels range from:

• 0 Unskilled
• 1-3 Learner
• 4-6 Journeyman
• 7-9 Master
• 10-12 Grandmaster
• 13-15 Supernatural

Your health.

• If your hit points drop to 0 or below, you fall unconscious. You're allowed to go negative, but not too far.
• If you take a big hit, roll 1d6 against Stun Check resolution.

A combat round is approximately three to six seconds of chaotic frenzy. Players usually only have time to perform one action (attack, run, hide, etc) during the combat cycle. If your declared action becomes impossible through no fault of your own, you may choose an alternate action with GM permission. Otherwise you lose your action that round.

For Example: You declare that you will fire your crossbow at the charging rider. Your opponent wins initiative but before it is your turn to attack they fall from their horse and land behind a small wall. It makes no sense to fire now but since your crossbow is already raised and aiming in the direction of the rider, you can't just abandon that action and draw a sword instead. If there is an alternate target in the direction you face then the GM allows you to fire upon that, otherwise you lose your turn.

Simplified Combat Round:

1. Declare your action.
2. Check difficulty against the Universal Action Matrix.
3. Make your attack roll.
4. Roll damage.
5. Apply special effects (Critical Damage, Stun, etc.), if any.
6. Prepare for the next round.

The better the hit, the greater the damage. Critical Damage is based on how much the attack roll exceeds the target number.

For every two points the roll exceeds the target number, add +1 Critical Damage.

For Example:

• Marcus needs 11 to hit.
• He rolls 15. Fifteen is 4 points more than the target number so he receives +2 Critical Damage

Resolve damage in the following order:

1. Roll weapon damage.
2. Add Critical Damage.
3. Add ST bonus.
4. Add Battle Courage.
5. Subtract Protection.
6. Reduce Armor HP by the resulting damage.
7. Subtract Armor DR from the damage.
8. Any remaining damage passes through to the character.
9. Optionally divert damage to Deferred Damage.
10. If remaining damage equals or exceeds the character's Stun Check, roll Stun Check Resolution.
11. Subtract the remaining damage from HP.

A character reduced to HP equal to their negative Stun Check dies immediately.

The Game Master (GM) describes the world and controls monsters, traps, and other dangers.

The GM also:

• Sets the Difficulty of actions
• Determines target numbers from the Universal Action Matrix
• Plays enemies and NPCs
• Adjudicates all resolutions
• Awards skill checks at the end of adventures

The three young adventurers are trekking through the forest in search of ancient ruins. They crest a low ridge, the afternoon sun glinting off Lydia's small silver compass. She spreads a worn parchment across a flat rock, tracing lines and landmarks with her finger.

• The GM determines the Difficulty of a task and looks up the target number to roll by cross indexing the Player's skill with the Difficulty on the Universal Action Matrix.
• Skill checks are resolved by rolling 3d6 and comparing the result to the required target number.
• If the roll meets or exceeds the target number, the action succeeds.
• Lydia checks her Tracking skill.
  • Tracking helps players find trails, follow footsteps and navigate forested areas.

"The river bends here, and that stand of trees lines up with this hill," she murmurs. "If the map is correct, the ruins should be just over that ridge." She lifts her eyes, scanning the terrain carefully. "We'll need to be cautious–anything could be waiting."

• Caleb checks his General Perception skill.
  • General Perception helps players learn information about their environment.

Marcus tightens his grip on his mighty war-hammer. Caleb crouches, already looking for alternate paths and hidden dangers. Together, they begin the slow descent toward the ancient stones half-buried in moss and vines.

The Three adventurers find themselves at the edge of sprawling, ancient ruins, half buried in vines and moss. The broken stones hint at a civilization long gone, and the dark openings in the walls seem to watch them like silent eyes.

Marcus rests his heavy hammer on his shoulder. He is the largest of the three and the most eager for action. Lydia adjusts the straps of her satchel, full of bandages, herbs, and the small silver symbol of her faith. Caleb crouches nearby, already studying the crumbling walls for hidden paths.

• The Group checks Sense Danger skill.
  • Sense Danger helps adventurers know when threats are near or when to take precaution.
  • The GM sets the Difficulty at 2. Marcus must roll 12, whereas Lydia and Caleb must roll 11 since their skill is higher than his.
  • They roll 11, 9, and 10.

"Looks quiet," Caleb says.

"Then we go in," Marcus replies.

• Sense Danger Fail
• None of the players were successful in their previous skill check. As a result they fail to detect the signs of danger ahead.

The adventurers step carefully between the ruined pillars, unaware of the small, scuttling figures watching from the shadows. No instinct warns them, no strange movement catches their eye.

The first Kobold shrieks and leaps from the cracks, spear raised. The party barely has time to react.

Small reptilian figures about three to four feet tall burst from cracks in the stone, clutching crude spears and rusted blades. There are half a dozen of them, yipping and hissing, waving their weapons before them.

Marcus grins…

• Marcus uses his Crushing skill to attack the nearest Kobold.
  • Crushing skill applies to all blunt and heavy weapons such as clubs, maces, warhammers and even axes.
• The GM says that Marcus needs to roll 9 to hit them.
• Marcus rolls 10 and hits.
• He rolls 13 and adds +1 Strength for a total of 14 damage.

The fighter charges forward, hammer swinging in a wide arc. The first Kobold flies backward with a squeal. Another tries to stab him, but Marcus smashes it aside with the hammer's head. The Kobolds are quick, but they are no match for his strength and brutality.

• Caleb uses this Throwing Weapons skill to attack from a distance.
  • Throwing Weapons applies to a variety or ranged attacks using knives, axes and spears.
  • Throwing weapons cause less damage than melee weapons but they also expose the fighter to less risk.
• He also needs to roll 9 or more to hit, and rolls 13.
• 13 is 4 points more than he needs to he earns +2 Critical Damage.
• He rolls 5 damage and adds +2 Critical Damage for a total of 7 damage.

Caleb darts in and out of the shadows, distracting them with quick strikes. His knives fly with deadly precision.

Lydia stands behind Marcus, calling out warnings and preparing a Protection prayer.

• Protection is a prayer of powerful defense.
• Players can pray for Divine aid, both for offense and defense.

Within moments the Kobolds break. Screeching in fear, they scramble back into the cracks and tunnels of the ruins, leaving their dead and wounded behind.

Marcus laughs and raises his hammer in triumph.

"Did you see that?"

Lydia stares at him.

"You're bleeding!"

The fighter looks down. A thin red line runs along his side where a spear caught him.

"Oh."

• Lydia uses her First Aid skill to tend to Marcus' recent wound.
  • First Aid is a skill that may be used soon after a battle to restore up to 1d6 hit points.

They quickly set to work. Lydia cleans the wound and applies alcohol to it. Marcus grumbles but sits still while the cleric wraps the bandage tight.

• The GM determines this is a Level 1 Difficulty and Lydia must roll 8 or more. She rolls 10 and successfully cleans and bandages his wound.
• Lydia rolls 1 so Marcus recovers only 1 HP from her attempt.

"Enough already! I'm fine" Marcus interjects. Satisfied, Lydia leaves him be.

"That's enough excitement for today," Lydia says firmly. Let's find some place safe to camp. We'll return at first light.

So they retreat to their small camp at the forest edge.

Marcus collects wood to make a small fire while Caleb searches for anything edible in the nearby forest.

• Make Fire skill is useful to build fires under difficult circumstances.
• Foraging skill is used to search forest areas for resources.
• The GM determines the fire is trivial to make since the group has flint and tinder, and the forest is dry, but he makes Caleb roll to see if his foraging is successful. It's not.

"Sorry, guys. There's nothing out there to eat", Caleb says.

"That's alright. We still have enough", Lydia replies.

The three rest by the fire as the sun grows low in the sky.

The night passes quietly.

Early the next morning they break camp and return to the ruins.

The ruins look even older in the pale morning light. A rusted portcullis blocks the main entrance to a deeper courtyard.

Caleb smiles.

"Give me a minute."

• Caleb uses Climbing skill to scale the stone wall.
• He uses Balancing skill to safely traverse the top.
• He uses Picking Locks to activate the release mechanism on the portcullis.

The rogue climbs the cracked stone wall with ease, fingers slipping into gaps between the ancient blocks. At the top he finds the old mechanism hidden beneath a slab of fallen rock. Rust protests loudly, but with careful work and a bit of leverage the ancient lock shifts.

With a grinding rumble the counterweight begins to fall, lifting the massive portcullis.

Marcus and Lydia slip inside. The air beyond is cooler and damp. Broken statues line the corridor. Carefully, the party moves slowly, keeping low and quiet.

Shadows swallow the farther reaches of the hallway. Light from the morning barely reaches past the first few broken pillars.

"Hold on", Caleb says.

He reaches into his pack and pulls out a small lantern. With a flick of flint, the wick catches, casting a soft glow along the nearer stones.

"Good idea", Marcus says, while tearing some rags that he pulls from his cloak pocket. He wraps it around a short stick, and carefully douses it with oil from yet another pocket while lighting it from Caleb's lantern. He holds it high, the flickering flame driving back the darkness just enough to reveal jagged rubble and statues.

"Well aren't you full of surprises!", Lydia says while fetching a candle from her pack.

• The GM asks Lydia for her Sense Danger skill level and secretly rolls 3d6.

Lydia leads the way, scanning carefully. She hesitates where the shadows are deepest, where the light barely penetrates.

A fat black spider leaps from the dark stone and sinks its fangs into her arm!

• Poison Damage
  • The GM tells Lydia she suffers 1HP poison damage and will suffer another 1HP unless she can quickly clean the wound.

"Oof! It bit me!" she gasps, stumbling back.

• Lydia uses her First Aid skill to clean the wound.
• Lydia rolls 14.
• the GM tells her that's enough to prevent further harm but not to heal the HP she already lost.

She sits on the floor and begins tending her wound using herbs from her satchel while Marcus kneels beside her, holding his improvised torch high to give light for her work.

Meanwhile, Caleb melts into the shadows beyond the torchlight, moving quietly to scout the darker halls ahead.

• Caleb uses his Sneaking skill to move silently.

Several minutes pass. Lydia cleans the bite and wraps it carefully, while Marcus keeps watch. Shorty after, Caleb signals that he found the first hint of a hidden passage.

The duo follow him deeper into the tunnels. The stone hall opens into a large underground chamber supported by thick pillars.

Suddenly something moves between them!

The creature is massive. It stands taller than Marcus, with the body of a hulking warrior and the head of a horned beast. Its snout snorts steam in the cool air.

A Minotaur!

It roars and attacks!

The Minotaur swings a massive horn like a falling tree.

The blow slams into Marcus' side, driving him backward across the stone floor.

• The Minotaur uses its horns to perform a Gouging attack on Marcus.
• The Minotaur hits Marcus for a massive 13 points of damage.
• Marcus subtracts his armor's 3 DR but 10 points still pass through, enough to force a Stun Check.

For a moment the world rings in his ears. Then Marcus shakes his head violently, planting his boots against the ground and tightening his grip on the hammer.

• Marcus uses his Resist Pain skill to temporarily ignore 2 points of damage from a single attack, reducing the attack to 8 points, just below his Stun Check threshold.

"Not today, beast!" he growls.

• Marcus uses his Crushing skill to strike the Minotaur.

He steps forward and swings his hammer at the beast, smashing it across a massive horn, The Minotaur roars in pain as it thrashes violently.

• Caleb uses his Throwing Weapons skill.

Caleb darts behind it, his blades flashing from the shadows. He throws at the beasts massive flank but it's too dark to know whether he hits.

• Lydia uses her Battle Courage prayer to bolster the group.
• The GM determines this an Epic Battle and Lydia must roll 8 or higher to pray for Battle Courage.
• She rolls 11 and her prayer is heard.

Lydia draws her sword and lifts her holy symbol high. "Stand firm!" she cries. A surge of divine courage washes over her companions, strengthening them and herself.

• Lydia used her Cutting skill to attack with her sword.
• The GM says she must roll 10 to succeed but she rolls only 8.
• Normally this means failure but Battle Courage can convert a near miss to a hit.

Lydia steps forward and slashes at the Minotaur but it jumps aside at the last second. She feels a holy energy guide her hand and remarkably her blade bites into the beast's flesh.

The Minotaur snorts and lunges, and slams its massive shoulder into her in rage and pain.

• The Minotaur performs a Body Slam attack acts like a Shield Bash and forcibly knocks defenders back.

The impact knocks Lydia backward several steps. Her buckler clangs against the stone pillar as she struggles to keep her balance.

Marcus watches helplessly as Lydia flies back.

With a furious roar he steps between Lydia and the beast, hammer furiously swinging.

• Marcus uses his Crushing skill to attack.
• The GM says he needs to roll 10 to hit. He rolls 16. Not only does this hit but it causes +3 Critical Damage.
• He rolls 14, adds +3 Critical Damage and +1 strength for a total of 18 damage!

"Back off!" he shouts as the the maul crashes into the Minotaur's horned skull. The creature staggers, then collapses onto the stone floor with a thunderous crash.

Marcus lowers the hammer slowly, glaring at the fallen monster.

"Is it dead?" Caleb asks.

"I certainly hope so!" Marcus replies, with fury and disgust in his voice.

Then he glances over his shoulder.

"You alright, Lydia?"

"I'm… fine, thanks", she replies while regaining her feet.

• Caleb uses General Perception to search the room.

Caleb darts quickly about the room. He smiles as he approaches a stone pedestal near the back wall. Several small statuettes rest there, dull with dust. Marcus wipes one clean, and it gleams in the lantern light.

"Gold…," he whispers.

Marcus hefts one in his hand, weighing it thoughtfully.

"This might be enough," he says.

"Enough for what?" Caleb asks.

Marcus grins.

"This is enough to finally commission my armor."

Lydia raises an eyebrow.

"You mean better armor?"

Marcus nods eagerly.

"Old Durnan the smith has been promising he could make me a proper suit if I ever brought him enough gold."

Caleb laughs.

• The GM tells the Group to roll for their Sense Danger skill.

Then they hear it: footsteps. Many of them. High-pitched voices echoing down the tunnels.

"Kobolds!".

They quickly gather the statues and pack them away, and exchange a quick look.

"Run!"

• The Group uses their Sprinting skill to dash from the ruins towards the tree line.

They bolt from the chamber, racing through the corridors and out the ancient gate. Behind them dozens of Kobolds shriek in furious pursuit.

• Lydia uses her Tracking skill to find their way back to the river.
• The GM tells Lydia she needs a 9 but she rolls 8 and fails.

"Where is it, where is it?" she exclaims.

"Which way do we go?" Marcus yells as the sounds of pursuit grow louder.

• Caleb attempts to use his Tracking skill.
• The GM tells him he needs an 11 to succeed.
• He rolls 5, 4 and 2 – exactly 11 – and manages to find the trail.

"This way!" Caleb yells. "I see the broken branch we left to mark our path!"

"Thank the gods!" Lydia yells as they take off running.

Through the forest they run, following their own broken trail of bent grass and snapped twigs.

• The GM checks each players Cross Country skill to determine how fast and how far they can run under duress.

Over roots and fallen branches they push themselves onward, exhaustion setting into their legs. The forest feels like it goes on forever when suddenly the river finally appears through the trees. Their canoe awaits, tied to the shore just where they hid it the day before.

They untie and shove it into the water and leap in, paddling hard as the Kobolds burst from the forest behind them. The creatures reach the riverbank just as the canoe pushes into deeper water.

Marcus stands up in the canoe and raises his hammer.

"You'll have to swim for it!"

The Kobolds scream and wave their spears helplessly from shore. Some throw their weapons towards our heroes with no effect.

Caleb bursts out laughing. Soon Lydia joins in.

Marcus sits back down heavily.

Then the pain hits him.

• Deferred Damage Resolution
• Marcus deferred 2 points of damage during the battle with the Minotaur. Now that he is safe, that pain converts to HP damage and returns to him all at once.

All the pain from the injuries he had ignored during the fight rushes back at once. His strength drains, the hammer slips from his hand and clatters against the wooden hull.

He sucks in a sharp breath and presses a hand against his side.

"Gods… that hurts…"

Caleb glances over.

"Still glad they can't swim?"

Marcus winces but manages a crooked grin.

"Oh… very glad."

• Lydia uses her Heal prayer to comfort Marcus.
• The GM tells her she needs to roll 8 or more. She rolls 11. The prayer succeeds.
• She then rolls 2 using 1d6 and adds her level 4 healing skill.
• Marcus receives 6 HP in healing.

Lydia leans over and offers a quiet prayer. Warmth spreads through Marcus' body as the pain eases, and she checks over Caleb as well.

With the gold safely packed and the ruins far behind them, the three young adventurers sit back in the boat as the current carries them downstream toward their home.

At the end of the session the GM awards checks for meaningful events completed during the adventure.

This walk-through demonstrates several important points of role playing.

1. The ultimate goal is to have fun. In practice this means that no matter what the players do, the story should move forward. When players fail their skill checks it's not the end of the story but an opportunity to pivot.
2. There are many ways to solve problems. It's not always about swinging a sword. Campaigns should contain varying challenges to engage multiple play styles.
3. Give each player opportunities to shine. For example, Caleb found the trail back to the canoe, avoiding a protracted fight with the Kobolds. Allow players to attempt skills they normally would not if the narrative supports it.
4. Don't be afraid to let players run away. Sometimes that's the smartest choice. You don't always have to fight to the death.
5. Provide appropriate rewards. This does not always mean gold coins. In this story the heroes collected golden statuettes, the ultimate value of which is undetermined. Use that ambiguity to further the story in a way that makes sense to everyone.

If you are using a shield without a weapon or without attacking, then you may apply your highest attack skill to calculate defense. This applies only when you choose not to attack. This does not apply when Stunned.

For Example:

• Spear/Polearm skill: 4 (highest weapon skill)
• Crushing skill: 2
• Brawling skill: 1
• Buckler shield (+1 defense)
  • Defend with Spear/Polearm: 4 + 1 = *5*
  • Defend with Crushing: 2 + 1 = *3*
  • Defend with Brawling: maximum of 3 or 5
  • Defend with no attack (does not apply when Stunned): 4 + 1 = *5*

Weapon Types and Bands

WEAPON TYPE	OPTIMAL BAND	USABLE BAND	PENALTY BAND
Unarmed/Shield Bash/Dagger	Close	N/A	N/A
Sword/Axe/Club/Mace	Medium	Close	N/A
Spear/Polearm	Long	Medium	Close

Optimal Band:

• Attack normally
• Defend normally

Usable Band:

• Attack at -1
• Defend normally

Penalty Band:

• Attack at -1
• Defend at -1

Movement between Bands creates tactical risk. You may only cross one Band per round. Crossing a Band counts as a player's action for that round. If one player moves and the other does not, the player who does not move is allowed to attack the player who does if their weapon allows it within the current Band.

Front-Loaded Advantage:

• Long weapons dominate the approach. Advancing inward grants the longer weapon opportunity to attack.

Risk / Reward Decisions:

• Moving inward is dangerous.
• You sacrifice your action
• You gift an attack opportunity to your opponent
• You may gain superior position once inside.

Versatility Matters:

• Medium weapons avoid extremes.
• They rarely dominate the approach but they function reliably in most engagements.

Adventurers would be wise to carry a Dagger. When combat collapses into Close band, it may be the difference between life and death.

A character must make a Stun Check when a single attack deals damage equal to or greater than their Stun Check, after armor and Deferred Damage are applied.

A character's Stun Check (SC) value is their Hit Points (HP) divided by 3, rounded to the nearest whole number.

SC = HP / 3

For Example:

• Boris has the following stats:
• Strength (ST) : 16 (+2)
• Constitution (CO) : 15 (+1)
• HP: 31
• SC: 10

31 / 3 = 10.33, rounded to 10.

Only hits dealing 10+ damage after subtracting armor Damage Reduction and Resist Pain (described in their own sections) may force a Stun Check.

When:

• Incoming damage from one attack meets or exceeds the Stun Check.

Roll:

• 1d6 immediately after damage application.

Result:

• Consult the table below.

ROLL	EFFECT
6	No effect
5	No effect
4	Stunned: cannot attack; defend only next action
3	Stunned: cannot attack; defend only next action
2	Stunned: move back one Band; cannot attack; defend at -1 next action
1	Stunned: move back one Band; cannot attack; defend at -2 next action

Please note: the order of attack affects Stun Check outcomes.

When a player is Stunned they lose their next action, which might affect the current round or the next round depending upon the order of attack.

Example 1 - Player A Attacks First:

• Player A attacks Player B and forces a Stun Check.
• Player B rolls 2.
• Player B is Stunned:
  • Cannot attack for the remainder of the current round.
  • Defends at -1 if attacked for the remainder of the current round.
• Next round, Player B acts normally.

Example 2 - Player B Attacks First:

• Player B attacks Player A as normal.
• Player A attacks Player B and forces a Stun Check.
• Player B rolls 2.
• Player B is Stunned:
  • Cannot attack for the remainder of the current round.
  • Defends at -1 for the remainder of the current round.
  • Cannot attack and defends at -1 on their next action in the following round.

If a character's HP falls to less than or equal to the negative value of their Stun Check, the character dies.

For Example:

The Barbarian has:

• HP: 7 out of 30
• Stun Check: 10
• Armor: Rigid Leather (DR 3)

He is hit by mounted cavalry for 20 damage. His armor reduces this to 17 damage.

He subtracts 17 from his current 7 Hit Points: 7 - 17 = *-10*

This is a fatal strike. The Barbarian fought valiantly but succumbs to his wounds.

Roll 1d6:

• 4-6: No additional effect
• 1-3: Target:
  • Shoved back into the Medium Band (effective next round)
  • Stunned (no action) remainder of current round

The fighter is guarding the palace gate when a group of ruffians approaches, shouting threats. Without warning, the fighter launches a Shield Bash.

He rolls to hit and succeeds. He then rolls 1d6 for damage and gets a 5. Adding his +1 ST bonus, the Shield Bash deals 6 damage.

The ruffian takes 6 HP damage and fails his Moderated Stun Check. He is knocked back, Stunned and cannot fight or move for the remainder of the round.

The fighter uses this opening to draw his gladius, ready for the fight to come.

• No weapons, armor, or Grappling allowed.
• Damage: 1d6 - 3 + ST per successful hit.
  • Minimum damage: 1
• Rounds: Combat lasts no more than twenty consecutive rounds.
• Loser: The first player to fall below 5 HP loses.
  • If neither player falls below 5 HP, the player who loses the most HP loses.

At the GM's discretion, damage from boxing may be treated as soft damage. If so, participants recover their full HP immediately after the fight, allowing them to continue adventuring without requiring significant rest or healing.

Players may wager on themselves in the ring. Wagers do not affect combat mechanics but may influence role-play and stakes.

Suggested Payouts:

• Evenly matched opponents: 1:1.
• ST difference of +1 or more: weaker fighter pays 2:1.
• ST difference of +3 or more: weaker fighter pays 3:1.

No new wagers may be placed after the first round begins.

Excessive success in the ring may attract unwanted attention from local criminal or political interests.

Grappling may only be attempted before weapons are fully engaged or when the fiction forces combat at Close Band.

When an attacker successfully grapples, the defender must immediately make a Grapple Check.

Defender rolls:

1d6 + (Defender ST bonus - Attacker ST bonus)

Apply the final result to the Grappling Resolution Table.

A stronger attacker lowers the result. A stronger defender raises the result. Exception:

• A natural 6 or 1 remain regardless of strength difference.
  • This allows opportunity for pinning and escaping regardless of strength.

ROLL	EFFECT
6	Defender breaks free. Normal action.
5	Defender Held, no movement, next action at -1.
4	Defender Held, same as above, next action at -2.
3	Defender Thrown, Stunned next action. No fight/move; Defend at -1
2	Defender Thrown, same as above, 1d6 + ST damage.
1	Defender pinned/choked, 1d6 + ST damage, no escape.
	Optional 1d6 +ST per round.

Results 2-5 apply to the defender's next action. This may occur during the current round (if the defender has not yet acted) or during the next round (if they already have).

After their next action, the defender automatically breaks free unless the attacker successfully re-grapples them.

A result of 1 represents a true pin or choke hold. The hold continues indefinitely until the attacker releases the defender or a third party intervenes.

While maintaining the hold, the attacker may optionally inflict 1d6 + ST damage each round.

Damage inflicted from grappling is unaffected by armor or Resist Pain.

If multiple grapples occur, resolve in initiative order. The first successful grapple sets the state of the target. Mutual pins do not occur but it is possible for simultaneous holds.

Jacob has 4 Grapple skill points and +1 ST. Morris has 5 Grapple skill points and +0 ST. The two roll initiative and Jacob goes first.

Jacob needs a 12 or more to succeed and rolls a 13. The grapple is successful. Morris must now roll 1d6 on the Grappling Resolution Table.

Morris rolls a 5, but must adjust that number according to the combatants' relative strength. Since Morris' ST is +0 and Jacob's is +1, Morris subtracts 1 from the roll:

5 - 1 = 4

Looking up 4 on the Grappling Resolution Table, Morris is Held and suffers -2 to his next action.

Morris now attempts to grapple Jacob. Normally he would need a 10 to succeed, but since he is held he must apply the -2 penalty. Morris rolls a 16. After subtracting the penalty:

16 - 2 = 14

The attempt succeeds and Morris successfully grapples Jacob. The two are now locked in mutual combat.

Jacob now rolls 1d6 and gets a 2. Because he is one point stronger than Morris, he adds his strength modifier:

2 + 1 = 3

Looking up 3 on the Grappling Resolution Table shows that Jacob is Thrown, Stunned for his next action, and must Defend at -1.

Both Jacob and Morris successfully grappled one another. Despite Jacob's initial success, Morris ultimately threw him and left him Stunned for one round. Neither player suffered any HP loss, though Jacob's superior strength slightly improved his roll during the resolution step.

• Mounted Combat rolls use 4d6 + ST for damage.
  • Reflects increased force and impact of mounted strikes.
• Applies only when mounted and using:
  • Spears
  • One-handed, Medium Band weapons

The effective Mounted Combat value is limited by:

1. Mounted Combat skill
2. Riding (AG)
3. Relevant Weapon Skill (ST)
4. Only the lowest value counts.
5. Ensures:
   • A master swordsman may be ineffective on horseback.
   • A skilled rider without weapon mastery lacks lethality.
   • Elite cavalry must train both Riding and arms.

Heavy metal armor (chain, scale, plate) imposes penalties on all Agility-based movement skills. Wall shields also contribute to mobility penalties.

• During Mounted Combat (Charge / Impact Phase)
  • Agility penalties from armor and shields are waived.
  • Riders may use two-handed weapons (e.g., lance) one-handed while braced.
  • Momentum reduces the effect of encumbrance on control.
• During Repositioning / Regroup Phase
  • Full armor and shield AG penalties apply.
  • Maneuvering, turning, or controlling the mount becomes more difficult.
  • Riders are at increased risk of failure (e.g., losing balance, dropping weapon, or falling).

Notes

• This distinction emphasizes the difference between braced momentum and controlled maneuver.
• Heavy cavalry excels in straight-line impact but becomes vulnerable during recovery.
• Light cavalry or lightly armored riders maintain mobility during regroup.

Mounted combat follows a momentum cycle:

• Round 1: Attack
• Round 2: Regroup
• Round 3: Attack
• Repeat

During the Regroup round, the rider may:

• Reposition
• Withdraw safely
• Establish charge distance
• Avoid being surrounded

No attack is made during Regroup unless the GM overrides this rule on a per-encounter basis.

This structure reinforces cavalry as shock troops rather than static melee combatants.

• Open ground favors cavalry.
• Difficult terrain may prevent Regroup.
• Tight quarters may negate Mounted Combat entirely.
• Infantry formations and bracing tactics may counter charges.

Sir Alric has:

• Riding (AG): 7
• One-Handed Sword (ST): 8
• Mounted Combat: 5
• Strength (ST): +1

Effective Mounted Combat rating: 5, limited by his Riding skill.

• Announce which weapon or action you are using.
• Note if mounted, charging, maneuvering or praying.

• Cross-reference the attacker's relevant skill against the defender's skill using the Universal Action Matrix.
• This gives the Required to Hit value.

For Example: Boris vs Orc Raider; Target number to hit = 11

• Roll 3d6.
• If roll >= Target Number then attack hits.
• If roll < Target Number then attack misses.

For Example: Boris needs 11 and rolls 12; he hits!

• Roll the appropriate weapon damage dice.
• Add Strength bonus and/or Critical Damage modifiers if applicable.

Weapon Damage Reference:

• 1H weapon: 2d6 + ST
• 2H weapon: 3d6 + ST
• Mounted charge: 4d6 + ST
• Ranged: 1-3d6 depending on weapon

For Example: Boris rolls 2d6 = 8 + 1 ST = 9 damage

• Subtract the armor's Damage Resistance (DR) from the rolled damage.
• If damage <= 0 then no damage passes through.
• Armor HP is reduced by the full rolled damage, regardless of DR.

For Example:

• Orc chain armor (-4 DR)
• Boris hits the orc for 9 damage. The orc's armor HP reduced by full 9 points.

• Subtract remaining damage after armor from the defender's HP.
• If defender HP <= 0 -> defender is incapacitated.

For Example:

• Boris's 9 damage: 4 points are absorbed by the orc's armor
• The remaining 5 points passe through
• 9 - 4 = 5; Orc loses 5 HP

• After the charge, the horse re-positions therefore the rider cannot attack next round.
• If charging, apply mounted weapon damage: 4d6 + ST.
• Mounted attacks require: Riding skill, Mounted Combat skill, and weapon skill.

For Example: Knight charges with lance: 4d6 = 18 + 2 ST = 20 damage Apply to enemy armor and HP as normal. Horse re-positions next round -> cannot attack.

• Effective Skill Level = ST / 2 (round up)

Example:

• ST 13 is 13 / 2 = 6.5 is 7
• The GM assigns a Difficulty Level using based on the Task Difficulties chart.
• Resolve the action as a normal skill check against that Difficulty Level.

These checks represent pure physical force without specialized training.

• Multiply the Repair Cost by the number of 10 HP increments restored.
• All repairs are performed in 10 HP increments.
• Fractions are always rounded up.

Boris' scale armor has taken 163 HP of damage. He wants it fully repaired.

First determine the number of repair increments:

163 / 10 = 16.3 -> 17 increments (rounded up)

Scale armor costs 4 sp per increment:

17 x 4 = 68 sp

Final repair cost: 68 sp

A melee weapon is 2h if it cannot reasonably be used with only one hand. For example: a claymore sword, maul, or lance. Exception: A lance or large spear can be used with one hand while engaged in mounted combat.

If in doubt, assume a weapon is 1h and apply 2d6 +ST damage.

A thrown weapon is 1d6 +ST. This reflects the fact that a thrown weapon lacks the weight of the fighter behind it.

A walking stick or wizard staff is primarily a mobility tool and not a weapon. Either can be used as a 1h weapon causing 2d6 +ST damage.

• Damage includes base roll plus ST bonus and and special mods, if any.
• Hands Required indicates whether off-hand or shield is possible.
• Special Use: Certain weapons (bows, crossbows, cavalry weapons) have range, reload, or mounted combat restrictions.
• Improvised weapons (rocks, bottles, etc.) use Unarmed damage unless the GM rules otherwise.
• Critical hits can modify damage beyond the base roll (see Critical Damage rules).
• Battle Courage can also modify damage beyond the base roll, (see Battle Courage under Prayer).
• Strength increases melee damage and affects thrown weapon range/power.
• Mounted Combat benefits from ST bonus on charge attacks.

1. The wounded are gathered within the healer's scope.
2. The healer assesses their condition.
3. The healer selects those most in need.
   • Only those retained remain eligible to receive the prayer.
   • The number retained may not exceed the healer's Scope limit.
4. The healer performs the Healing Prayer.

• On Success:
  • Each retained recipient regains 1d6 + healer's Skill level HP.
• On Failure:
  • No recipients regain HP.
  • The healer may not attempt to heal those specific recipients again today.
  • The healer may attempt to heal other recipients if they have not reached their daily limit.

• A character may benefit from Healing Prayer only once per day.
• Multiple healing attempts on the same character, by the same or different healers, automatically fail.
• Healing Prayer is never a combat action and cannot be prepared, delayed, or conditionally triggered.

LEVEL	SCOPE	DIFFICULTY
1-3	Self	0
4-6	Up to 3 persons (laying of hands)	1
7-9	Up to 20 persons	4
10-12	Up to 200 persons	7
13-15	200+ persons	10

Characters may pray for healing at any level equal to or below their skill.

For example: Lydia has Level 4 Heal Prayer. She can pray to heal herself at difficulty 0 or heal another by laying of hands at difficulty 1. She can not, however, pray to heal larger groups. If she gains skill level 7 then she will acquire that ability.

• Groups of 3 or fewer are healed individually.
  • This represents the laying on of hands.
• Groups of 4 or more are healed collectively.

A cleric with Heal Skill 5 gathers the three most wounded members of her party. She prays to her goddess for their recovery.

• The GM determines this is a Difficulty 1 task.
• The cleric must roll 7 or higher to succeed.

Since there are three recipients, the cleric performs individual prayers for each.

The player rolls 3d6 three times:

14, 6, 10

• The first and third prayers succeed.
• The second prayer fails.

For each successful prayer, the cleric rolls 1d6 for healing:

4, 5

Healing results:

• First recipient: 4 + 5 = 9 HP
• Second recipient: no healing
• Third recipient: 5 + 5 = 10 HP

Healing is now complete for the day.

• The cleric may not perform additional Healing Prayers today.
• All recipients, including those who failed to receive healing, may not receive another Healing Prayer today.

Zastra, Holy Deacon of the Cosmic Void, has Heal Skill 7 and can confer blessing on up to 20 people. A group of battle wounded are gathered in the atrium for healing.

• The GM determines this is a Difficulty 4 task.
• The Holy Deacon must roll 8 or higher to succeed.

Since there are at least four recipients, the Holy Deacon performs one collective prayer for all the wounded.

The player rolls 3d6 once and receives a 9. The prayer succeeds.

The Holy Deacon now rolls 1d6 for healing and receives a 4.

• Each recipient heals 4 + 7 = 11 HP.

The Holy Deacon is now finished healing for the day. He returns to his chambers to pray and give thanks.

• A caster may have only one active Curse at a time.
• A caster may also prepare a second curse without affecting the active one.
  • A cast may prepare only one curse at a time.

A Curse represents an ongoing spiritual tether between caster and target.

1. The caster identifies a specific target and intended effect.
2. The caster performs the required ritual over the appropriate preparation period.
   • Length and complexity depend on Caster Level and intended scope.
3. The prepared Curse is set aside until a defined trigger occurs.
   • Example: An oath is broken.
   • A tyrant refuses a warning.
   • A sacred boundary is violated.
4. When the trigger condition is met, the caster invokes the Curse.
5. The curse recipient may be allowed to attempt to resist the curse.

At the moment of invocation:

• GM determines difficulty level and target number.
• Player rolls 3d6. Rolling equal to or higher than target number succeeds.
  • Success: The Curse takes effect according to its scope and intensity.
    • The curse recipient is allowed to resist the curse in some cases.
  • Failure: The Curse collapses; the ritual effort is lost. The caster suffers a Level 4 Curse for one week.

A Curse may target persons or land, but never both.

CASTER LVL	SCOPE	PENALTY	DIFFICULTY	DURATION
1-3	N/a	N/A	N/A	N/A
4-6	Up to 1 person	-2	5	One week
7-9	Up to 3 persons	-3	8	One month
10-12	Up to 10 persons	-4	11	One year
13-15	Up to 30 persons	-5	14	Ten years

Curse Effects:

Curse victims are physically and spiritually weakened, suffering penalties both of the body and mind.

The listed Penalty applies to:

• All Agility, Constitution, or Intuition based Skills
• All feats of pure Strength
• All melee and thrown damage rolls

Resisting a Curse:

A curse victim is allowed one attempt to resist the curse before it takes effect. This functions the same as attempting to break a curse except the victim is allowed to use their highest prayer skill for defense. See Breaking a Curse section below.

For Example:

An ogre with Divination Skill level 4 is cursed by a witch with Curse Skill level 5. Levels 4 and 5 are in the same band (Journeyman) so the ogre may attempt to resist.

• The GM compares Level 5 attack against level 4 defense and determines the ogre needs to roll 12 to succeed.
• The ogre rolls 11 and fails to resist the curse.
  • The ogre suffers -2 penalty to all actions and feats of strength.

For one week:

• All Agility skills (Running, Jumping, Swimming, etc.) are reduced by 2.
• All Constitution skills (Resist Pain, Resist Exhaustion, etc.) are reduced by 2.
• All Intuition skills (General Perception, etc.) are reduced by 2.
• All melee and thrown damage is reduced by 2.

The Curse weakens both body and resolve.

If the ogre had rolled 12:

• The curse would have broken immediately after succeeding but before taking effect.

CASTER LVL	SCOPE	DIFFICULTY	DURATION
1-3	10' x 10' area	1	One week
4-6	100' x 100' area	4	One month
7-9	1,000' x 1,000' area	7	One year
10-12	10,000' x 10,000' area	10	One decade
13-15	All visible land	13	Until death

Curse Effects

Cursed land cannot sustain plant life.

• Crops immediately wither.
• Grass yellows and dies.
• Natural springs dry up or turn foul.
• Wells become brackish and undrinkable.
• Birds and Animals avoid cursed areas.
• Insects thrive on cursed ground.

The land remains blighted for the full duration of the Curse.

A Curse ends by one of the following:

• Expiration of its duration
• Death or voluntary release by the original caster
• Forcible spiritual severance by another caster
• Successful resistance by its intended victim.

Breaking a Curse is an act of spiritual warfare. The healer and the curser clash through faith and will.

Rebuke must be declared as the caster's first action in the round. If the caster has already acted, they may not use Rebuke this round.

1. Rebuke may only be used in close (20') proximity. All hostile targets visible within area of effect are affected. Friendly players are immune unless specifically targeted.
2. Caster must roll attack and damage individually for each target.
3. Caster attacks with Rebuke skill.
4. Defender defends with their highest Prayer skill (e.g., Heal, Protection, Battle Courage, etc.).
5. Rebuke is subject to Critical Damage in the same manner as combat.

1. GM lists all enemies in range.
2. GM declares each enemy's resistance using their highest Prayer skill.
3. Player rolls attack individually for each enemy.
4. Player rolls damage individually for each hit.
5. Normal Stun Check rules apply.

If Rebuke succeeds and at least one enemy is affected, the caster may immediately take one additional non-combat action this round.

This may include:

• movement
• Perception
• Protection
• Battle Courage
• Other non-attack actions

The bonus action may not be an attack or another prayer that directly harms enemies.

If the caster fails the Rebuke roll (e.g. no enemy is affected), divine force recoils violently. The caster is Stunned for the remainder of the round and loses their additional action.

They may defend normally but may not attack, move, or cast a prayer on their next turn.

CASTER LEVEL	DAMAGE	EFFECT
1-3	IN	Your foes pause in fear
4-6	1d6 + IN	Your foes know your wrath
7-9	2d6 + IN	Your enemies reel in pain
10-12	3d6 + IN	You smite your foes
13-15	4d6 + IN	Divine judgment

Caleb is a priest of the Unified Void. He has level 5 Rebuke skill and an Intuition (IN) bonus of +2.

Two armed men burst into his chambers seeking to take him captive. The men are wearing scale armor (-4 DR) and are carrying short swords. Neither man is a believer, both have prayer skills at level 0.

Caleb decides to Rebuke them. Cross indexing Caleb's level 5 skill against their level 0 defense we find Caleb needs to roll 5 or more to succeed.

Caleb rolls 8 and 11 against the men. Both are success.

The Goblin king orders his Shaman to protect his special envoy before their mission to assault the local village. The goblin shaman has Protection level 4 (-2).

Three goblins attack the village church. The deacon (IN +1) casts Rebuke level 4 on them. The GM looks up the to-hit value in the UAM (assuming goblin defense of level 1) and says the deacon needs an 8 to hit.

The deacon rolls three 3d6 attacks: 8, 11, and 12.

The GM checks whether Protection applies:

• (8 - 2) = 6 : miss!
• (11 - 2) = 9 : hit!
• (12 - 2) = 10 : hit!

1. Declare the subject of inquiry:
   • Person, place, object, event, or course of action.
2. GM determines difficulty and sets Target Number.
3. Prepare - e.g. crystal ball, scrying bowl, trance - and roll Divination.
4. GM interprets the vision according to scope and success.

• Vision appropriate to Skill Level.
• May reveal:
  • Hidden truths
  • Distant events
  • Past causes
  • Possible futures
• Visions are symbolic unless the caster's level permits clarity.

• Vision is unclear, misleading, or fragmentary.
• Cannot attempt Divination again that day.
• Limit: 1 Divination per day.

DIFFICULTY	DESCRIPTION
1	Observe nearby scene or immediate future
	Recent past (hours); Very near future (minutes)
4	Observe distant locations or short-term future
	Known locations within a day's travel; past or future within 1 day
7	Foresee events up to 1 month away
	Any known person or place; past or future within 1 month
10	Foresee events up to 1 year
	Distant or unknown locations; past or future within 1 year
13	Cosmic insight, any place/time
	Any place, any time; deep past or far future; hidden cosmic truths

1. Declare the spirit or knowledge to contact.
2. Enter a trance and roll Spirit Walking.
3. Referee interprets the vision or communication according to scope and success.

• Spirit communicates truthfully within its knowledge.
• Caster may learn:
  • Secrets of the past
  • Hidden locations
  • Forgotten codes or rituals
  • Warnings about future events
• Messages may be symbolic unless clarity level permits precision.

• Spirit is uncooperative, messages are cryptic, or the caster risks harm.
• Cannot attempt again that day.
• Limit: 1 Spirit Walk per day.

DIFFICULTY	DESCRIPTION
1	Contact nearby, recent spirit
	Immediate area; recently deceased spirits only
4	Contact distant or unknown minor spirit
	Known spirits within a day's travel; short-term past
7	Learn hidden secrets of past month
	Any known spirit; past month; minor secrets revealed
10	Learn major secrets of past year
	Distant or unknown spirits; past year; major secrets
13	Forbidden knowledge, cosmic spirits
	Any spirit, any time; deep past; forbidden knowledge

Protection is an after-the-fact defensive buff that reduces an enemy's roll by -2 to -5, but only if the reduction turns a hit into a miss.

• The penalty is applied after the enemy's dice are rolled.
• If the modified roll still meets or exceeds the target, Protection does not activate.
• The magnitude of the reduction is determined by the relevant table (see Level of Effect below).

This represents divine shielding, or supernatural intervention at the last possible moment.

Battle Courage is an after-the-fact buff that increases a player's roll by +2 to +5, but only if the increase turns a miss into a hit.

The original roll must miss. If the modified roll still misses, Battle Courage has no effect.

Protection and Battle Courage provide a degree of effect based on the caster's skill level.

The bonus (or penalty) represents the maximum adjustment that may be applied when the ability successfully triggers.

SKILL LEVEL	BONUS
1-3	2
4-6	3
7-9	4
10-12	5
13-15	SPECIAL

Please Note: Levels 13-15 are Reserved For the gods and are not accessible to player characters. GMs should choose to use those levels sparingly, applying results with care.

The bonus is based on the caster's Protection or Battle Courage skill level.

• The listed value is the maximum modifier applied.
• The modifier is only used if it converts failure into success (Battle Courage) or success into failure (Protection).
• Minimum Effect: If an ability triggers, it always applies at least +/-2, even if a +/-1 would have been sufficient.

This creates meaningful power scaling without changing core mechanics.

Protection and Battle Courage also scale in scope and duration based on the caster's skill level.

Scope determines how many individuals may benefit from the effect. Duration determines how long the granted effect remains available.

CASTER LEVEL	SCOPE
1-3	Self
4-6	Self and 1 other person
7-9	Self and Small group (up to 10)
10-12	Self and Large group (up to 50)
13-15	Self and very large group (50+)

Effects last for the duration of the current scene, e.g. battle or other dramatic event.

Protection and Battle Courage may be cast repeatedly as needed, although to do so takes one full round of uninterrupted prayer.

For group effects:

• The caster must declare the affected group at time of activation.
• Individuals entering the group later are not automatically covered.
• If the group disperses, the effect persists only for originally designated recipients and for the duration of the current scene.

This structure preserves the dramatic, faith-driven nature of these abilities while preventing indefinite stacking or battlefield-wide abuse at lower levels.

Difficulty is based on the danger presented by the upcoming battle. The more difficult the Battle, the more favor the gods show you.

NARRATIVE SITUATION	DIFFICULTY	DESCRIPTION / NOTES
Suicidal Struggle	0	Minimal chance of success.
Epic Battle	1	Survival uncertain.
Fair Fight	2	Opponents evenly matched.
Victory Expected	3	You are favored to prevail.
No imminent threat	5	Nothing threatens you at this time.

Before battle commences, the GM determines the likely outcome and compares it to the chart above.

Difficulty values represent the opposing benchmark to compare against on the Universal Action Matrix. In short, they reflect how stacked the situation is before dice are ever rolled.

This table shows common hit probabilities on a 3D6 roll and how Battle Courage can shift the outcome. Even a small bonus dramatically improves chances due to the bell curve.

TARGET	CHANCE	+2 BONUS	+3 BONUS	+4 BONUS	+5 BONUS
11	50.00%	74.07%	84.80%	90.74%	95.37%
12	37.50%	62.50%	74.07%	83.80%	90.74%
13	25.93%	50.00%	62.50%	74.07%	83.80%
14	16.20%	37.50%	50.00%	62.50%	74.07%
15	9.26%	25.93%	37.50%	50.00%	62.50%
16	4.63%	16.20%	25.93%	37.50%	50.00%
17	1.85%	9.26%	16.20%	25.93%	37.50%
18	0.46%	4.63%	9.26%	16.20%	25.93%

Sir Harold the Pious battles the Orc Chieftain.

Sir Harold the Pious, Paladin of the Sublime Virtue Strength : 14 (+1) Intuition : 16 (+2) HP : 27 SC : 9 Crushing : 5 Weapon : Flanged Mace Damage : 2d6 +1 Armor : Chain Hauberk, Wall Shield (+2 defense) DR : -4 Protection : 3 (-2)

Orc Chieftain, Leader of the Skull Clan Strength : 17 (+2) Intuition : 9 (+0) HP : 31 SC : 10 Crushing : 6 Weapon : Battle Axe Damage : 3d6 +2 Armor : Rigid Leather DR : -3

Sir Harold the Pious prays before battle and is blessed with +3 Protection for his faith and courage.

• Sir Harold needs to roll 12 or more to hit the Orc Chieftain.
• The Orc Chieftain needs to roll 12 or more to hit Sir Harold.
• For brevity, armor HP is not tracked in this example.

Round One

• Initiative: Sir Harold 5, The Orc Chieftain 5 - tie. Sir Harold goes first (1H vs 2H).
• Sir Harold rolls 11 - miss.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 16 - hit! 16 - 3 = 13, 13 >= 12, no Protection trigger.
• Margin: 16 - 12 = 4, 4 / 2 = 2 +2 Critical Damage.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 7 damage. 7 + 2 (STR) + 2 (critical) = 11. 11 absorbed by armor, remaining 11 - 4 = 7 passes through. 7 < SC 9 – no Stun Check.
• Sir Harold HP: reduced from 27 to 20
• The Orc Chieftain HP: 31

Round Two

• Initiative: Sir Harold 6, The Orc Chieftain 4 - Sir Harold goes first.
• Sir Harold rolls 7 - miss.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 11 - miss.

Round Three

• Initiative: Sir Harold 4, The Orc Chieftain 4 - Sir Harold is first.
• Sir Harold rolls 10 - miss.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 13 - hit! 13 - 2 (Protection) = 11 thus hit is converted to miss.
• Sir Harold rolls 1d6 for Probabilistic Continuation: 5 – continues. Protection remains active and Sir Alric now gains +1 to his DR.

Round Four

• Initiative: Sir Harold 3, The Orc Chieftain 4 - The Orc Chieftain first.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 8 - miss.
• Sir Harold rolls 13 - hit!
• Sir Harold rolls 7 damage. 7 - 3 (DR) = 4 passes through. 4 < SC 10 thus no Stun Check.
• Sir Harold HP: 20
• The Orc Chieftain HP: 31 becomes 27

Round Five

• Initiative: Sir Harold 3, The Orc Chieftain 1 - Sir Harold first.
• Sir Harold rolls 5 - miss.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 11 - miss.

Round Six

• Initiative: Sir Harold 8 (6+2), The Orc Chieftain 5 - Sir Harold first.
• Sir Harold rolls 11 - miss.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 12 - hit! 12 - 2 (Protection) = 10 hit converted to miss.
• Continuation roll: 5 thus Protection continues. Protection remains active. (This is statistically rare.)

Round Seven

• Initiative: Sir Harold 8, The Orc Chieftain 5 - Sir Harold first.
• Sir Harold rolls 10 - miss.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 6 - miss.

Round Eight

• Initiative: Sir Harold 8, The Orc Chieftain 3 - Sir Harold first.
• Sir Harold rolls 5 - miss.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 8 - miss.

Round Nine

• Initiative: Sir Harold 5, The Orc Chieftain 2 - Sir Harold first.
• Sir Harold rolls 11 - miss.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 10 - miss.

Round Ten

• Initiative: Sir Harold 7, The Orc Chieftain 5 - Sir Harold first.
• Sir Harold rolls 15 - hit!
• Margin: 15 - 12 = 3 yields 3 / 2 = 1 (rounded down) +1 Critical Damage.
• Sir Harold rolls 8 damage. 8 + 1 (STR) + 1 (critical) = 10. 10 - 3 (DR) = 7 passes through. 7 < SC 10 thus no Stun Check.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 10 - miss.
• Sir Harold HP: 20
• The Orc Chieftain HP: 27 down to 20

Round Eleven

• Initiative: 3-3 tie - Sir Harold first (1H vs 2H).
• Sir Harold rolls 12 - hit!
• Damage: 4 + 1 = 5. 5 - 3 = 2 passes through.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 3 - miss.
• Sir Harold HP: 20
• The Orc Chieftain HP: 20 reduced to 18

Round Twelve

• Initiative: Sir Harold 8, The Orc Chieftain 3 - Sir Harold first.
• Sir Harold rolls 13 - hit!
• Damage: 6 + 1 = 7. 7 - 3 = 4 passes through.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 12 - hit! 12 - 2 (Protection) = 10 hit converted to miss.
• Continuation roll: 1 thus Protection expires.
• Sir Harold HP: 20
• The Orc Chieftain HP: 18 becomes 16

Round Thirteen

• Initiative: Sir Harold 8, The Orc Chieftain 5 - Sir Harold first.
• Sir Harold rolls 12 - hit!
• Damage: 10 + 1 = 11. 11 - 3 = 7 passes through.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 14 - hit!
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 12 damage. 12 + 2 = 14. 14 - 4 = 10 passes through. 10 > SC 9= Sir Harold must roll Stun Check Resolution.
• Sir Harold rolls 1d6 = 3 – he's stunned and cannot attack.
• Sir Harold HP: 20 becomes 10
• The Orc Chieftain HP: 16 becomes 9

Round Fourteen

• Sir Harold is Stunned.
• The Orc Chieftain goes first.
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 12 - hit!
• The Orc Chieftain rolls 13 damage. 13 + 2 = 15. 15 - 4 = 11 passes through. 11 >= SC 9 therefore he must roll a Stun Check.
• Sir Harold rolls 1 and is knocked down, stunned at -2
• Sir Harold HP: 10 becomes -1 and his is knocked unconscious
• The Orc Chieftain HP: 9

Final Result

The Orc Chieftain wins the fight.

• Sir Harold: -1 HP, unconscious and out of the fight.
• The Orc Chieftain: 9 HP remaining, bloodied but victorious. The coup de grace is his right if he chooses it.

Sir Harold's Protection saved him three times - a literal godsend. It extended the battle dramatically, but was not enough to turn the tide. The Orc Chieftain howls in brutal triumph.

• Makes near-impossible feats possible without breaking tension.
• Keeps heroic actions cinematic: "Your prayer steadies your hand - the strike finds its mark."
• Preserves risk: even with Battle Courage, failure remains possible on extreme tasks.

These abilities do not guarantee victory. They create turning points.

Because they only trigger when converting failure into success (or success into failure), they:

• Heighten drama at the exact moment it matters most.
• Encourage bold play without encouraging reckless certainty.
• Preserve the integrity of the dice.

The player still rolls. The gods merely decide whether the story bends.

Rurik the Barbarian

• Crushing Skill: 4
• Armor HP: 10
• Armor DR: 3
• HP: 18
• Stun Check: 6
• Resist Pain: 2
• Deferred Damage: 0 / 2 (0 point deferred out of 2 allowed by Resist Pain skill)

Hobgoblin Captain

• Crushing Skill: 6
• Strength Bonus: +2
• Weapon Damage: 2d6+2

Characters with negative HP represent extreme injury or shock. Their capabilities are severely limited:

Definition: A character cannot survive if their HP falls below negative Stun Check.

For Example:

A character with 27 HP and a Stun Check of 9 dies immediately upon reaching -9 HP. GMs may delay death for a limited time to suit the needs of the story.

Characters may continue to hold Deferred Damage while at negative HP, as long as they remain conscious. Healing (First Aid, or Prayer) applies to Deferred Damage first, then to HP.

Elric has -2 HP and is holding 3 points of Deferred Damage. The GM allows him to maintain consciousness to retreat slowly with his group:

• Movement is reduced to 1/2 of normal.
• He can carry no items other than clothes and primary weapon.

A teammate performs First Aid, healing 2 points:

1. Healing applies to Deferred Damage first: 3 -> 1 point.
2. Elric remains at -2 HP.
3. Once safe, Elric passes out.
4. Remaining Deferred Damage (1) is applied to HP: -2 -> -3 HP, Deferred Damage = 0.
5. Healing then resumes according to normal rules.

• Deferred Damage allows characters to temporarily hold off injury, enabling cinematic retreats or heroic actions.
• Maintaining consciousness under negative HP is taxing; movement and capabilities are heavily restricted.
• Deferred Damage mechanics interact seamlessly with First Aid and Prayer, providing tactical options for both players and GMs.
• GMs may allow temporary narrative exceptions for cinematic effect, but consequences (e.g., permanent injury or penalties) should follow.

First Aid allows a character to treat wounds using basic medical knowledge, herbs, bandages, and water.

• Can treat one person at a time
• Restores 1d6 HP
• Each character may receive First Aid only once per combat
• A healer may treat multiple characters in the same combat
• Cannot restore more HP than the character lost during the current combat
• Only the first successful First Aid attempt per character per combat restores HP. Subsequent attempts, whether by the same healer or others, have no further effect.

DIFFICULTY	DESCRIPTION
1	Giving aid without distraction or stress
2	Giving aid while moving or hiding
3	Giving aid during crisis or combat

For Example:

Michael takes 12 HP damage in a fight with a gargoyle. After the fight, the ranger (First Aid level 3) gathers herbs, water, and clean cloth to treat his wounds.

• The GM determines this is a Difficulty 1 task and sets a Target Number of 9.
• Player rolls 3d6 = 15 -> Success
• Player rolls 1d6 = 4 and restores 4 HP.
• Michael is now ineligible for additional First Aid during this combat unless he takes further damage.
• However, he remains eligible for Healing Prayer.

See Heal under Prayer.

Heroes heal 4 HP + CO bonus every 24 hours of rest.

Rest means no strenuous activity: no running, marching, or fighting. Normal day-to-day tasks (e.g., eating, bathing, light chores) are allowed.

HP recovery may be prorated every 12 hours at GM discretion.

• 1 hour in cold water (50f/10c) without heat insulating clothing (e.g. wet-suit)
• 1 hour without a jacket in 25f/-4c degree temperature
• 1 hour with only a light coat in -20f/-29c degree temperature
• 1 hour without shelter in a blizzard

• 1 hour in blistering (110f/45c) desert heat without water
• 1 hour working a hot forge in a confined space with little ventilation

Use these examples to define your own extreme conditions. Game Masters remain the final arbiter of what qualifies as "extreme heat or cold" in their campaigns. Be creative! Let the dragon's lair be oppressively hot or the the haunted castle bitter cold.

• +1 check per successful use of the skill in a completed event.
• Focus on outcomes, not dice rolls or minor actions. A "completed event" is a meaningful, self-contained challenge: slaying a foe, scaling a cliff, persuading a chieftain, or purifying a cursed spring.

Combat Examples

• Sword (Blades) vs. three orcs: +3 checks (one per orc defeated successfully).
• A prolonged melee with a troll: +1 check (one major event, regardless of blows landed).

Non-Combat Examples

• Climbing a sheer mountain face with three ledges/sections: +3 checks (one per successful ascent).
• Foraging in hostile woods for a full day's rations: +1 check (one event).
• Prayer (Healing) three wounded allies in battle: +3 checks (one per subject restored).

ATTACKER	WIN %	DEFENDER	WIN %	AVG ROUNDS	BUFF
Fighter	42.0	Barbarian	58.0	9.8	None
Fighter	50.0	Paladin	50.0	17.7	None
Fighter	20.6	Paladin	79.4	21.1	Protection
Fighter	25.6	Paladin	74.4	13.1	Battle Courage
Barbarian	62.6	Paladin	37.4	9.3	None
Barbarian	28.0	Paladin	72.0	11.7	Protection
Barbarian	43.6	Paladin	56.4	7.8	Battle Courage
Paladin	21.5	Paladin	78.5	21.1	Protection
Paladin	26.2	Paladin	73.8	13.1	Battle Courage
Paladin (P)	54.7	Paladin (BC)	45.3	18.1	--

• All Viable: Choose your strategy wisely
  • Short Fights: Two handed weapon + Battle Courage
  • Long Sieges: Sword/Shield + Protection