Boons and Burdens

Tony

Musician (free)
The character is a talented musician and possibly trained in the art of singing and playing an instrument. He can
give himself or his group of allies a +1 bonus on all Persuasive tests; everyone likes to hear a good song. A musician’s
skills can even save the character’s life, as a beautiful voice and the sound of well-tuned strings can calm members
of the monster category Beasts – if no one threatens the creature, a [Persuasive←Resolute] test will stop it from
attacking. The character and its allies may then back away and find another route forward.
Musician can be acquired multiple times, up to a maximum bonus of +3 on relevant tests.

Tough
The character has a tough body and a strong soul, meaning that his or her heart keeps beating when the hearts of
others would give up. A player character with the boon Tough may always roll death tests with two dice and choose
to accept the most favourable outcome.

Arch Enemy Baron Carnus (burden)

The character has, by actions or name, made an arch enemy. This individual has devoted his or her existence to
destroying – and in the end, taking – the character’s life. At least once during each adventure, the influence of the
arch enemy will show. He or she primarily acts through others; hiring thugs or spreading lies in the hope that
others will make life difficult for the character. Exactly who this arch enemy is, why he or she hates the character
and what resources are at hand, is for the player and Game Master to decide. However, it cannot be someone who
is easily avoided or stopped from acting out his or her hatred.

Dagmar

Beast Tongue (free)

The character can speak to creatures from the monster category Beasts. Beasts have their limitations but can answer
questions about which creatures are in, or have travelled through, an area, and also estimate their numbers (one,
two or many). The beasts do not perform any services; they talk to the character as if they were equals.

Mirage
The person has a mystical gift and may weave momentary mirages from thin air; flames that emit no heat jump
between his or her hands, tiny figures of light dance in the air, and so on. The character can also weave false images
over smaller objects, for instance making pebbles appear as shining coins. Over time, the mirage will not fool anyone
as its effect wears off at the end of the scene.
With Mirage, the person may roll against Persuasive to dupe someone into accepting fake goods or payment in the
form of illusory coins, to a maximum “value” of a hundred thaler. Also, Mirage grants +1 to Persuasive when the
player character threatens someone with “powerful magic.”

Bestial (burden)
The player character has a bestial appearance, in the form of one (or a few) conspicuous traits – jakaar eyes, aboar
tusks, lindworm scales on arms and neck, or something else arousing fear and disgust. Concealing the traits requires
the character to pass a [Discreet←Vigilant] test. If the test is failed, the character will have a second chance at
failing all Persuasive tests concerning pleas for help or protection. However, the bestial exterior grants a second
chance to pass all Persuasive tests meant to threaten or intimidate. As soon as they can, those subjected to the
character’s intimidation – whether or not it is successful – will report him or her to the Town Watch (or similar
authorities) as a suspected abomination.
John

Fire Forged (free)

The character was born beneath a glowing celestial phenomenon or was the only one to survive a devastating fire.
He or she has a mystical +1 protection against fire and has also a +1 bonus on all success tests related to the use of,
or resistance to, fire and flames.

Bloodhound
The player character has a developed sense for finding people, no matter if the traces of their presence are found
on the ground, in a lair or among discovered belongings. The character has a +1 bonus on Vigilant and Cunning
tests to find and follow tracks, or to figure out where someone is hiding.
Bloodhound can be acquired multiple times, up to a maximum bonus of +3 on relevant tests.

Dark Secret (burden)

The character has some kind of dark secret, which threatens to destroy his or her reputation and life if revealed.
Maybe the character has been a member of a corrupted cult, killed someone, or protected a murderer and never
gotten caught. Should the dark secret become publicly known, the character gets one of the burdens Pariah or
Wanted instead, depending on the secret. Once per adventure there is a risk for exposure; the character must roll a
Discreet test during each adventure, a test with a second chance to succeed. If failed, someone discovers a clue which
can lead to the truth. Maybe some kind of physical evidence surfaces (a letter, for instance)? Is it a witness claiming
to have seen something or is the character talking in his sleep? Whether the suspicious person is a non-player
character or a character, the one with the dark secret must lay their curiosity to rest or suffer the consequences.
Note that a non-player character may want to extort, rather than expose, the character.

Gaz

Cat Burglar (free)

The character is trained to open locks, latches and bolts, and gets a +1 bonus on all tests to pick locks – the test is
made against Quick if the burglar is in a hurry or against Discreet when the challenge is to not alert anyone on the
other side of the door. A Discreet test is also rolled to conceal that the lock has been picked, should someone
investigate later on.
Cat Burglar can be acquired multiple times, up to a maximum bonus of +3 on relevant tests.

Poison Resilient
By carefully exposing himself to toxins, the character has built up a remarkable resilience. Poisons affect the
character at one tier lower than normal – a strong poison has the effect of a moderate dose; moderate becomes
weak and a weak dose only inflicts 1 point of damage during the turns it is active. The time-frame is not affected,
only the amount of damage per turn. Regarding toxins that have other negative effects than damage, the character
has instead a second chance on tests to resist them.

Wanted (burden)
The character is wanted for a serious crime, either justly or falsely accused. The effect is that he or she risks getting
recognized and hunted. Once per adventure, the character must pass a Discreet test to avoid being identified.