Squire Pre-release

Description

+Vigor, +Spirit, +Will*

*Choose from among all three when determining your two Class-based Personality Traits (the final may come from any Stat).

“As a father you shall be to me,” said Merry. “For a little while,” said Théoden.

— — The Return of the King

You are a committed trainee, motivated by dreams of greatness. Your role is primarily supportive, assisting and protecting your allies, but occasionally you can flip the script to step into the spotlight yourself, though your swingy, acting-heavy playstyle can make big moments risky and inconsistent.

Conduits designing a mission for you should try to ensure you have plenty of engaging, emotional plot hooks to get invested in. You are the ultimate underdog, provoking sympathy even in your enemies, so if the Conduit wants to really challenge you they could try creating NPCs whose hearts are wholly unable to be touched.

Grounded in actual medieval squiredom and associated tropes concerning duty, hero worship, and coming of age.

Examples from literature and pop culture include:

  • Sancho Panza (Don Quixote)
  • Podrick Payne (A Song of Ice and Fire)
  • Robin (DC Comics)
  • Ahsoka (Star Wars)
  • Ringo (Blue Eye Samurai)
  • Raphtalia (The Rising of the Shield Hero)
  • Adoring Fan (The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion)

Challenge Level: Mid

Edition: Advent v2

Public: Yes

Signature Gear

Base Gear

Waster

Base

Wooden training sword.

Parrying Boost
Mid
Durability Boost
Mid
  • Pitch how a combat action taken with this sword goes completely wrong to gain a Low Boost to a related physical attribute, such as strength, agility, or toughness.
    • Low–High Cooldown, inversely scaling on how consequential the Pitched combat mishap was. (e.g. Somehow being disarmed by a feeble enemy would have a High Cooldown; being disarmed by a deadly enemy would have a Low Cooldown.)

Favor Token

Base

Meaningful keepsake, given to the owner by someone they care about.

Uses
1x
  • Portray a Turning Point reminiscing about the person who gave the owner this token to receive an Insight on a relevant topic themed around that person.
    • Up to High Impact, scaling on how poignantly you portray this Turning Point.
  • If someone gives the owner a meaningful keepsake after this is used, it becomes another Favor Token.

Polishing Rag

Base
Uses
3x
  • When used to thoroughly wipe down a fitting object over a Low Duration, that object gains a Mid Boost to its splendor and durability for a Mid Duration.
    • When targeting someone else’s possession, you may also choose a supernatural property it carries with up to Mid Impact to improve by one Power Rating for this Duration as well.

Elective Gear

Shining Armor

Elective

Suit of medium armor.

  • This armor gains Boosted defense and glows brightly, the glare from which only affects enemies, scaling Low–High on how morally upstanding non-enemies broadly perceive the owner to be.
    • If any non-enemy condemns the owner, these Boosts are inverted, the armor becoming flimsy and shabby.

Heirloom Weapon

Elective

Passed down over generations. Must be Reskinned as a mundane weapon that could qualify as a Common Item.

  • Portray a Turning Point of spiritual connection with this weapon to enter an Altered State of meditative self-assurance, fighting with High Boosts to both this weapon’s deadliness and the owner’s precision and hand speed (Low Duration, Mid Cooldown).

Escutcheon

Elective

Elaborate heraldic shield carrying the coat of arms of a family, order, or similar group.

  • Blocks magical attacks as though they were physical.
  • If the owner formally declares their affiliation with the group linked to the coat of arms on this shield, you may Pitch that a target already knows of that group and thinks well of them (Mid Cooldown).

Abilities

By Your Leave

Perform a simple, succinct physical task that has been given to you with Boosted speed and effectiveness.

Essence Cost
Low
Boost Duration
Low
Cooldown
Low

Paired Action: Earnestly acknowledge the task and its giver.

  • If the task is completed to satisfaction, its giver will be more inclined to trust and appreciate the user, scaling Low–Mid on how important the task was.
  • Explicit approval or praise from the task giver will restore up to a Mid amount of the user’s Stamina or Essence, scaling on how meaningful it is to the user (1x Use per giver).

Entrust

Receive a useful or valuable item from a target whose trust you have earned, which gains a novel magical power while in your possession.

Essence Cost
Mid
Cooldown
High

Paired Action: Portray a Turning Point of mutual trust with the target, Pitching the item they give your character.

  • May target another agent, with their player's permission; rather than making a Pitch, that player chooses which item is given.
  • The user becomes fully able to use the item and gains an Expertise with it, if applicable.
  • Magical power is also Pitched by the player, themed around what the user admires about the target, with Impact scaling up to High on how approving that target would be of how the item is currently being used. (e.g. A sword acquired from a target admired for their mercy could heal a wound it inflicted; at High Impact it could even mend a fatal one.)
  • If the user willingly returns the item, this Ability’s Cooldown is negated.

Be Brave

Enter into a hopeless duel against one or more targets who clearly outclass you.

Essence Cost
Mid
Post-Duel Duration
Mid
Cooldown
Mid

Paired Action: Portray a Turning Point of courage despite apparent fear of the target(s).

  • Inspires admiration and concern in onlookers and enhances their Heartening towards the user, scaling on how outclassed the user is.
  • The duel lasts until one party is badly injured or surrenders. If the user loses the duel without surrendering, the targets are compelled to leave them and their allies alone.
    • The user is miraculously spared death, and wounds they incur are patched up enough that they won’t get worse.