Example of Combat, Social Challenges, Magic, and other things

Jacob Vilmarch, an Akashic Brother, and Luann Orden, a Dreamspeaker, are trapped in a meeting room, as a magic-bred monster tries to beat the door down. Since this is a situation where timing is critical, they’ve decided to go into Turns, even though they aren’t really in combat yet.

1. Declaration

Jacob’s player declares that they’re going into Combat Turns. Luann and the monster (played by an ST) agree to join. The other players who are nearby decide that they don’t want their characters involved in this scene. Now, Jacob, Luann, and the ST are the only three people involved in this scene – except for special circumstances, nobody can join the fight, and nobody can leave unless they make successful escape Challenges. They decide to go off to another room so that they don’t interrupt the other players while they have their fight.

2. Challenges

Turn One

Luann decides to make a Social Challenge, while Jacob is making a Mental Challenge.

Luann’s Social Attributes add up to 11, so she has a Social Initiative of 11.

“Jacob, you’re the brave Akashic here. Get in front of me!” Luann wants to use Jacob as a shield, but Jacob is unwilling. She adds her Presence + Influence and rolls a D6, getting a total of 8. Jacob totals his Resolve + Influence and rolls a D6, getting a total of 6. At this point, Jacob’s player is not technically forced to stand in front of Luann, but it would be bad roleplaying not to do so. Luann backs behind Jacob.

The magic monster has a Physical Initiative of 10. The ST has decided that breaking down the door will take 1d6 turns, minus the creature’s Offense. However, Jacob and Luann don’t know what its Offense is, and they don’t know how long they have.

Jacob has a Mental Initiative of 7, and uses his turn to use a Prime Rote to charge his fists with pure energy. This Rote requires 2 Paradox and 1 Quintessence, so he drops two white chips and one blue chip in a nearby chip can or places them on a table. He doesn’t have to make a challenge for his magic to succeed; it takes effect automatically.

Turn Two

Jacob has a Physical Initiative of 11, but holds his action for the moment, waiting for the creature.

On its Physical Initiative of 10, the creature bursts through the door! The Storyteller says that anyone with a Composure of 4 or less will lose their action because of the terrifying appearance of the thing. Luann is fine with losing her action, but Jacob doesn’t want to, and spends a point of Willpower to keep his cool. He places one red chip in a chip can.

Jacob lunges at the creature, adding Offense + Brawl, and rolling a D6. He gets 13. The creature defends with Dexterity + Brawl + D6, getting 9. The creature marks off a level of Lethal damage (Lethal because of Jacob’ Rote from the previous round). It howls in pain, but who knows how many Health Levels this thing has?

Turn Three

Jacob attacks again on 11, getting a Trait Total of 11. The creature gets a Trait Total of 11 as well on its defense, and the defender wins on ties. No damage.

The creature strikes Jacob, getting a total of 12 to his 9. Jacob marks off a single level of Lethal damage. Jacob only has three lethal levels, so he’s already getting worried.

Luann wants to run past the creature and out the door. She must win a Physical Challenge to get past the creature. She does so on her Physical Initiative of 7, rolling Offense + Dodge to avoid his attacks and get past him. Even though this uses Dodge, it is technically an attack action, and the creature ‘defends’ with Dexterity + Brawl. Luann puts a Willpower point into this action, because she really wants to succeed. She gains +2 to her Trait Total. With that bonus, she gets 9 total, and the creature gets 8. She slips by him and out into the hallway.

Turn Four

Jacob grabs a metal chair and swings it at the creature. Although this is a cool description, it is a simple Offense + Brawl attack. He scores another level of Lethal damage.

The creature takes another chunk out of Jacob, doing another level of Lethal damage and bringing him down to 1 Lethal level remaining.

Since the creature is not pursuing Luann, she can freely escape from the combat. She removes herself from combat, and will be unable to reenter the scene until it is completed. Jacob curses under his breath, as he’s now facing this thing alone.

Turn Five

Jacob goes on his Mental Initiative of 7. Jacob takes a moment to step back and enact a defensive Rote, using Forces. It will give him +2 against any attacks for the rest of the Turn.

The creature has a Mental Initiative of 5, and also takes advantage of this lull in combat, as runes appear all over its body and close its wounds. Whichever wicked sorcerer created this creature gave it an enchantment which would allow it to heal two Health Levels, but only once. Jacob’s jaw drops in terror as the ragged wounds he dealt instantly close up.

Turn Six

Jacob decides that now is a good time to flee. He rolls Offense + Dodge, only getting 8. The creature spends a Willpower, not wishing to allow this mortal to live, and gets a total of 11. Jacob cannot escape, but does not take any damage, since this was a defensive action from the creature, not offensive.

As his offensive action on his Physical Initiative of 10, the creature strikes again, sending Jacob sprawling into a bloody heap on the floor. Jacob has taken three Lethal health levels, and has none left. Jacob cannot do anything but lie there. The creature does not, however, decide to do a coup-de-gras to finish Jacob, but instead yanks the magical medallion he wears from around his neck and dashes out of the room. Jacob slowly struggles to his feet, knowing that it will be several weeks before he is at full health again. What was that thing? Why did they want his medallion? Jacob limps out of the room, looking for Luann; he needs all the help he can get…even from a shaman who left him alone to die.