Always on

• Hack and Slash

  When When you attack an enemy in melee.

  When you attack an enemy in melee, roll +STR. On a 10+, you deal your damage to the enemy and avoid their attack. At your option, you may also deal +1d6 damage but expose yourself to the enemy's attack. On a 7-9, you deal your damage to the enemy and the enemy makes an attack against you.

• Volley

  When When you attack an enemy with a ranged weapon.

  When you take aim and shoot at an enemy at range, roll +DEX. On a 10+, you have a clear shot, deal your damage, and avoid their attack. On a 7-9, choose one, you have to move to get the shot placing you in danger as described by the GM, you have to take what you can get minus 1d6 damage, or you have to take several shots reducing your ammo by one.

• Defy Danger

  When When you act despite an imminent threat or suffer a danger.

  When you respond to a threatening event or danger, roll +STAT appropriate to the danger. On a 10+, you do what you set out to, the threat doesn't come to bear, and you avoid it cleanly. On a 7-9, you flinch, hesitate, or stumble, the GM offers a worse outcome, hard bargain, or ugly choice. On a 6-, the GM makes a move.

• Defend

  When When you stand in defense of a person, item, or location under attack.

  When you stand in defense of a person, item, or location under attack, roll +CON. On a 10+, hold 3. On a 7-9, hold 1. So long as you stand in defense, when you or the thing you defend is attacked you may spend hold 1 for 1 to choose an option, halve the attack's effect or damage, open up the attacker to an ally giving that ally +1 forward against the attacker, deal damage to the attacker equal to your level, or deflect or redirect the attack back at the attacker. On a 6-, you still hold 1, but the threat escalates immediately.

• Spout Lore

  When When you recall or research knowledge about a person, place, or thing.

  When you consult your accumulated knowledge about something, roll +INT. On a 10+, the GM will tell you something interesting and useful about the subject relevant to your situation. On a 7-9, the GM will only tell you something interesting, it's on you to make it useful. On a 6-, the GM will tell you something disappointing or off-target, and may ask how you learned of such things.

• Discern Realities

  When When you survey a situation, creature, or place closely.

  When you study a charged situation or a person carefully, roll +WIS. On a 10+, ask the GM 3 questions from the list. On a 7-9, ask 1. The GM must answer honestly. Questions include what happened here recently, what is about to happen, what here is useful or valuable, what is about to be done, what is hidden here, and who is really in control.

• Parley

  When When you try to convince someone to do something by offering leverage.

  When you try to convince someone of something with leverage, roll +CHA. Leverage is concrete, immediate, and meaningful. On a 10+, they do what you ask if you first promise what they want or if your leverage is strong enough. On a 7-9, they'll do it, but only if you offer something they want, or they need more concrete assurance, evidence, or payment. On a 6-, their reaction is up to the GM.

• Spellbook

  When When you prepare or maintain your collection of magical knowledge.

  You have mastered a particular spellbook. It begins with three spells of your choice. You may also inscribe new spells into it by studying and copying them from captured spellbooks, ancient libraries, or magical teachers. If you lose your spellbook, all prepared spells from it are lost until you recover or replace it.

• Prepare Spells

  When When you spend time preparing your magical arsenal from your spellbook.

  When you take a few quiet moments to study your spellbook and prepare your spells, choose your spells for the day. You prepare your INT modifier plus 1 spells. When you cast a spell, mark off a prepared spell and then choose one of the effects listed for that spell. If the spell says no prepared spell is marked, do not mark one. You can prepare the same spell multiple times if you want to cast it more than once.

• Cast a Spell

  When When you unleash a prepared magical effect from your spellbook.

  When you release raw magical power by speaking the words of a prepared spell, mark off the spell and roll +INT. On a 10+, the spell is cast and you do not draw unwanted attention or suffer a mishap. On a 7-9, the spell is cast, but choose one, draw unwelcome attention or attract the GM's attention, the spell disturbs the fabric of reality placing you in a spot the GM chooses, the spell takes a toll on you or the situation, or after the spell you must choose one, forget the spell until you prepare again, the spell's casting drains you giving you -1 forward to cast a spell, or you lose control and the GM makes a move.

• Arcane Ward

  When When you begin a battle or invoke protective magic around yourself.

  When you weave a lasting magical barrier around yourself, hold 4. Spend 1 hold to reduce damage from an attack by your level, after armor. The barrier lasts until you make camp or until you dismiss it. When you cast a spell while the ward is active, you may spend 1 hold to avoid one mishap or unwanted attention from the casting.

• Spell Mastery

  When When you prepare spells or quickly adapt your prepared magic.

  Your knowledge and discipline allow you to keep more magic ready. When you Prepare Spells, prepare one additional spell. In addition, once per day you may replace one prepared spell with another from your spellbook without taking extra time, as long as you have a brief moment to collect yourself.

• Empowered Magic

  When When you cast a spell successfully.

  When you cast a spell and roll a 10+, you may choose to cast it with greater force. If you do, add +1d4 damage or +1 ongoing to its effect, but the GM may also introduce a visible magical complication or tell you how your power leaves a mark on the world.

• Arcane Sight

  When When you examine magic at work or study a spell closely.

  When you study a magical effect, enchantment, rune, ward, or spell, you always get some sense of how it functions. On a 10+, ask the GM three questions about its source, duration, purpose, weakness, or price. On a 7-9, ask one. You also take +1 forward when you directly manipulate the same magic.

• Spell Defense

  When When a spell or magical effect is used against you.

  When a spell or magical effect targets you, roll +INT. On a 10+, you turn the magic aside, reflect it, or negate it completely, your choice if the fiction supports it. On a 7-9, you reduce the effect, redirect part of it, or suffer only a reduced consequence. On a 6-, the GM's magic still lands, but you get a brief glimpse of the force behind it.

• Elemental Mastery

  When When you bind your magic to a chosen element.

  When you cast a spell that affects an element you have named and studied deeply, choose one, fire, ice, lightning, stone, wind, water, shadow, or light. That element becomes your favored element. While working with it, take +1 ongoing to related spellcasting and defy danger rolls involving that element.

• Conservation of Force

  When When your spell resolves with perfect control.

  When you cast a spell on a 10+, you may choose to retain a sliver of the spell's power. If you do, mark one less prepared spell the next time you cast a spell of that same school or purpose, as long as you keep your concentration and no one forces you to stop and rest.

• Master Tutor

  When When you instruct others in arcane method or ritual practice.

  When you explain the logic of a magical theory, device, or ritual to an ally, they take +1 forward to use it or work with it. If they act in exact accordance with your instructions, you may also take +1 forward to your next Spout Lore or Cast a Spell concerning the same subject.

• Cold Calculation

  When When you rely on pure analysis rather than instinct.

  When you stare down danger with inhuman patience, you may substitute +INT for +WIS on Discern Realities and Defy Danger if the threat is primarily intellectual, magical, or tactical. If you do, describe the cold calculation behind your response.

• Name of Power

  When When you invoke the true name of something you have researched.

  When you spend a moment speaking the true name of a creature, artifact, or place from your research, the GM will tell you one binding truth about it. On a 10+, you may also ask how it can be controlled, weakened, or compelled.

• Warding Geometry

  When When you draw a protective working into a surface or space.

  When you create a magical barrier, sigil, circle, or ward in a place you can see and trace, it holds against mundane intrusion until disturbed or dispelled. If you spend time reinforcing it, it can also block one supernatural intrusion or force before collapsing.

• Battle Mind

  When When combat begins and you have prepared magic ready.

  When you enter battle with a prepared spell already in mind, take +1 forward to your first Cast a Spell roll. If your first cast hits a 10+, also gain 1 hold that you may spend later to ignore a single casting complication or to stabilize a spell gone wrong.

• Lore Seeker

  When When you uncover or earn new magical knowledge.

  When you rest in a place of power, study an ancient site, or complete a significant magical experiment, choose one new spell from your class list or a spell the GM agrees is appropriate. Add it to your spellbook if you can justify the source.

• Court Sorcery

  When When you cast enchantments through force of personality and will.

  When you use magic to manipulate the emotions, memories, or loyalties of a creature that can understand you, roll +CHA instead of +INT. On a 10+, the effect is clean and convincing. On a 7-9, the GM will tell you what cost, flaw, or risk remains attached to the target's compliance.

• Perfect Ritual

  When When you center yourself before a major spell.

  When you spend a moment aligning your breath, runes, and intent, regain your composure. Clear one ongoing penalty from magical strain, and the next spell you cast before making camp is treated as though you rolled a 10+ if you also accept a visible magical tell.

• Forest Memory

  When When you move through wild elven lands or an old forest.

  Elven blood remembers old roads and older magic. When you travel through a natural forest or ancient grove, you can move silently and find hidden paths as if they were familiar halls. Take +1 forward to avoid detection, navigate, or Spout Lore about the place.

• Bonded Focus Weapon

  When When you bind yourself to a favored weapon.

  Choose one weapon you own. It becomes your bonded focus. While you hold or wield it, you may channel spell energy through it, and the GM will tell you one curious magical property it has. If it is lost or broken, you feel its absence keenly and take -1 ongoing to Cast a Spell until you recover or replace it.

• TraitElfKeen elven senses and long memory.
• TraitElfGraceful movement through wild places.
• TraitElfInnate affinity for old magic and ancient places.