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Bard Skill 3

Class Skill: Bard (1-5)

Description:

The Bard Skill and the three other special ability groups add a significant amount of customizibility to the Bard class. Each skill level features roughly ten abilities that the bard can learn (one per level), with the bard free to pick and choose which ones to learn. These are outlined below and on the other skill level pages.

Unlike in most systems, the success of the bard's skills are neither automatic nor based on the roll of the dice (unless otherwise noted) but on the player's ability to actually recall or otherwise perform the actions outlined in the skill (e.g. he must be able to recite The Bravery of the Doomed from memory to use the skill).

Skills*

• Sing an Epic Saga: As the bard's skill continues to grow, he begins to better put to words he and his allies' journey. Any attempts to tell the story to NPCs get a +10 bonus to the Chance of Success and improve the NPCs' attitude, and those of the NPC's collegues, by one tier. At this level the bard may Sing to multiple NPCs at a -2 penalty for each additional NPC.

Requires: Sing an Epic Tale

• Observation (Level 3): The Bard has learned to focus powerfully on the actions of others, and even on the intended actions of others. Assuming the bard has witnessed an ability being used, even if unsuccessfully, he can attempt to use this skill to replicate the feat, assuming he meets all prerequisites aside from level. The base modifier for a successful execution is -(2+10/n) where n is the number of times the bard has seen the skill attempted (since even a failure can teach him something). Additionally, a penalty of -n/10 is exacted for every level higher than the bard the original was at the time he last witnessed this skill used. If the bard was of the higher level, no penalty or bonus is taken. The bard may only use this skill as many times a day as he has INT points.

Requires Observation (Level 2)

• The Hymn of Undying Fantasy : The Bard, quite simply, sings The Hymn of Undying Fantasy, inspiring his allies. +6 to everyone's Stamina for 2d10 turns.

• Lesson from Lore To Come: The bard calls upon the knowledge of bards yet to be in order to find the solution to a problem. The Bard recieves a vision of events related to the problem causing this skill to be used from up to one day in the future (at GM's discretion)

Requires Lessons from Forgotten Lore

• Nightmarish Painting: The bard, an eternal artist, draws up a quick sketch of a character (PC or not). If the sketch is deemed strange and unpleasant enough by either the GM or the player in question, then the character whose sketch the bard did will gain -6 Confidence and (if an NPC) will go up an attitude tier with respect to the bard. The character will be permanently affected by the painting and loses 1 constitution on a critical success.

• Con: The bard attempts to convince an NPC to relinquish money or goods. Success is determined by rolling 1d10 + Language + the bard's level versus the NPC's level + the NPC's Sarcasm + Intelligence/the NPC's current attitude tier toward the bard. Treat failure as a failed Theft.

• Ballad of Sorrow: The bard attempts to depress an opponent (in or out of battle) by relating a melancholy and distressing tale (such as reciting part of the Dying Death of the Star-Crossed Lovers Who Finally Found Happiness Only To Have It Taken Away By a Short-Minded Individual, But Whose Tragic Tale Will Live On Forever). Both the target must make a simple constitution check, but the bard may add his Language/3 to his roll. If the target fails the check, it spends the next 3d9 turns curled up in a ball crying quietly. This causes -1 morale to all the targets team-mates.

• Tai-Chi: All target foes in the vicinity must roll a Wisdom check or lose aggressive feeling for 1d3 turns. On critical success the Bard may roll an Unarmed attack to break an opponent's bones (that is what Tai-Chi is based on, after all). Critical failure causes the Bard to strain a muscle and misses 1d2 turns.

Requires Ballet

• Sexual Quip of An Erotic nature: A short tale involving erotic behaviour of the sort not used in refined company. Restores 10 SEP and boosts confidence by 1 for 4d4 turns or the next hour.

• Insturmental: The bard plays an instrument on the spot in an effort to weaken the stamina of the target. The PC may hum/whistle if no instrument is available. GM judges based on sense of rythm and tone.