Actions: U
4 actions, from Unexpected Falcons to Upgrade Defenses.
Unexpected Falcons · Unexpected Patrol · Unleash Psyche · Upgrade Defenses
Unexpected Falcons
Overcome 3 successes; DC 35 Deception, DC 33 Diplomacy, DC 37 Intimidation
Requirements The PCs got a critical failure while attempting to Contact Steel Falcons. This Complication can occur whenever the GM sees fit.
The Steel Falcons are performing their own heist to rescue their captain, Wallen Iuphasti, and they and the PCs encounter each other suddenly. Expecting trouble, the Steel Falcons have weapons drawn and are poised to attack. To overcome this encounter, the PCs quickly talk down the Vaethath operatives.
Failure The Steel Falcons become more vocal and threatening, and a brief fight breaks out. This increases the Awareness Point total by 3 (instead of the normal 1 for a failure).Critical Failure As failure, but increase Awareness by 5.Unexpected Patrol
Trigger Awareness reaches 6 or 10.
Overcome 2 successes; DC 37 Deception, DC 37 Perception, DC 35 Stealth
The PCs notice a group of guards on patrol that's only seconds away from stumbling upon them. The PCs seek out a place to hide, look for a alternate route around the guards, or craft cunning lies.
Unleash Psyche
Class Psychic
Trigger Your turn begins.
Requirements You're in an encounter, you Cast a Spell on your previous turn, and you aren't stupefied.
You call on the depths of your mind and let psychic power flood through. Your Psyche remains Unleashed for 2 rounds or until your fall unconscious, whichever comes first. You can't voluntarily quell your unleashed psyche. While your Psyche is Unleashed, the following effects occur.
- You're constantly surrounded by the visual manifestation of your psychic magic.
- When you cast a damaging spell, you gain a status bonus to its damage equal to double the spell's level. This applies only to spells that don't have a duration and that you cast using psychic spellcasting.
- You can use actions that have the psyche trait.
After your unleashed psyche subsides, your mind must recover from the strain of channeling its full power. You can't use Unleash Psyche again for 2 rounds, and you're stupefied 1 for 2 rounds.
Dark Archive, page 12.
Upgrade Defenses
Requirements Crafting (master), Specialty Crafting (stonemasonry), or hired stonemason; organized specialists
You bolster Trairaes's walls with metal braces, skillful engineering, and other supports. This upgrade takes 40 days of work and a DC 25 Crafting check.
GM Note: The effects of this upgrade come into play when Trairaes is attacked in the final adventure of Age of Ashes, but until then these upgraded defenses are largely cosmetic. (If you add additional encounters in which the castle is attacked during the next few adventures, be sure to keep any upgraded defenses in mind.)
Age of Ashes #2: Cult of Cinders, page 73.