Originally designed to protect books while in transit back to the library, Librarians soon found they could apply this protective covering to just about anything. This reward covers the item (which the librarian must be touching) with a magical AV -2 film. This effect is cumulative when used to cover other armor. It looks just like a clear thick plastic covering. The covering protects the item against as many attacks as the librarian has levels in the power. The hero may cover an item with a size up to the level of the power plus 1. It takes 1 minute per size increment and you can cover as many items per day as you have levels in the reward. So at level 3, the librarian could cover a size 4 item in 4 minutes and it would remain protected until it was hit 3 times. The coating also keeps the item water resistant and of course from getting dirty. It is not recommended for use on humans as it makes it difficult to move and, in the case of facial covering, breathe. Parental Warning: Keep away from children - this plastic film is not a toy!
Download
"I know Kung-Fu!" - Neo
Over the years, a tremendous amount of data has been stored in the area of the Hunting Grounds known as the Net. This data is comprised of a dizzying array of diverse topics and subjects, its actual limits now known only by the tech spirits that make the Net their home. Through long term use of the Computer at the Grand Library, some Librarians have discovered that, through intense concentration, they are able to open their minds to the Net and, with the help of the tech spirits there, actually download information on desired subjects, in effect instantaneously learning a skill. This knowledge is fleeting, however. Since the information is gained in the form of raw data through less than conventional means, the skill fades over a relatively short period of time. Also, the process of opening one's consciousness to the Net is a delicate thing and not to be done lightly; the possible gains are significant, but so are the dangers.
The Download reward is not available to Librarians until they reach the rank of Librarian Proper. At this point it can be purchased with Bounty as normal, assuming that the Librarian can get to the Grand Library at Sacramento, can get time on the Computer and can be shown by another Librarian of equal or higher rank (that has the reward already) how it works. It can also be purchased during creation under the normal Reward guidelines, provided the character has a Rank of 3 or higher.
In using the Download reward, the Librarian must spend an action, eyes closed, in intense concentration. During this brief time, the Librarian opens his mind to the Net and asks the tech spirits - specifically those related to the electronic storage of data - for assistance in finding the information on a specific subject. He then must make a Faith roll, based upon his rank in the reward. If successful, the Librarian instantly gains the information in the form of an aptitude on his next action. Duration of the newly gained aptitude is one hour, plus an additional hour for each raise above the TN made on the Faith roll. The number of dice in the aptitude is equal to their level in the reward, while the aptitude's coordination is equal to their own natural coordination in the related trait.
Rank TN for Faith Roll
1 11
2 9
3 7
4 5
5 3
Using this reward is not easy, and it gets more difficult (and dangerous) each time the Librarian uses it without allowing his mind to rest through sleep. Each time the Librarian Downloads per day, he increases the TN for using the ability the next time by a step (the player and marshal needs to keep track). This would mean that the second time a Librarian with rank of 1 in the reward tried to Download without resting, his TN on the Faith roll would be 13...the third time 15...and so on. A minimum of one hour of sleep is required for each use of the reward in order to reestablish the original TN of the Faith roll.
Should the Librarian fail the Faith roll, something bad happened in the process of Downloading - roll 1d6 and consult the following list to determine the result:
1 - System Crash - The Librarian asked the wrong spirit for help, and receives a backlash of psychic energy. Take 2d10 damage to the head, +1 for each point he missed the TN by. The Librarian may not use Download again until after a period of lengthy, uninterrupted slumber (1 hour per use of Download that day x 2).
2 - Corrupted File - The Librarian has Downloaded some bad data that affects his memory. The Librarian temporarily loses the use of ALL attributes in the trait related to the attribute he was Downloading. Duration for the memory loss is one hour for each point he missed the TN by. The Librarian may not use Download again until after a period of uninterrupted slumber (1 hour per use of Download that day).
3 - Lost Connection - The Librarian lost connection with the tech spirit retrieving the data. No attribute gained, but the attempt was strenuous - gain an additional step on the next Download attempt TN.
4 - Slow Server - The spirit the Librarian asked for help is taking its own sweet time in getting the data. If the Librarian wants the data , he must remain in total uninterrupted concentration, maintaining the connection for additional time until he receives it. This additional time is equal to one minute for each point he missed the TN by. The connection can be broken off with no penalty.
5 - Incomplete File - The information is received, but it's not quite all there. The Librarian receives a -1 penalty for each point he missed the TN by on all rolls using the newly gained attribute.
6 - Data Retrieved - It was a bit dodgy there for a moment, but the Librarian received the desired information.
Example: Brigid the Librarian finds herself without her gun, facing a mutant armed with a axe while exploring the ruins of a museum. The only handy weapon is a sword resting on a nearby display case, but she's never used one in her life. Grabbing the blade, she closes her eyes and attempts to Download the information as the mutant advances toward her. Brigid has not Downloaded yet that day, and has a rank of 3 in the reward making her TN on the Faith roll a base of 7. Attempting to make contact, she rolls a 13 - a success with a raise. Since her Nimbleness (the related trait) is d10 and her rank in the reward is 3, she gains the attribute "Fightin' Sword: 3d10" for the next 2 hours - definitely long enough to take the mutie out.