Battlecraft is a powerful combat Art found exclusively among members of House Scathach. House legend states that this Art was created by Scathach herself after her defeat in the battle with Gwydion which made her barren. Designed to compliment the already formidable skills of the members of House Scathach, it has entrenched their status as dangerous killers and warriors.
Members of Houses Dougal, Eiluned and Gwydion may neither learn nor benefit in any way from this Art.
Attribute: Dexterity.
This basic cantrip allows a member of House Scathach to call their allies to their side. It can be used to marshall people before, during and after a battle, or as a homing beacon if captured or lost. Those summoned by the cantrip automatically know where to find the caster.
System: The Realm is determined by the identity of the people to be summoned. The number of successes determine who gets to the caster, subject to Storyteller discretion - it isn't always the physically closest ones that hears the Call To Arms!
This unusual cantrip forges a telepathic network between the caster and other people. Such links are usually used for instant communication in combat or to maintain contact during a covert operation.
System: The Realm determines who is linked into the network - Scene does not have to be used to cast it on multiple targets. The recipients only have to be known to the caster, not visible. If this is cast after Call To Arms, it recieves one automatic success.
This cantrip is used mainly to set up assassination attempts, or as a good way of spying. The caster becomes an oozing shadow, able to slip through cracks, slither up walls and is very difficult to seen through. From this form, the changeling can attack their intended target swiftly and suddenly, using the element of surprise.
System: The Realm determines who is to benefit from this cantrip. Each success adds one to the target numbers to any rolls to see the caster. The caster is basically a shadow, and cannot be harmed. When the changeling wants to attack, the shadow immediately dissipates, but recieves a -2 difficulty to hit and adds the number of hit successes to the damage pool. Additionally, opponents recieve a -2 initiative penalty next round.
Type: Wyrd.
This dangerous cantrip allows for a significant advantage in combat. The changeling is capable of striking with amazing speed, accuracy and power. Most fights against a Scathach with this cantrip end very quickly.
System: The recipient of the cantrip is determined by the Realm. This cantrip can only be cast before combat and lasts for the first round or one scene, whichever comes first. In the first round of combat, the changeling recieves a number of successes equal to the number of casting successes. These successes may be divided between initiative, to hit and damage successes for the first round only. This may not be recast until combat is over, and any unused successes are gone in the next round.
Casting this before combat generally makes the changeling tense and edgy (+1 to all difficulties) and the changeling must make a Willpower (8) roll to not attack if surprised in any way (a surprise birthday party, for example). Botching this cantrip has the same effect as botching the Dragon's Ire.
Type: Chimerical.
Scathach created this final cantrip after being cursed by the Tuath de Danaan as an act of vengeance. Learning this cantrip comes only as a result of a quest nominated by Scathach herself. In exceedingly rare instances, this cantrip has been granted without a quest - Cu Chulainn being the greatest example.
System: Because the cantrip may only be cast on the person who knows it, Fae is the only Realm that may be used. This cantrip has three effects:
Firstly, it alters the casters' fae mien into a horrifying visage (get the player to describe it) that causes intense fear in all who see it (except for House Fiona). This fear causes a penalty to all dice pools equal to the number of casting successes.
Secondly, it invokes the Dragons' Ire, with a number of Ire dice equal to triple the number of casting successes.
Finally, against members of Houses Dougal, Eiluned and Gwydion, the caster automatically wins initiative, gets another +1 bonus to Brawl and Melee rolls and always inflicts one point of damage for every two casting successes.
Botching this cantrip is bad. On top of the usual results of botching the Dragons' Ire, the caster sustains unsoakable aggravated damage equal to the number of 1's, loses all temporary Glamour and Willpower points and may not use any Battlecraft cantrip for one month for every 1 gained.
Type: Wyrd.
Stylized combat movements or patterns (known as kata), Scathach's Prayer, drawing blood and/or using blood in some way (always causes a Health Level of damage), kiai (the powerful screams that martial artists use), destruction of property.
Copyright © 2000-2001 Daniel Mitchell. All rights reserved.