Monday, June 13, 2016

Solomon Kane, Puritan Wanderer (Literature)







Solomon Kane, Puritan Wanderer (Literature) ◊ Power Level — 8
Somber, Gloomy, and Pale of Face


“He never sought to analyze his motives and he never wavered, once his mind was made up. Though he always acted on impulse, he firmly believed that all his actions were governed by cold and logical reasonings. He was a man born out of his time — a strange blending of Puritan and Cavalier, with a touch of the ancient philosopher, and more than a touch of the pagan, though the last assertion would have shocked him unspeakably. An atavist of the days of blind chivalry he was, a knight errant in the somber clothes of the fanatic. A hunger in his soul drove him on and on, an urge to right all wrongs, protect all weaker things, avenge all crimes against right and justice. Wayward and restless as the wind, he was consistent in only one respect — he was true to his ideals of justice and right. Such was Solomon Kane.”


Physical Abilities

2
2
3
4

Mental Abilities

3
6
2
3

Defense

Dodge 8 (+4 from Menace made Manifest)
Toughness 8 (+1 from Defensive Roll; +4 from Menace made Manifest)
Will 8 (+4 from Implacable)


Offense

Dirk +9 (Dangerous 1, Damage 5)
Musket +6 (unreliable Damage 5)
Ranged +4
Rapier +9 (Dangerous 2, Damage 6)
Snaphaunce Pistol +6 (unreliable Damage 4)
Unarmed +6 (Damage 4)



Acrobatics 1 (+3), Athletics 4 (+8), Close Combat: Blades 3 (+9), Expertise: Theology 5 (+7), Insight 3 (+6), Intimidation  4 (+7/+16**), Investigation 4 (+6), Perception 4 (+7), Ranged Combat: Flintlock Firearms 4 (+6)
*+4 With
**With Wages of Sin




Equipment

Dirk
Rapier
Musket
Snaphaunce Pistols (2)



◊Earnest Entreatment: Variable 3 -uncontrolled — 18 points
◊Implacable: Enhanced Will 4 +linked; Immunity 5 +linked, +sustained — 9 points
◊Lonely Vigil: Senses 6 -unreliable — 3 points
◊Menace made Manifest: Enhanced Dodge 4 +linked; Protection 4 +linked, +sustained — 8 points
◊Saxon Savagery: Enhanced Advantages 6, +linked, -uncontrolled; Enhanced Stamina 1+linked,-uncontrolled; Enhanced Strength 1 +linked, -uncontrolled — 5 points
◊Somber Stare: Affliction 8 +area, -check required, -limited, +selective, +subtle — 16 points
◊Staff of Solomon: +indestructible -removable; Damage 2 +affects insubstantial, +bane, +Strength-based; Senses 1 — 5 points
◊Wages of Sin: Enhanced Intimidation 9 -uncontrolled — 3 points


Complications

Kane is motivated by his desire to mete out justice and to combat mortal and supernatural evils in the name of his faith

Character Points Abilities 50 + Powers 67 + Advantages 11 + Skills 16 + Defenses 10 = Total 154





Earnest Entreatment


◊Descriptors – divine, good, variable
◊Effect – Variable 3 • 18 points

Earnest Entreatment (Variable)

◊Modifiers – uncontrolled: -1/rank
◊Action – standard
◊Requirements – celibacy; pursuit of simplified religious doctrine and worship; strict religious discipline
◊Range – Personal
◊Duration – sustained
◊Results – Kane may gain traits suitable to overcoming supernatural foes

Description

“God of Hosts," Kane muttered, "grant me aid! My hand it is which must lift the ancient curse from this dark land.”

By invoking his faith in God, Kane can gain any trait needed to overcome a supernatural foes. Kane has no direct control over this power; he can ask for divine guidance but it may not be granted him.

When aid is granted, Kane gains 15 points in traits designed to target the weaknesses of supernatural antagonists and protect him from their strengths.

Kane must remain celibate and practice his Protestant faith to use this ability.





Implacable


◊Descriptors – talent
◊Effect – Enhanced Will 4 and linked Immunity 5 • 9 points

Gaping Maw (Enhanced Traits 4 and linked Immunity 5)

◊Modifiers – linked: +0/rank; sustained +0/rank (Immunity)
◊Action – free
◊Range – personal
◊Duration – sustained
◊Results – +4 bonus to Will; immune to interaction skills

Description

“Tell me more of these devils, for by the God of my people, this deed shall not go unavenged, though Satan himself bar my way.”
       —Solomon Kane

Kane’s fanaticism grants him improved mental fortitude and resistance to temptation. He gains a +4 bonus to his Will defense and Immunity to interaction skills.





Lonely Vigil


◊Descriptors – mental, preternatural
◊Effect – Senses 6 • 3 points

Lonely Vigil (radius Supernatural Awareness which penetrates concealment)

◊Modifiers – unreliable: -1/rank
◊Action – none
◊Range – personal
◊Duration – permanent
◊Results – Kane may be able to sense the presence of effects with the supernatural descriptor

Description

A cold hand touched the spine of Solomon Kane. Whether the sounds registered on his conscious ear or on some un-sounded deep of soul or sub-feeling, he could not tell, but he knew that somewhere within his consciousness there reechoed the tramp of monstrous feet from within that ghastly mausoleum.

After acquiring the Staff of Solomon from his blood-brother N’Longa, Kane develops the ability to sense when supernatural forces are at work nearby. When any effect with the supernatural descriptor is nearby, the gamemaster secretly rolls to determine if Kane’s awareness is sensitive to it. On an 11 or higher, Kane is entitled to a Perception check to notice it. Kane’s awareness functions in all directions and penetrates all barriers (although effects like Concealment can counter it normally).

Note: Kane possesses this ability as a result of his connection to the Staff of Solomon, however it need not be on his person for him to use it.





Menace made Manifest


◊Descriptors – fear, talent
◊Effect – linked Enhanced Dodge 4; Protection 4 • 8 points

Wages of Sin (Enhanced Traits 4 and linked Protection 4)

◊Modifiers – linked: +0/rank, sustained: +0/rank
◊Action – free
◊Range – personal
◊Duration – sustained
◊Results – Kane gains a +4 bonus to Dodge defense and Toughness

Description

“I am thinking that I would trade my soul's salvation to face you and your sword, alone and unarmed, and to tear the heart from your breast with my naked fingers.”
        —Solomon Kane

Kane is surrounded by a palpable aura of menace which gives pause to his enemies. Kane has a +4 bonus to his Dodge defense and Protection 4.





Saxon Savagery


◊Descriptors – ancestral, rage, talent
◊Effect – linked Enhanced Advantages 6, Enhanced Stamina 1, and Enhanced Strength 1 • 5 points

Saxon Savagery (uncontrolled, linked Enhanced Traits)

◊Modifiers – linked: +0/rank, uncontrolled: -1/rank
◊Action – free
◊Range – personal
◊Duration – sustained
◊Results – Kane gains combat feats, +1 Stamina and +1 Strength when outraged by evil or injustice

Description

He saw only a huddled cluster of grisly shapes that sucked and tore at something between them. And Kane went mad. With a scream that cut through the inferno he bounded up, slaying even as he rose. Even in the act of lunging up from bent knee he drew and thrust, transfixing a vulture-like throat. Then whipping out his rapier as the thing floundered and twitched in its death struggle, the raging Puritan charged.

Although inherently kind and in possession of remarkable self restraint, the sight of great evils or injustice (for example the cruelties of slavery) ignite within Kane an uncontrollable fury. At such times he gains Enhanced Stamina 1, Enhanced Strength 1 and the following advantages: All-Out Attack, Instant Up, Move-By Action, Power Attack, and Takedown 2.

These traits last until his rage passes or the object(s) of his outrage have been destroyed or properly humbled.





Somber Stare


◊Descriptors – fear, talent, visual
◊Effect – Affliction 8 • 16 points

Somber Stare (selective, perception area, subtle Affliction 8 limited to one subject with check required)

◊Modifiers – area: +1/rank, check required: -1 flat point, limited: -1/rank, selective: +1/rank,subtle: 1 flat point
◊Action – Standard
◊Requirement – Intimidation check
◊Area – one subject able to perceive Kane with a visual sense
◊Duration – Instant
◊Results – one target impaired (one degree), disabled (two degrees), or paralyzed (three or more degrees)
◊Resist – Dodge and Will
◊Overcome – Will

Description

Yet the sombre expression of Solomon Kane never altered, and his condor-like stare seemed to transfix the miser.

With his steely gaze fixed, Kane can cow the will of lesser men. Kane must succeed an Intimidation check (DC 11) as a standard action. The target of Kane’s gaze then attempts a Dodge resistance check with a DC equal to Kane’s check result (up to 18) to shy away from this grim glare. If this check fails, the subject must attempt a Will resistance check (with the same difficulty) or become impaired from mortal terror. If the check fails by two degrees, the subject is disabled, or paralyzed with three or more degrees of failure.

The effects of Kane’s Somber Stare are only noticed with a DC 20 Perception check.





Staff of Solomon


◊Descriptors – magic, preternatural
◊Effect – Array: Create Supernatural Barrier or Damage 2; Detect Magic; Mystical Sending • 21 points

The Staff of Solomon (Strength-based Damage 2 with affects Insubstantial and Bane 2; Communication 3; Create; Senses 1)

◊Modifiers – alternate effect: 1 flat point, indestructible: 1 flat point, removable: -5 flat points (Staff of Solomon); check required: -7 flat points, continuous: +1/rank, impervious: +1/rank, quirk: -1 flat point, stationary: +0/rank, subtle: 2 flat points, proportional: -1/rank, reduced range:-1/rank (Create); bane 2: 1 flat point, affects Insubstantial: 2 flat points, Strength-based: +0/rank (Damage); check required: -5 flat points (Communication)
◊Action – Standard (Create and Damage), free (Communication), or none (Senses)
◊Area/Range – close (Create and Damage), by rank (Communication), or personal (Senses)
◊Duration – instant (Create and Damage), sustained (Communication), or permanent (Senses)
◊Results – varies by power (see text)

Description

“I see naught but a staff — sharp-pointed and with the head of a cat on the other end — a staff with strange infidel carvings upon it.”
        —Hassim

The Staff of Solomon is a mystical artifact crafted in a time before the world that is out of a wooden material not of this Earth. It bears the cat-head of Bast and ancient hieroglyphics which were added only recently in its time. Occultists and mystics easily recognize it as an object of preternatural might with unyielding influence over the strange things which creep within the darker corners of the world. It is believed to be have been wielded by Moses to work wonders before the Pharaoh. Yussef the Hadji recognized it as the scepter of the Israelites referred to in Numbers 24:17 and as King Sulieman’s weapon of rebuke in his conquest of the djinn and other supernatural evils.

This mighty artifact provides access to the following powers which are doubtlessly but a small portion of its capabilities:


◊Supernatural Rebuke 5

Lifting the ancient staff, struck with all his power into the centre of the Horror. And he felt an unnameable, immaterial substance meet and give way before the falling staff.

The Staff of Solomon can be wielded as a weapon and is particularly effective against supernatural foes. Against such entities it has a Strength-based Damage rank of 4 and affects such beings even if they are insubstantial. The staff can deal bludgeoning or piercing damage when wielded against supernatural creatures.

When used to strike any other creature, the Staff of Solomon is merely a particularly well-balanced and durable staff; it is Strength-based Damage 2 and can only deal bludgeoning damage.


◊Mystical Sending 7

“When you want me lay this on your breast, fold your hands on it and sleep. I come to you in your dreams.”
        —N'Longa

The possessor of the Staff of Solomon can use a form of mystical communication to contact intelligent beings possessing magical sensitivity (Detect Magic; see Senses). The staff’s possessor must succeed an Expertise: Magic check (DC 15) to perform the sending. This is a free action, but can only be performed once per round. The Mystical Sending effect rank is equal to the wielder’s check result minus 15 (up 3).

◊Mystical Sensitivity 1

To his slumbering self it seemed that he walked through a thick fog and in this fog he met N'Longa, true to life. N'Longa spoke, and the words were clear and vivid, impressing themselves on his consciousness so deeply as to span the gap between sleeping and waking.
         
The possessor of the Staff of Solomon has a mystical sixth sense. It has no range, limiting detection of magical effects to interactions with the Insight skill and awareness of magics targeting the staff’s possessor.

◊Warding 17

“No dead man come now.”
        —N'Longa

As a standard action, the wielder of the Staff of Solomon can attempt to create a transparent Warding barrier against supernatural beings. The wielder must succeed an Expertise: Magic check (DC 17) to form the barrier. The Warding effect rank is equal to the wielder’s check result minus 17 (up the wielder’s power level). The barrier is stationary and fills an area centered on the staff. Beings or effects with the supernatural descriptor (whether corporeal or incorporeal) cannot cross the barrier, but other creatures or objects are unimpeded. The barrier remains until destroyed, nullified or dismissed.

The sum of the barrier’s volume and Toughness rank must be equal to or less than the Warding effect rank. With an effect rank of 8, the barrier’s proportions can range anywhere between 30 cubic feet with a Toughness of 8 to 250 cubic feet with a Toughness of 0 (see Ranks and Measures for more about volume rank). The barrier’s Toughness is impervious, making it immune to Damage effects equal to or less than half of its Toughness rank.


Notes:
•The Staff of Solomon’s vast power is calculated according to an assumed series power level of 8, however its true power is limited only by the occult skills of its wielder. If the wielder is sufficiently skilled, the effect ranks and point cost for them should be adjusted upwards. In addition, some wielders (such as N’Longa) are capable of additional feats. Most of these can be considered a temporary alternate effect gained by spending a Victory Point.
•Due to his lack of arcane knowledge, Kane is effectively unable to use the Staff of Solomon’s Mystical Sending and Warding powers. Therefore, the point cost associated with these powers are not included in his character point summary. If he becomes sufficiently capable to use these powers, he must purchase this ability with character points accordingly.





Wages of Sin


◊Descriptors – talent
◊Effect – Enhanced Intimidation 9 • 3 points

Wages of Sin (uncontrolled Enhanced Traits 9)

◊Modifiers – uncontrolled: -1/rank
◊Action – free
◊Range – personal
◊Duration – sustained
◊Results – Kane gains a +9 bonus to Intimidation checks targeting the guilty

Description

“Saints and devils!" raged the Wolf. "What does he look like, this Kane?”
“Like—Satan—“
        —Two dead men

Kane is a merciless judge of sinners according to his Puritan values. When Kane knows the subject(s) sin, the gamemaster should apply a +9 bonus to his Intimidation checks against them.




When using extra effort or a victory point to perform a power stunt, Kane is most likely to use his Somber Stare as the base power as it is the only offensive power under his control. He is most likely to gain another offensive power or enhanced traits when performing a power stunt. Any effect gained must cost 18 character points or less and should have the talent descriptor.

Here are some examples:



Headlong Haste


◊Descriptors – talent
◊Effect – Enhanced Acrobatics 6; Enhanced Agility 3; limited Enhanced Athletics 3 • 10 points

That Hated Light (Enhanced traits 9 and limited Enhanced Traits 3)

◊Modifiers – limited: -1/rank (Enhanced Athletics)
◊Action – free
◊Range – personal
◊Duration – sustained
◊Results – until the end of the scene, Kane gains +6 to Acrobatics, +3 to Agility, and +3 to Athletics checks made while running

Description

Kane, moving with the dynamic speed of a famished wolf, fired the second pistol with as little effect, snatched his long rapier from its sheath and thrust into the centre of the misty attacker.

Kane can drive himself to almost superhuman haste when pressed. As a power stunt, he can gain +4 to Acrobatics, and +3 to Agility. He also gains a +3 bonus to Athletics made to increase his speed rank by running. These bonuses last until the end of the current scene or until Kane is unable to sustain them.

Note: With Enhanced Agility, Kane’s Initiative bonus increases to +9 and his Dodge defense increases by +3 as well.





Bifold Blades


◊Descriptors – talent, variable
◊Effect – Damage 7 • 17 points

Bifold Blades (multiattack, removable, split Damage 7 with variable descriptors)

◊Modifiers – multiattack: +1/rank, removable: - flat points, split 1: 1 flat point, variable: 2 flat points
◊Action – free
◊Requirements – two melee weapons
◊Range – personal
◊Duration – sustained
◊Results – Kane gains a close Damage rank of 7 with multiattack and split while wielding two melee weapons
◊Resist – Toughness

Description

The flickering rapier parried the whistling scimitars and the Arab died on its point, which seemed to hesitate in his heart only an instant before it pierced the brain of a sword-wielding warrior. Another attacker dropped his sword and leaped in to grapple at close quarters. He was disembowelled by the dirk in Kane's left hand, and the others gave back in sudden fear.

Kane can fight multiple foes with whirling fury. As a power stunt, he can gain a Damage effect rank of 7 when using two melee weapons in either hand. He can also split this Damage rank by any amounts totaling 7 between two targets (6/1 or 4/3 for example) making a single attack check and comparing the result against both target’s defenses.

In addition to being able to split, the effect(s) can hit multiple targets or a single target multiple times with the same standard action. If Kane’s Damage effect(s) target a single foe and the attack succeeds by two degrees, the DC of the target’s resistance check increases by +2. If Kane’s attack succeeds by three or more degrees it increases by +5 instead. If Kane’s Damage effect(s) target multiple foes he rolls one attack check against each target within a close arc around him with a -1 penalty to the check per target.

This effect lasts until the end of the current scene or until Kane loses one of his weapons.

Note: If Kane wields his customary dirk and rapier for this effect, he uses his +9 Close Combat: Blades skill. Otherwise, he uses his Fighting modifier of +6.





Shower of Lead


◊Descriptors – talent
◊Effect – ranged Damage 8 • 8 points

That Hated Light (accurate, partially limited, diminished ranged Damage 8)

◊Modifiers – accurate: 1 flat point, diminished range: -2 flat points, limited multiattack: 4 flat points, partially limited Damage: -1 flat point, ranged: +1/rank, quirk: -2 flat points, unreliable: -1/rank
◊Action – standard
◊Requirements – two pistols
◊Range – 16 feet
◊Duration – instant
◊Results – Kane gains a ranged Damage rank of 6; Damage rank increases to 8 against targets without Protection
◊Resist – Toughness

Description

Then he drew and fired with unerring aim and the monster veered wildly in midair and came whirling and tumbling out of the sky to crash at his feet.

Kane can fire lead shot from both of his heavy pistols to devastating effect. As a power stunt, he can gain a Damage effect rank of 8 when firing one pistol in each hand. This attack is accurate giving him +2 to his attack check, however the Damage effect is partially limited; targets benefitting from a Protection effect resist against a Damage rank of 6 instead.

Kane can hit multiple targets or a single target multiple times with his Shower of Lead using the same standard action. If Kane is firing on a single foe and the attack succeeds by two degrees, the DC of the target’s resistance check increases by +2. If Kane’s attack succeeds by three or more degrees it increases by +5 instead. Kane can also target two foes who are close to one another. In this case, he rolls one attack check against each target with a -1 penalty.

Notes:

•Due to the limited range of lead shot, Kane can only attack at close range. He cannot fire effectively at targets further than 16 feet away using Shower of Lead.
•Shower of Lead relies on Kane’s pistols or similar weapons. He cannot use this power without two firearms and the length of time required to load them usually means that it can only be used once per scene.




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        


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