Example Descriptions

The following was a series of descriptive examples developed by Aaron (Black Cat) Smith and originally posted on the WushuRPG Yahoo group. Enjoy.

A "Physical" ability example is one where the character is using the native abilities to the best of their talent. Or, another way to put it, there is no paranormal or FX activity involved in the stunt. Just what might be described as "native talent".

An "FX" ability example however is an obviously paranormal ability or skill that is being used. What is considered "paranormal" is unique to the setting of course, but is obviously an ability which is beyond the pale, regardless of if that's "psionics", "magic", or "science in action!".

Note: There's no "modern occult" genre, because if you"re using F/X powers, then it's sort of automatically "occult", no matter if it's super science or magical spells.

THE EXAMPLES

Social -> Fantasy -> F/X -> The character gestures quietly in the shadows of the hall(1) calling the mystic runes of trust and complicity(2) and weaving glowing traceries of power around himself that quickly fade from sight(3) fogging the senses of the guests(4) and becoming a figure who is safe to confide in(5).

Using "Mists of the Mind"

Social -> Fantasy -> Physical -> The character looks around the hall (1), and spotting several obvious guardsmen, heads towards them with a firm step (2) and the confident, level gaze of one who has likewise seen action. (3). He smiles in a friendly fashion(4), and, finding a point in the bragging session to jump in, starts palling around with his own war stories(5), gently trying to tease information out of the other guards about recent events(6).

Using "Leader of Men"

Mental -> Fantasy -> F/X -> The character grimaces in determination (1) as the levin bolt hurtles towards him(2). He traces the 5-fold warding gesture(2), and the bolt of mystic energy splashes across the kabbalistic design glowing in midair(3). "I've got you now" he says(4), and insinuates a probe of arcane power into the sorcerous trap(5), causing the trap's own energy to run amuck and shatter the delicate balance of power(6).

Using "Magic Warder"

Mental -> Fantasy -> Physical -> The character runs her hands lightly across the ruined archway buried deep beneath the earth(1), murmuring quietly to herself(2) as she puzzles out the ancient words of a long vanished race(3). She smiles cockily to herself as she traces the last engraving(4), and turns to the party(5). "Right, no sweat. Ancient doom, buried treasure, touch not lest ye be utterly wiped off the face of the earth. Standard stuff!"(6) She claps her hands together and then reaches for the door handle. "Lets go."(7)

Using "Ruin Raider"

Physical -> Fantasy -> F/X -> The character calls upon the hidden names of the seven gods of thunder(1), and with a booming roar conjures fourth a lightning bolt(2) which tears forward from her outstretched palms(3) and roars through the priceless china and crystal glassware(5), which shatters outwards along the bolt' path (6).

Using "Storm Mage"

Physical -> Fantasy -> Physical -> The character slips her twin daggers from their sheaths, and assumes a fighting pose(1). She parries the villain' first stroke with crossed blades(2), then spins around behind his body with a silken grace(3), slicing across his cape(4), and letting it fall into the puddle behind him(5).

Using "Expert Knife Fighter"

Social -> Swashbuckling -> F/X -> The character slowly saunters forward towards the duchess(1). His gaze catches hers and holds it. (2) The duchess' eyes grow foggy, and slowly glass over, her mind sinking into the character' power.(3) The duchess' breath freezes in her chest, and she feels rivers of tingly sensation spread like fire outward from her heart and throughout her entire being.(4) The character says "You will invite the Lady Gloria to the crown prince' naming ceremony." Her gaze wavers for the slightest moment, then sinks back into a glassy stare.(5) She repeats quietly "I will...invite Lady Gloria...naming ceremony..."(6)

Using "Hypnotic Gaze"

Social -> Swashbuckling -> Physical -> The character speaks charming words to the countess(1), complimenting her social status, her beauty, her wits, and her lovely poetry.(2) His arm circles her waist as he looks deeply into her eyes(3), and bespeaks the marvels he has recently seen(4). Meanwhile, he carefully rifles through the writing desk behind him, his hands sorting and discarding items(5), looking for the forged invitation to the duke' royal ball.(6)

Using "Social Dandy"

Mental -> Swashbuckling -> F/X -> The character shifts his gaze to the other worldly realms(1), where the threads of ether flow quietly into knots and spirals around the strange gauntlet which rests quietly on his desk(2). His eyes slowly close in intense concentration(3), and a faint glow slowly surrounds the artifact(4). Beads of perspiration appear on his lined face(5). With a gasp, his eyes snap open, and he shivers, suddenly cold(6). "The demons of beyond! They reach through space for this!"(7)

Using "Arcane Scholar"

Mental -> Swashbuckling -> Physical -> The character studies the handwritten notes of parchment which lay scattered across the room (1), as well as the bloodstains arching here and there across the walls.(2) He frowns a moment, hand on neat goatee,(3) and paces slowly across the room,(4) first one wall, and then the other. Nodding thoughtfully to himself,(5) he then reverses course, and raps a knuckle thoughtfully on the window pane.(6) "Yes... the intruder stepped here first, and then came upon the victim just as he first opened the door...."

Using "Investigator"

Physical -> Swashbuckling -> F/X -> The character begins to murmur words of power(1) passing her hands lightly over the blade of her dagger quickly(2). Runes of fire appear briefly on the blade, spelling out it' doom(3), then vanish just as quickly as she lifts the blade(4) and readies herself for the oncoming rush of pirate rabble(5).

Using "Rune Magic"

Physical -> Swashbuckling -> Physical -> The character traces her fingertips over the hilt of her family blade,(1) before her fingers encircle the handle firmly and with ease born of years of use.(2) With a quick metallic hiss she draws the blade,(3) the bright sun glimmering off its perfect edge.(4) A faint smile creeps over the character' face as a drop of sweat rolls down the pompous baron' brow, and the baron swallows nervously.(5) "You seem hesitant, Baron. Should I come back, some other day? Perhaps when you've learned by which end to hold your blade?"(6)

Using "Italian Fencer"

Social -> Western -> F/X -> The character sits cross legged in the circle(1), the bones of the spirit animal to be called around him in the formal patterns(2). He focuses deep within himself(3), breathing in the incense, and calling the proper 8-fold names(4) of the raven. The ghostly image of a raven appears before him(5), and he greets it in the ancient tounge.(5)

Using "Spirit Summoner"

Social -> Western -> Physical -> character extends his hand in the proper tribal greeting(1), and speaks in fluent Sioux.(2) "We greet you honored brave." The Indian scout nods back silently(3) and pauses, considering the offering of gifts arrayed on the blanket before him(4). He indicates a willingness to talk with his hands alone(5). The character nods and begins "We have a proposition for you."(6)

Using "Indian Trained"

Mental -> Western -> F/X -> The character traces an Indian sand painting(1), and starts to dance around it(2) holding out his ceremonial staff(3) and shaking the bones and feathers attached to the ends at each cardinal direction(4). He points to the other players, and then to the sky, and then to the ground(5), and finally stabs the center of the circle with the end of his staff(6), with a final "Hoka-yay-HOY!".(7)

Using "Indian Shaman"

Mental -> Western -> Physical -> The character takes the old map gingerly in his hands,(1) and carefully sprinkles a mixture of chemicals across the surface to bring out any hidden marks and faded writing(2). His eyes widen as he sees the faint traceries appear across the old map legend(3). Carefuly noteing down the latitude and longitude marks(4) he nods to himself. "Yes, of course! I should have seen it before!"(5)

Using "Scientific Wiz"

Physical -> Western -> F/X -> The character holds up a hand of poker cards(1) which glow with a faint mauve outline(2), and grins a devilish grin(3). "See now, this hand here, it's called a dead man's hand."(4) He throws a single card into the ground(5), and as it falls it leaves a violet afterimage in reality(6), which slowly grows wider and wider, opening to the Void.(7) "Want to guess why?"

Using "Cards of the Void"

Physical -> Western -> Physical -> The character' hand hovers over the grip of his custom .45 peacemaker(1), the steady gaze of his eyes burns into the other man at the end of the alley(2). He licks his lips(3) and then in a lightning quick blur of motion the gun is in his hand(4) and he' fanning the trigger faster than the eye can follow.(5)

Using "Fastest Gun in the West"

Social -> Pulp -> F/X -> The character holds out an antique pocket watch(1), and sways it gently in front of the victim(2). "Look deeply into my eyes. Deeper, deeper..." she croons in a soft lullaby monotone(3). The victim' eyes glaze over(4), and he murmur' quietly "What is thy bidding, mistress?"(5)

Using "Mesmer Trance"

Social -> Pulp -> Physical -> The character slinks into the smoky darkness of the club(1), her saunter a smooth roll(2). Men's eyes follow her across the hall(3) as she slips up to the bar(4), and takes a stool next to the stoolie(5). Right on cue he asks "Buy you a drink, Miss...?"(6) she smiles lazily and replies "Draken, and yes, you may."(7) A few minutes later, the stoolie is spilling everything he knows.(8)

Using "Femme Fatale"

Mental -> Pulp -> F/X -> The bright lights of electric arcs reflect from the character's smoked goggles(1), as he grins with a wild delight.(2) his heavily gloved hands reaching up to pull the large knife switches in series(3). "Yes! Yes, the atomic batteries are almost at peak!"(4) He giggles to himself,(5) then swiftly adjusts the dials and readouts on a enormous console of blinking lights(6) The machine hums and clicks to itself for a few moments (7), and then spits out a long stream of paper into the character' waiting hands. "At last, the answer!"(8)

Using "Science!"

Mental -> Pulp -> Physical -> Montage sequence of the character standing before the royal geographic society(1), pontificating about icons and religious relics, as well as a pattern of legends and myths regarding the lost city of Kathandulu(2). Several scenes showing the character equipping and outftting for the trip(3), and then a series of ocean voyages, tramp steamers(4), and at last, the character hacking through dense jungle(5) with a train of dark skinned natives piled with supplies.(6)

Using "Fellow of the Geographic Society"

Physical -> Pulp -> F/X -> The character stands grim faced and sweating(1), with the radionic destabliser ray gripped tightly in her hands(2). Aiming carefully, she pulls the trigger(3), and a lambent beam of bright green surges from the ray projector(4) towards the huge mutant spider(5) which rears back onto it's four hind legs and roars hideously.(5)

Using "Science!"

Physical -> Pulp -> Physical -> The character charges towards the giant rampaging T-Rex(1) which thunders down on him mouth agape(2) with a thousand knife-like teeth(3). Just as the monster lowers it's mouth to gulp him down(4), he jumps up planting his feet firmly on the snout of the monster(5), and somersault's over the top of it' head,(6) landing solidly on it's back.(7) Doubling up his fists,(8) he slams them into the nerve center of the dinosaur's hind legs!(9)

Using "Acrobatic Reflexes"

Social -> Modern -> F/X -> The character carefully doses himself with the enchanted musk,(1) then dresses sharply for a night on the town.(2) Carefully wending his way through the pulsing night club beat,(3) he finds his way towards the bar at the center and cooly orders a drink.(4) Despite his obvious out of place aura, the musk sooths away any feelings of mistrust(5) and replaces them with belonging, so that he slips smoothy into the crowds.(6)

Using "Magic of the Minds"

Social -> Modern -> Physical -> The character slips into the best suit he has(1), and then pays for a limo to take him to the front door(2). Finding a young lass who looks as though her date has stood her up(3), he makes casual small talk with her, working his way slowly towards the door with her(4). When the doorman asks for thier invitation, the character smiles sheepishly but charmingly to her,(5) and says "Oh, would you mind? I seem to have left mine someplace...?" Flustered by the character' expert flirting(6), she nods, and escorts the character into the ball as her guest.(7)

Using "Hawt Redhead"

Mental -> Modern -> F/X -> The character stands just outside an elaborate pentagram,(1) and speaks quietly in the ancient tounge of the Atlanteans(2). The swirling mist rises from the pentagram(3), and within it takes the shape of a wizened old man(4). The character points boldly at the man and declaims "By the rights of Solomon, you will serve me with your knowledge! Reveal to me the place wherein my daughter is held captive!"(5) The spirit looks up at the character from the depths of his hood and speaks unutterable secrets in likewise tounge.(6)

Using "Hermetic Magi"

Mental -> Modern -> Physical -> The character assesses the chess board coolly(1), examining the pieces and the potential play(2). He smiles to himself(3). ~Yes, a simple fork in 5 moves and then an easy Selvitch gambit. That will open things nicely.~(4) he moves a single pawn forward(5), then tilts his head graciously to the master villain. "Your move, of course." he says easily.(6)

Using "Master of Games"

Physical -> Modern -> F/X -> The character gestures with his hands (1) and a glowing blue tracery ignites in the air(2). As his hands trace trace arcane sigils (3), his trenchcoat swirls around him in the sudden wind which buffets him(4). Shouting out arcane words of power (5), he gestures to the car holding the assassin(6), and a brilliant beam of white light shoots from the sigil towards the car, which promptly blows up in a spectacular fireball.(7)

Using "Blow shit up!"

Physical -> Modern -> Physical -> The character swirls in a smooth motion,(1) his trenchcoat fanning out around him (2), reaching behind is back and drawing his katana.(3) Continuing the motion he slices it through the first mook(4), leaving an arching red mist behind(5) which paints a red spray across the brick walls of the alley. (6) He points the sword to the gang of thugs. "You're next" he says in a low gravely voice.(7)

Using "Katana!"

Social -> Space Opera -> F/X -> Sweat pours off the ship's pilot's face (1) as he tries to outmaneuver the band of space pirates closing in fast (2). "Gotta pull out the stops," he mutters, his eyes turning blood red (3). Small ports open in the sides of the cargo ship, spitting spinning balls of plasma mines that the closely trailing pirate' run into, exploding into balls of incandacent flame (4). The pilot sits back, tension draining from his face. "They made me knock over my dinosaurs," he mutters, picking up his action figures before setting the ship back on course (6).

Using "Jury Rig the ship."

Social -> Space Opera -> Physical -> A character in a shining silver space suit with reflective helmet (1) marches with confidence into a ball (2), getting smoothly past the guards with a quick flash of an ID (3). The character makes a beeline for the Ambassador, ignoring the stares from shocked noblemen (4), and with one quick motion, pulls off the helmet, sending waves of long red hair cascading down her back. (5) "Ambassador," she intones, smirking at how he'd spilled his champagne in surprise (6), "I've been looking for you."

Using "Bold as brass"

Mental -> Space Opera -> F/X -> The character tugs off their glove (1), and places his bare palm against the cold metal railing where the ambassador fell to his death(2). The world goes into negatives for a moment(3), and then the character lets go of the railing with a gasp(4), falls to his knees(5), and sags with the shock of the vision.(6)

Using "Psionic"

Mental -> Space Opera -> Physical ->The character runs his hands lightly over the ancient engravings(1), puzzling through the alien hieroglyphics, and moving his lips as he pieces together the strange concepts(2). His eyes widen behind the visor of his spacesuit(3), as he traces his gloved fingers over the last symbols, and he smiles in triumph and the joy of pure discovery(4). "Yes! This is it! This is the answer to the mystery! The mystery of the progenitor's exodus is unveiled!"(5)

Using "Xenoarchaeologist"

Physical -> Space Opera -> F/X -> The character places their forefingers to their temples,(1) and stares at the Blatterbeast of Trall. Their eyes shift color to pale yellow,(2) and a shock wave of distortion ripples outwards from their body.(3) The distortion impacts the beast right in it's towel wrapped head,(4) and pitches it end over end(5) to slam solidly into the large black monolith behind it,(6) which slowly cracks in two and falls onto the beast's head.(7)

Using "Psionic"

Physical -> Space Opera -> Physical -> The character whips out his Mk VII blaster(1), which has the sight filed away for ease of quickdraw(2), and proceeds to empty the entire charge pack into the beast(3) as it rushes headlong at the group of PC's(4). With each step the monster takes the ground shakes(5), and the blaster bolts seem to splatter off it' tough hide.(6)

Using "Deadly Aim"

ExampleDescriptions

Example Descriptions