Savage Fury

From Edge of Darkness Wiki

This fighting style isn’t a trained style. Shapechanger characters do not learn it so much as stoke the predator’s fury within, using the pent-up anger to unleash brutal, savage attacks. Note that this “style” works in all forms, even human. While the character may be wearing human flesh, the animal within always lurks close to the skin.

Caged Fear (•)

Wild animals don’t like to be caged. They do what they must to escape behind held or leashed. In this case, the character gains bonuses against grapple attacks. She gains +1 Defense against all incoming grapple attempts. Moreover, if held in a grapple, she can choose to replace her Strength with her Dexterity in any roll attempted to get herself free. She wriggles, squirms and thrashes violently about to escape.

Beast’s Bluster (••)

Beasts fight with more than just claw swipes or crushing jaws. They bark, howl and hiss. They radiate authority in their body language, seen in the way two bull elk face one another, or in the way that dogs circle one another before a fight. This “move” allows a character to forgo an attack for a single turn and make a Presence + Intimidation roll as he postures and asserts his dominance through sound and movement. Hairs stand on end and his very stance indicates feral supremacy. He directs it against a single foe.

Success on this roll indicates that this foe loses one Willpower point, and in the next turn, suffers a –2 dice penalty on her attack if it’s against the character. Exceptional success on this intimidation attempt doubles that attack penalty, and the foe still loses a Willpower point. The character can still apply his Defense against incoming attacks if performing this maneuver. Drawback: Performing this move costs a Willpower point. Beast’s Bluster can only be used against a foe once during a scene (though it may be applied against multiple foes in a given scene).

Predatory Defense (•••)

For the remainder of the scene, the character gains a Defense bonus equal to half his Primal Urge score (round up). The way he moves is almost intuitive, as if every hair on his body senses incoming attacks. This only applies to persistent Defense used against incoming attacks. It does not modify the way a character applies any Dodge. Drawback: Opening oneself to this tactic costs a Willpower point. Moreover, if at any point during the scene the character must roll for Rage, he does so with a –2 dice penalty. This ability requires bringing the dark, uncontrollable animal side dangerously close to the surface.

Baiting (••••)

Some animals know how to bait one another — they stand a certain way to indicate weakness or give off pheromones indicating false fear. A character declares that he’s baiting at the beginning of a turn, and makes a reflexive Strength + Subterfuge roll to appear frail or damaged. During the turn in which the character baits a single foe, he gains +2 Defense against incoming attacks from that foe. The following turn, provided the baiting was successful and the opponent attacked, the character gains a +3 bonus to attack as he uses the element of surprise (“He’s not weak, but strong!”) against his opponent’s misstep.

Because this tactic doesn’t supernaturally convince a foe to attack, the Storyteller may allow the foe to make a reflexive Wits + Empathy roll to contest the baiting and determine the true nature of the character’s feigned weakness. Drawback: Baiting costs one Willpower, and can only be used once per game session.

Furious Assault (•••••)

The character makes an all-out attack per p. 157 of the World of Darkness Rulebook. This attack is ruthless, a frenzy of bloodthirsty destruction — a rain of fists, a rending whirlwind of claws, a skull-crushing clamp-down of jaws or mandibles. Instead of gaining the normal +2 for the all-out attack, however, the character can add his Primal Urge core to the attack roll.

Drawback: The shapeshifter puts the whole of his bestial spirit into this attack and forgoes his Defense for that turn. Moreover, he must roll immediately — whether the attack is a success or failure — to resist whatever Rage plagues his people.

The roll to resist Rage is made at –3 dice. With this attack, the animal within becomes too hungry to ignore.

v · d · e Characteristics Attributes Intelligence • Wits • Resolve • Strength • Dexterity • Stamina • Presence • Manipulation • Composure Traits Defense • Health • Initiative • Size • Speed • Willpower Skills Academics • Computer • Crafts • Investigation • Medicine • Occult • Politics • Science • Athletics • Brawl • Drive • Firearms • Larceny • Stealth • Survival • Weaponry • Animal Ken • Empathy • Expression • Intimidation • Persuasion • Socialize • Streetwise • Subterfuge References Help/Start • Main Page • User Guide • Rules • Mini Character Sheets • Staff • Bestiary • Glossary