Hitches – The T13 Roleplaying Game

In T13, Hitches are a Knot that places restrictions on Characters and Descendants and limits how the Character or Descendant will behave under certain conditions. Hitches are a Knot combining a Thread, a Boon (usually called a Bane), and a Hitch Type.

Hitches are created in a number of ways, they may be background aspects of the Character, Quirks and Flaws that the Character begins with, or may gain as part of their personal Arc. Other Hitches are created by Mortal+ Wounds during play, where they represent traumas and usually form Natural Scar Hitches (although not always).

Hitches can also be created during in play in another way. Situations and emotional traumas (such as actual Traumas) can blend Threads (usually in the form of Proficiencies) to create a new Hitch (or at least new to that Character).

For example, if a Character falls down the stairs into a cellar, and come around in a dark and silent basement, wrapped in spider webs, with spiders running over them, they could be justified in freaking out a bit. This could allow their Player to combine the any of the Threads of “Spiders”^Nature, “Fear”^Awe, “Darkness”^Enigma, “Silk”Gossamer, “Cobwebs”^Inertia, “Eight-Legged”^Nature, “More-Than-4-Legs”^Jeer, “Webs”^Dominion, “Weaving”^Craft, “Basement”^Burden, “Silence”^Quiet, and “Swarms”^Dominion. The Player can pick the Threads they wish to combine and create the Character’s new Hitch. Each Thread woven together will bring with it a Facet that identifies which Hitch Type or Gnarl the new Hitch may have.

Anatomy of a Hitch

Each Hitch in T13 is described as follows:

Name — All Hitches need a name, like “Arachnophobia”.
Description — Along with a Name a Description will help people understand the Hitch.
Bane — The Bane is the Boon of the Hitch (Boon and Bane can be used interchangeably for Hitches). The Bane of the Hitch tells us how powerful the Hitch is. Hitch Banes Reduce to Marks (instead of Scores) and Ruins instead of Draws.
Proficiencies — just like the Annex is made more powerful by knotting in more Proficiency Threads, so too are Hitches made more troublesome by tying on more Proficiencies. Typically a Hitch must have as many Proficiencies as it has Marks (Banes Reduced), but these Proficiencies come in types.
- Hitch Type Proficiency — Every Hitch has to have a Proficiency that determines the type of the Hitch. Arachnophobia can use “Fear”^Awe to create a Awe-based Irrational Hitch (with Irrational Fear being the result), or they might use “Spiders”^Nature to create a Scars Hitch (in this case perhaps Mental Scars would be appropriate or a permanent deformity to their skull from the fall). The “Webs”^Dominion could create a Social Hitch, “Cobwebs”^Inertia could add a Lament, or “More-Than-4-Legs”^Jeer could create an Odd Hitch. “Silence”^Quiet could create a Mild Hitch, or “Silk”^Gossamer might create a Binding Hitch, paralysing the Character when spiders are around them, perhaps.
- Trigger Proficiencies — Trigger Proficiencies are what causes the Hitch to Trigger when they are present. Every Hitch must have at least 1 Trigger Proficiency. Arachnophobia for instance is usually Triggered when the Character senses spiders. “Spiders”^Nature will usually act as the Trigger Proficiency, but other Trigger Proficiencies could be added, such as “Cobwebs”^Inertia or “More-than-4-Legs”^Jeer. The Facet of a Trigger Proficiency is usually unimportant unless that Trigger also acts as a Gnarl Modifier.
- Gnarl Proficiencies — Gnarl Proficiencies control what happens when the Hitch is Triggered. Does it Cost the Character something, complicate things with extra Difficulties, burn the Character, Block them? In this case the Player might elect to use “Webs” a Dominion-based Proficiency as a Gnarl, creating a limit to all Full-Actions, or they may use the Gossamer-based “Silk” to add a Tangling Gnarl (which would use an additional Trigger Proficiency as an Gnarl Modifier, using the Craft-based “Weaving” would add Difficulty to any Actions, or “Cobwebs”^Inertia would cost Time, slowing them down. Other options include “Silence” adding a Suppression Gnarl, or “More-Than-4-Legs” could add a Feelings Gnarl, or using “Fear” again to create an Emotions Gnarl that adds a Psych Attack, or “Spider” could add an Instinct Gnarl.

Hitch Type

The Hitch Type Proficiency is usually considered the most important aspect of the Hitch, although this is largely because the Hitch has only one. The Hitch Facet defines how the Hitch works, what its thing is, and someof how it does it.

Facet	Hitch	Hitch Rules
Awe ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Irrational — The Hitch is irrational in nature, this is common to irrational behaviours like manias, philias and phobias, where a Character may find themselves reacting irrationally to an external stimulation. Although some irrational Hitches will also be caused by “irrational” sources, such as spirits, ghosts etc. These irrational forces are often referred to as “Spiritual” or “Emotional” as well. Death and Dying Irrational Hitches include “Scared-to-Death”, “Heart-broken” and “Too crazy to live”.	Quirk — Irrational Quirks indicate that the irrationality interferes with the Character’s life periodically, when triggered the character will usually display some irrational behaviour, perhaps experiencing an irrational emotion (such as a phobic reaction), hallucination, tick, yelling, screaming, jumping or similar. Triggers are usually specific objects, animals (usually a Genus or a specific species), events or Characters that trigger the response. Flaw — Irrational Flaws indicate that a Character has significant issues with periodic irrational behaviour, this is occasionally as a result of a curse or religious ritual, but is more often a personal flaw that must be overcome. When Triggered Irrational Characters may become trapped in a specific Psychosocial state or location, leading them to becoming trapped in specific emotional or hallucinatory states. Triggers are often broader in definition and activate more often, for example the specific species trigger would become a taxonomic order (such as Araneae – the spiders). Woe — Irrational Woes indicate a Character who may have trouble displaying normal rational thought or behaviour. When Triggered Irrational Characters may become Twisted, trapped by irrational and unhealthy thoughts, behaviours and intense emotions. The Triggers of Woes tend to be more even more broad, a fear of spiders could become a fear of anything with an exoskeleton, and more than four legs as the species Trigger becomes a Phylum trigger of Arthoppoda.
Burden ⚋ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Lacking — The Lacking Hitch indicates a Hitch caused by a lack of something, this impoverishes the Character somehow, or shows a deficit of some sort. This Lacking is usually of a specific characteristic or resource, a Character might lack honesty, lack money, or lack a purpose, but a Descendant can also lack specific resources such as batteries, or the nuclear fuel to power the time circuits. Death and Dying Lacking Hitches include “Lacking a Pulse”, “Lacking Life” and “Suffocating”.	Quirk — Lacking Quirks effect a Character or Descendant occasionally, what they lack is rarely important or their lack is not great. Triggers are usually quite specific about what the Character or Descendant may lack. They might lack finances for a lunch at a fancy restaurant, but they can afford to eat lunch. Flaw — Lacking Flaws effect a Character more often, and more deeply. What they are lacking is considered important generally or their lack is considerable and noticeable. The Triggers are now more broad in scope and so trigger more often. A Character lacking Finances as a Flaw would find it impacts their purchases, driving them to bargain bins, second-hand stores or into debt with others to make any major purchase. Woe — Lacking Woes effect a Character constantly, they cannot demonstrate any ability to command what they lack at all. These are Triggers that essentially declare “None of ___” or “No ___”. Those that have no bravery cannot stand-up for themselves (or others) and so must cower or flee, those who lack money cannot purchase anything and so must beg or steal.
Craft ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Inept — The Inept Hitch indicates an inability, cost or difficulty in achieving something. Usually it is an action described by a Trigger Proficiency that the Character finds themselves inept in. Dead and Dying Inept Hitches include “Rigor Mortis”, “Petrified” and “Slipping away”	Quirk — Inept Quirks indicate that a Character has some minor action or specific skill that they have less success with than normal. For example a Character who is Inept at Sprinting can walk, march, or even run, but if they try to Sprint (or fly) the Quirk will trigger. A Character might be Inept with a specific Descendant, such as being Inept with Rifles, Axes or Pens, but not all firearms, melee weapons or other writing tools. Flaw — Inept Flaws indicate a Character or Descendant has some important action, or general skill that they find complicated. An Inept Flaw might make a Character unable to move faster than a Walk, or be unable to hide their thoughts when they engage in telepathy. Inept Flaws might make a Character Inept with a whole class of Descendants, such as “Power-Tools”, “Firearms”, or with a Facet Action such as Enigma’s “Hiding”. Woe — Inept Woes indicate an important skill or action that the Character or Descendant cannot attempt under any circumstances without the Hitch being triggered. An Inept Woe based on movement would trigger if the Character was not trying to stay still. Inept Woes can deny a Character access to entire classes of Descendants (such as making all “Works”, “Pacts” or “Material” Descendants unusable for the Character) or even close access to a Facet (no Crafting for you) without the Hitch Triggering.
Dominion ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Social — The Hitch of Dominion is a Social Hitch. For some Characters and Descendants all their troubles stem from other people. Social Hitches can range from being as simple as having bad-luck making (or keeping) friends, to being victimised and even attacked. Dead and Dying Social Hitches can include “Exiled”, “Persecuted”, “Abandonned” and “Cold”	Quirk — A Social Quirk is a minor social issue that Character may encounter from time to time. This is usually a specific issue, such as they have an annoying laugh, overly aggressive or passive body language, difficulty maintaining eye contact or it may be a particular antagonism with a particular important character. Flaw — A Social Flaw is a social issue that bothers the Character greatly, when it happens, which is probably daily. Social Flaws can include being persecuted by a group as large as society as a whole or as small as an individual bully, sometimes a social Flaw will indicate why a Character is persecuted or impeded by others. Woe — A Social Woe is a major issue for a Character or Descendant usually implying all of society is ranged against them for some reason. They may be an outcast, exiled from their people, or simply be so repugnant of character that everyone rejects and abandons them.
Enigma ⚋ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Vague — The Vague Hitch indicates that a Character or Descendant has some difficulty in being perceived, communicating or being understood. They may have a thick accent, an incomprehensible language, a stammer that returns them to the beginning of words (or even sentences), complex jargonistic vocabulary — full of redundant verbiage, to say nothing of hidden (reclusive or nested) clauses and other grammatical horseplay — or they may actually be transparent, blurry, or at least translucent, as is often the case with ghosts and other spirits. Dead and Dying Vague Hitches include “Disintegrated”, “Vanished” and “Fading-out”	Quirk — Vague Quirks indicate a minor annoyance that limits communication rarely, such as a slight lisp, regional accent, whispering, or occasional stutter might cause, or how the small-print of a contract or advertisement may be difficult to read. Triggers are often things like “Vision”, “small-print”, “words beginning in the letter “B””, etc Flaw — Vague Flaws indicate a more major disruption to communication, such as might be caused by a profound speech impediment, thick foreign accent, or excessive stammering and background noises. Blurred, faulty printing, or out of focus screens, or dyslexia may cause similar issues visually and specifically with reading. Triggers can indicate entire mediums of communication are affected (such as visual, audio, reading, telepathy, etc). Woe — Vague Woes indicate a permanent and profound communication issue. Smeared, blurred and damaged vision, a complete loss of voice, speaking unrelated languages to each other, or even invisibility may present as Vague Woes. Triggers can indicate entire mediums of communication or perception are completely lost to the Character or Descendant.
Fury ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Unstable — The Unstable Hitch indicates something is not stable and is liable to change, this can mean volatility, explosive natures, disquiet, confusion and mental illnesses. Dead and Dying Unstable Hitches include “Exploded”, “Fallen” and “On the Edge”.	Quirk — An Unstable Quirk indicates that a Character or Descendant is periodically, momentarily unstable, often due to some external cause or pressure. This instability is usually emotional or physical. Triggers usually specify the cause or pressure, such as “Social Anxiety”, “Wobbly”, or “Pushed around”. Flaw — An Unstable Flaw indicates that a Character or Descendant is more prone to instability, they may become frequently unstable for a prolonged period if they are moved too much, jostled too hard, or shocked in anyway. Triggers can include adjectives that describe circumstances, such as “Hot”, “Vibrating” or “Acidic”. Woe — An Unstable Woe indicates a Character or Descendant that is so Unstable that even the slightest thing could set them off with catastrophic results, Nitro-glycerine is an example of how unstable an Unstable Descendant Woe can be. Such Characters are often suicidal, psychotically destructive, or completely deranged. Triggers include adjectives and adverbs, such as “Jostled”, “Shaken” and “Quickly” which Trigger when they apply to the Descendant, Character, or the Action they are attempting.
Gossamer ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Binding — The Binding Hitch can indicate a Character or Descendant being physically bound in ropes, or chains, but more often Bindings are curses, emotions, or even vows. Bindings can tie two things together, tie something in place, tie things up, or tie things down. Binding Hitches are among the easiest Hitches to get, but are also often easily resolved. Dead and Dying Binding Hitches include “Hanged”, “Died Trying” and “Dragged away”.	Quirk — A Binding Quirk indicates some minor restraint or restriction upon the Character, such as being bound by a restraining order to keep a certain distance from another individual, breaking this binding is not difficult, but will result in unpleasant legal matters. Triggers usually indicate the nature of the binding, e.g. “Ropes”, “Law” or “Oath”. Flaw — A Binding Flaw indicates some major restriction or restraint that a Character or Descendant has been inflicted with. Most commonly this is being tied up, hand-cuffed or similarly restrained, although profound curses, legal restraints, and contracts also work. Triggers are most likely to indicate the circumstances of a breach of the binding such as “Moving hands apart”, “Selling Inventory on the Black Market”, “Character Closer than 200 Metres”, etc Woe — A Binding Woe indicates a constraint or restriction upon the Character that is so severe that it affects all aspects of their being or threatens their life somehow. Profound magical bindings, such as binding a soul into a physical form requires this level of binding, as does a hanging. Triggers may indicate what is required to breach or undo the binding, such as “Until Death”, “Blood Sacrifices”, “Handcuff Keys”, etc
Heresy ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Doubt — Doubt Hitches indicate people or things that are dubious, uncertain, suspicious, sceptical or dissenting. Doubt Hitches make people question and even ignore authorities, diverge from dogma, or even disbelieve everything that happens. Dead and Dying Doubt Hitches include “Executed”, “Suicide Vested” and “Medicine? Poison more like”	Quirk — A Doubt Quirk indicates a Character who occasionally is stuck between believing and disbelieving some fact, such doubt is often infrequent and illogical. Typically Doubt Triggers are the question that the Character is uncertain about the answer to e.g. “Does God Exist?”. Flaw — A Doubt Flaw indicates a Character or Descendant who doubts or disbelieves some usually accepted fact or truth. Doubt Flaws can make a Character or Descendant lie, be wildly inaccurate, and misrepresent, reject or doubt even obvious truths. Triggers usually indicate the fact or truth that is not believed, e.g a Flat-Earther Hitch could have a “Round-Earth” Trigger. Woe — A Doubt Woe indicates a Character or Descendant that is continually, painfully, skeptical or suspicious. Such powerful Doubts will cause a Character to mistrust their own senses, reason and beliefs, profoundly altering their outlook, and can make a Descendant completely untrustworthy. Triggers for Doubt Woes can include broad beliefs “Question Authority”, “Science lies” and “Don’t believe your senses”.
Inertia ⚋ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Laments — The Hitch of Laments can make a Character dwell in the past, always returning to some tragic event, some great emotional loss or problem that happened when they were younger. Laments Hitches are usually tied to specific tragic events that are often Chronoliths, Cruxes, or even Causal Nexuses, more rarely Cascade events, and most rarely of all Keep events, in a Character’s backstory. At their worst, Laments can seem like “Ground-hog Day” temporal loop events where a Character (or multiple Characters) experience this same event over and over again. Dead and Dying Lament Hitches include “Death Loop”, “Never recovered” and “Never the same”.	Quirk — A Lament Quirk indicates a Character or Descendant has some signs of this tragedy, however slight, perhaps a small scar, mark or crack or a look that appears when a certain name is mentioned. Triggers are usually the specific event, such as the night their parents died in that alley. Flaw — A Lament Flaw indicates a Character (or Descendant) that seems to be constantly retelling the Lament, bringing it up in conversation, or actually reliving it in hallucinations, flashbacks or nightmares (and occasionally for real). Triggers for Lament Flaws are often broad reminders of the event, like an anniversary. a similar location or sometimes a particular emotion. Woe — A Lament Woe causes the Character (or in the case of a Descendant, the User of the Descendant) to relive the Lament as though they had reloaded back to it. Usually the Character or User will be unable to alter the event, as changes will be at Paradoxical Stakes and represent an extreme retcon to the Character, and at least a minor retcon to the Universe they lived in at the time. When the Lament event has run its course the the Character or User will be returned to the time and place they were previously as though a few seconds (while they were in GRT) had passed. Triggers may be vague or specific, such as every night at the exact same time, or whenever the wind carries the scent of blossom.
Jeer ⚋ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Odd — The Odd Hitch indicates people or things who are for some reason considered strange, unusual, uncommon, abnormal, eccentric, or queer (in most senses). Odd Hitches can range from curious, and offbeat through outlandish and kooky to creepy and freakish. Odd Hitches can indicate a person looks, or dresses oddly, acts oddly, holds some odd beliefs, or is actually something weird. Dead and Dying Odd Hitches include “Missing Pieces”, “Mummified” and “Diseased”	Quirk — An Odd Quirk indicates a Character or Descendant is just occasionally a little weird, most of the time they are probably normal, but every now and then they just go abit odd. Triggers can indicate the specific oddity of the Character or Descendant, for example, “Loves Mashed potatoes too much” or “Reacts weirdly to compliments”. Flaw — An Odd Flaw indicates a Character who isn’t a bit odd, they are known for it. They are just a strange person, sometimes they are just a bit off, wear weird clothes and say strange things, but again there are those ones who just like give off weird vibes, you know? Triggers can be quite broad situations such as “Social Encounter”, “Sun is shining” etc. Woe — An Odd Woe gets in the way for this Character, they might be so odd that they are bright blue and twice the size of a normal person, or it could be something more subtle, but more disturbing, such as they never blink. Others will always notice, the Oddity cannot be hidden, although it can be not recognised or disguised as a different oddity (such as wearing dark glasses indoors or at night). Triggers can be almost constantly activated, “Glowing Blue Body”, “Shape shifts constantly while awake”, “Makes foghorn noise when breathing”, etc.
Key ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Confined — The Confined Hitch can mean a Character is closed-minded, unable to think outside of their box, which may be a box created by their own beliefs, social pressures, or they can literally be imprisoned, physically trapped, socially proscribed or supernaturally limited from crossing running water (or whatever). Dead and Dying Confined Hitches include “Buried”, “Buried Alive” and “Death row”.	Quirk — A Confined Quirk indicates a minor confinement, limitation or restriction. Triggers are typically specific limits or large confinement Locations, such as “Mental Block on Arithmetic”, or a “Don’t leave the Country” level of confinement. Flaw — A Confined Flaw is a more literal confinement usually, this might just be an exceptionally proscriptive set of beliefs, but more normally is a level of confinement where their actions or personality is significantly and often impacted. This level of confinement can range drastically from “Town” sized locations down. Triggers can include “Leaving Town”, “Strict Religious Observations”, “Mental Mathematics”, or “In a Chest” as required. Woe — A Confined Woe indicates a Character who is so restricted that almost any action may be impossible, this could be a case of being held in place, a locked-in syndrome, or a case of scripted behaviour, such as computer programs often use for NPCs. Triggers can be very varied, “Attempting to Move”, “Prejudges everyone” and “Thinking without lips moving” are all valid for a Confined Woe Trigger.
Liberty ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Taboo — The Hitch of Taboo indicates something that the Character believes should not be done. All Taboos begin as restrictions that we impose upon ourselves, such as not eating meat as a personal preference, but Taboos spread as Characters impose their beliefs on others, telling others they shouldn’t eat meat as well, or raise their children to not eat meat. Dead and Dying Taboo Hitches include “Inanimate”, “Breathless” and “Brain Dead”	Quirk — A Taboo Quirk usually indicates something a Character or Descendant would rather not do that most other people in their society would find acceptable. Although it can indicate some culture-wide Quirk Taboos such as the British aversion to horsemeat (which seems to date back to ancient pre-Roman religious Taboos). Triggers are usually quite specific and indicate a breech of the Taboo such as “Walking under a ladder”, “Eating horse meat” or “Entering the inner sanctum”. Flaw — A Taboo Flaw indicates something the Character or Descendant fully believes and feels is harmful or detrimental if they do it. This may be true, or false, depending upon the Taboo and circumstance, and of course the Taboo Hitch effects will add to this belief when the Taboo is triggered. Triggers are often more vague for Taboo Flaws, identifying classes of objects that are taboo, “Meat”, “Alcohol”, “Medicine”, “Magic”, etc. Woe — A Taboo Woe indicates that the Taboo is so strong for the Character or Descendant, that they would rather die than break it themselves, and that even hearing of such a breach of the Taboo can cause them misery and distress. Triggers for Taboo Woes are often very broad, such as “Dogma”, “Doctrine”, “Beliefs”, where encountering anything like these (that are not the Character’s own) will trigger the Hitch.
Miasma ⚋ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Corrupted — The Corrupted Hitch indicates there is something corrupt, faulty, crooked, debased, diseased, infected, or even perverted about a Character or Descendant. Corrupted Hitches are somewhat social in nature, relying on interaction and proximity with others to trigger and spread, much like real infections and miasmatic theories of disease. Dead and Dying Corrupted Hitches include “Decomposing”, “Putrefied” and “Terminal Disease”.	Quirk — A Corrupted Quirk indicates a Character or Descendant who has been exposed to corruption (diseases, criminal behaviour, perversions) in the past, they may have been offered a bribe, drugs, stolen goods, or hedonistic acts. The funny thing about Corrupted Quirks is that you don’t have to have accepted, just not rejected the offer. Corrupted Quirk Triggers are often specific and quite restricted in scope, “Was offered a bribe”, “Associates with drug-users”, “Family members infected” might qualify. Flaw — A Corrupted Flaw indicates a Character or Descendant who has actively participated in acts of corruption, they have taken bribes, enagaged in crimes, become infected, addicted, or empowered. This is always a case of one bad apple will ruin the whole barrel, as the corrupted Hitch will try to spread. Corrupted Flaw Triggers include, “Temptation”, “Provocation”, “Seduction” and others. Woe — A Corrupted Woe indicates a Character or Descendant that suffers greatly for their corrupted nature, although often they are so corrupted or sick they cannot see their own suffering in this way. These are Descendants that are toxic cocktails of drugs, plagues, or virus-ridden laptops from a bygone era, and Characters who are monsters, raised for generations in families and villages of monsters, without any idea of what normal behaviour looks like, so corrupted by power, money, or experiences that they cannot remember how innocence felt. Triggers for Corrupted Woes are exceptionally broad, including “Knowledge”, “Treachery”, “Blame”, “Opportunity” and “Experience”.
Nature ⚋ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Scars — Time heals all wounds it is said, but anyone who carries a prominent facial scar knows that while the pain may fade, the scars are always present. Scars always limit or restrict a Character or Descendant somehow, a scar may limit their ability at some skill, talent or power they acquired before they were Wounded, or it can limit how they can move, or bend a limb, but the things all Scars always limit is a Character’s ability to pass unrecognised. Scars are always recognisable features if they are seen. Death and Dying Scars include “Decapitated”, “Hole through the chest”, and “Bleeding out”.	Quirk — A Scars Quirk is a war story, an old injury, or a reminder of surgery. It might be a small nick in an eyebrow, a pierced ear, a marred area of skin hidden from view normally. Most people would not even notice the Scar unless it was pointed out to them. Quirk Scar Triggers are often the actual body parts that have been scarred, “Left Forearm”, “Right Index Finger”, “Left-Ear”, “Frontal Lobe”, “Right Shoulder” etc. Flaw — A Scars Flaw indicates a Scar that profoundly effects the Character. These include long facial scars, almost all burns, facial tattoos (and large amounts of facial piercings). Scarred joints may bend less, scarred limbs may not be as strong as they once were. These Scars indicate a serious previous damage and injury that has on going issues for the Character or Descendant. Scar Flaw Triggers can include actions that are impacted by the Scar, such as “Bending Limbs”, “Social Interactions”, “Expressing Happiness”, “Straightening Arm”, etc as well as adjectives that describe the scar, such as “Long”, “Big”, “Nasty”, “Cruel”, etc Woe — A Scars Woe indicates previous injuries and damage so bad that the Character or Descendant can never truly recover from them. Missing bodyparts, weeping sores, necrotic tissue, nervous damage, these are the only ways to describe Scar Woes, unless we perhaps include demonic facial tattoos that were received when drunk. Scar Woe Triggers often describe the extent of the scar and include “Missing”, “Lost”, “Weakened”, “Seeping”, “Infected”, “Wasting”, “To the bone”, etc.
Orthodox ⚋ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Bias — Too much knowledge can be a bad thing, the human mind discarda information that does not support things we already “know” and accept; it also remembers facts that support an argument more than facts that don’t. Bias can express as prejudices, favouritism, skewed thinking, selective interpretation, irrational behaviour, believing stereotypes, phobias, ignoring unfavourable data, even as delusional thinking, schizophrenia and paranoia. Bias can cause individuals and organizations to ignore discoveries, because it is incompatible with learnt knowledge, explaining how religious people may ignore the warnings of scientists, or scientists ignore the warnings of priests. Dead and Dying Bias Hitches include “Death by misadventure”, “Overdose” and “I know better”	Quirk — A Bias Quirk indicates a Character or Descendant that displays an occasional and usually slight bias, which may lead them to under or overestimate opponents, ignore a fact, or overlook a problem. For example, while a Character may be biased against a race, or species (arachnophobes are often biased against spiders), this does not drive their decisions. Bias Quirk Triggers typically identify the bias itself such as “White Nationalism”, “Christian Conservative”, “Liberalism” Flaw — A Bias Flaw indicates a powerful bias that either colours everything about a Character or Descendant, or is an occasionally seen but intense bias. Flaw biases include things like blind nationalism, racism and caste beliefs, which can lead to strong prejudice against a specific group. Bias Flaw Triggers usually include at least one adjective to describe how intense the bias actually, “Low-key”, “Insidiuos”, “Blatant”, “Intensley”, etc. Woe — A Bias Woe indicates a powerful bias, which is usually counter-factual, such extreme bias can lead Characters to making terrible choices, especially if their bias has ever been proven right in the past, then they will assume it is always correct. This kind of outcome bias is extremely common in Bias Woes, making it extremely hard for the Character to even envision being wrong. Bias Woe Triggers often include a trigger like, “Proved Wrong”, “Failed”, “Assign Blame” or “I can’t be out of touch, it must be the children that are wrong”.
Phoenix ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Consuming — The Consuming Hitch indicates something that the Character or Descendant must consume something, or has a need to consume something. Consuming Hitches are similar to Desires, but where Desires are about wants, Consuming Hitches are about needs. A Character or Descendant without access to what they consume will be triggered. Dead and Dying Consuming Hitches include “Asphyxiated”, “Dehydrated”, and “Starving”.	Quirk — A Consuming Quirk indicates the Character or Descendant occasionally must acquire and consume something commonly available, such as a cigarette, a battery, cup of coffee, tank of gas, or a specific sandwich. Consuming Quirk Triggers usually identify the thing that is consumed, “Cigarettes”, “Alchohol”, “Coffee”, “Blood”, “Raw Meat”, “Triple-decker sardine and marshmallow fudge sandwich” etc. Flaw — A Consuming Flaw indicates the Character or Descendant has a problem, they are addicted to consuming something expensive, uncommon, or excessively addicted to something common. This could be a drug addiction, chain-smoker, semi-functional alcholicism, or a more occasional and bizarre addiction such as drinking blood, draining water from plants or sucking heat from the atmosphere. Consuming Flaw Triggers usually include some level of need, “Urgent”, “Hourly”, “Constant”, “Daily”, “Insistent”, “Nagging”, “Occasional”, “Weekly”, etc. Woe — A Consuming Woe indicates the Character or Descendant must almost constantly consume some fairly uncommon thing, such as chewing coal constantly, drinking molten gemstones, or electronic devices, or that they are forced to consume some common thing to excessive levels. Consuming Woe Triggers are often additional specifiers and modifiers, “Two or Three at a time”, “From the heart”, “Bath in it”, etc
Quiet ⚋ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Mild — The Mild Hitch indicates that a person or thing is gentle, placid, and often humble, and so does not try too hard to succeed. Mild Hitches can also indicate weaknesses or limits, things the Character or Descendant will not attempt although they may be capable. Indeed mild Characters are triggered by too much success or being too good at something. Dead and Dying Mild Hitches include “Expired”, “Lifeless”, and “Comatose”.	Quirk — A Mild Quirk indicates that a Character or Descendant is happiest when they don’t stand out from the crowd, they never enjoy extreme success, feeling it is better to be middling than top of the class. Mild Quirk Triggers often indicate an adjective that the Character or Descendant would not like associated with themselves, so they will not be too… “Beautiful”, “Strong”, “Fit”, “Wealthy”, “Knowledgeable”, “Friendly”, etc. Flaw — A Mild Flaw indicates a Character or Descendant that refuses to be good at anything, whether out of a sense of humility, or more often a slacker attitude. These are Characters who never do more than the bare minimum, and are the just-good-enough Descendants like the faulty printer that prints striped, but still mostly readable text. Mild Flaws can lead to Characters being victimised as they make themselves an easy target from time to time. Mild Flaw Triggers typically indicate a limit of effort or success that the Character or Descendant will not go beyond (without triggering the Hitch), e.g. “More than a 4 Success Levels”, “A Rolled Score greater than 12”, “Above average rolls” etc. Woe — A Mild Woe indicates a Characetr or Descendant who will actively self-sabotage and try their worst to ensure that they are not even considered average. In Characters this is usually combined with a tendency to play the victim, which attracts attention and actual victimization. Mild Woe Triggers tend to indicate when and how the Character or Descendant will self-sabotage and play the victim, e.g. “Oh Woe is me, see how I am treated”, “See you do hate me”, “Procrastination”, “Negative Self-Talk”, “Distractions”, etc.
Rook ⚋ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Defensive — Some people are quick to feel threatened, it does not take much to get them on edge, and they are easily upset. It can become a big issue for them, as their mind fixates upon the issue, excessive defensiveness can manifest as anxiety, paranoia, delusions of persecution, hyper-vigilance, obsessions, monomania, compulsions, narcissism, and other “defensive” behaviours. Some will lash out at those that threaten them, or plot elaborate revenges, others will retreat and flee. Dead and Dying Defensive Hitches include “You’ll never take me alive!”,”Keep Back, I’ll do it” and “I said I wasn’t feeling well”.	Quirk — A Defensive Quirk indicates a Character or Descendant that occasionally displays some paranoia or compulsive behaviours, these are generally minor or neurotic examples, such as having to check the door is locked before leaving. Defensive Quirk Triggers are usually the circumstances that provoke the defensive behaviour such as “Feeling Unsafe”, “Leaving the house”, “Checking the gas is off”, “Eating Fatty foods” etc. Flaw — A Defensive Flaw indicates a Character or Descendant who has significant paranoid, hyper-vigilance or obessive-compulsive behaviour, such as having to check your pockets for your keys or phone every few minutes, or can only knock on doors a prime number of times. Defensive Flaw Triggers are often phrased as questions the Character or Descendants User will ask themselves, “Have I got my keys?”, “Where is my wallet?”, “Do I have enough fuel?”, “Did I lock the door?”, “Are they staring at me?”, “Am I too fat?” etc. Woe — A Defensive Woe indicates a Character or Descendant who is excessively paranoid, hyper-vigilant or compulsive almost constantly. This can be very detrimental to the Character or Descendant being able to accomplish anything, as their Hitch will often interfere with actions. Defensive Woe Triggers typically indicate how extreme the paranoia and compulsive behaviours are, or specifiy an actual diagnosis, “Trusts No One”, “There are no accidents”, “Querulous Paranoia”, “Paranoid Schizophrenia”, “Anorexia Nervosa”, etc.
Sin ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Desires — The Hitch of Sin is Desires. Desires can make a person do things they never thought they would, sometimes this is a passion, thirst or a craze that they have to be a part of, an ambition that they wish to fulfil, or a longing for something specific to happen, perhaps as the result of an addiction, dependence, love or lust. Dead and Dying Desire Hitches include “Overdone it”,”Overdosed” and “Death by misadventure”.	Quirk — A Desires Quirk indicates a Character or Descendant has a desire that they would like to complete, but treat it as more of a dream than a goal, something they desire but typically do nothing to achieve. Desire Quirk Triggers are usually the thing that is desired, as only exposure to it will trigger the Hitch, e.g. “Childhood Sweetheart”, “Psychoactive Drugs”, “Friends”, “Junk Food”, “Morning Coffee”, “Bi-curious”, etc. Flaw — A Desires Flaw indicates a Character or Descendant has a goal, ambition or want that they are working to achieve. They may not dedicate all day everyday to working towards their goals, but when making a decision their desires will always considered. Desire Flaw Triggers often indicate how often the Character works towards their Desire rather than another goal, “Daily”, “Often”, “Weekly”, “Occasionally”, “Monthly”, “Hardly Ever”, etc. Woe — A Desires Woe indicates that a Character or Descendant focuses the majority of their time and effort on completing their ambitions, goals and achieving their other desires. Every decision the Character makes will be tinged by the Desires of their Woe. Desire Woe Triggers usually describe how far the Character (or Descendant) will go to get that desire “Kill”, “Theft”, “Manipulation”, “Lies”, “Skullduggery”, etc.
Trial ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Offensive — Some people are just rude, throwing insults, curses and punches at anyone who they see. Some people are overly competitive, picking arguments and even fights just for the hell of it. Some others are actually bigoted, or prejudiced, picking deliberate targets (often those with a suitable Hitch). Sometimes the offence can be how people behave, and act, but other times the offence can be to the senses, with a Character or Descendant creating miasmic smells, awful noises (sometimes confused with “popular music”), garish or gory sights that have emotional (or visceral) impact on those who encounter them. Dead and Dying Offensive Hitches include “Rotting”,”Gangrenous” and “Picked the wrong fight”.	Quirk — An Offensive Quirk indicates a Character or Descendant that is occasionally a bit loud, crude, aggressive, forward, smelly, personal, blunt or intense, especially regarding whatever they are offensive about. Typically a Descendant with this Quirk is obnoxiously perfumed, makes a discordant or annoying noise when operating, or creates clouds of thick smoke when it activates. Typically the Offensive Quirk Triggers are a description of how they are Offensive, e.g. “Loud”, “Smelly”, “Profane”, “Every Expletive Other Expletive Word”, “Emits toxic smoke”, etc. Flaw — An Offensive Flaw indicates a Character or Descendant that is mostly known for how loud, crude, aggresive, forward, smelly, personal, blunt or intense, and almost everyone knows not to engage with them about whatver triggers them, at least after the first time. A Descendant with an Offensive Flaw is likely to be too loud, too dangerous, or leak something nasty from time to time. Offensive Flaw Triggers usually specify why some thing is Offensive, “Raised by Wolves”, “Social Underclass”, “Rich Parents”, “Racist Culture”, “Leaded Petrol”, etc Woe — An Offensive Woe indicates a Character or Descendant that is truly almost universally offensive in some way. As Descendants they will be loud, noisy things, seeping thick liquids and bellowing foul-smelling smoke, as Characters you can expect more of the same, only with personally offensive things to say to everybody they meet adding some spice to events. Offensive Woe Triggers tend to be circumstances where the Character or Descendant seems to actively go out of their way to be extra offensive, such as “Hates Mondays”, “Hates Orcs”, “Disgusted of Oswestry”, etc
Virtue ⚋ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Duty — The Duty Hitch is a commitment, and an expectation to perform some task, obligation or responsibility that comes with that commitment. Duty can make a Character do things they might not want to do. Whether its a duty to family, the law, a leader, or a Country, some people are just driven by something greater than themselves, and this will restrict what they can do as part of upholding that Duty. Dead and Dying Duty Hitches include “Went Down With The Ship”,”Ritual Suicide” and “Last Stand”.	Quirk — A Duty Quirk indicates a Character or Descendant that has some important (but relatively minor in the grand scheme of things) responsibility, duty, or obligation to another Character or Descendant (such as their friend, family, boss or company) which they must consider when performing their actions. Duty Quirk Triggers usually simply identify the expected duty, obligation or responsibility, such as “Parental Responsibilities”, “Military Orders”, “Religious Duties”, “Legal Obligations”, etc. Flaw — A Duty Flaw indicates a Character or Dscendant that is largely defined by their obligations, responsibilities, duties, or commitments. The Character or Descendant will often make or find themselves liable and responsible for whatever is going on, but fundamentally they must be at least answerable to their partners, family, country or the law. Duty Flaw Triggers often include a circumstance that will require action, “Suffer not the heretic to live”, “Death to Infidels”, “Root out traitors”, “Lies are the same as betrayal”, etc. Woe — A Duty Woe indicates a Character or Descendant who is completely driven by their duties, who revel in responsibilities, are consumed by their commitments, and cannot even consider working against those they respect and follow. The Character or Descendant is dedicated to following the orders of their leadership regardless of whether such leadership is acting in their best insterest or not. Such loyalty is rarely repaid in kind. Duty Woe Triggers usually indicate the extent that the Character or Descendant will go to maintain their duty, examples include “Any means necessary”, “Duty over truth”, “Duty over honour”, “Duty over life”, “Responsible for everyone”, etc.
Wyrd ⚋ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Doomed — The Doomed Hitch restricts what a Character or Descendant may do in the future. A Character may be Doomed to die in prison, so being in a prison will trigger them, or if they were cursed to be a frog, then an non-aquatic life is not on the cards. A Descendant may be Doomed to being one use, so even trying to use it again will Trigger it. Dooms are very versatile hitches that can model a lot of different spells and curses, as well has most legal convictions. Dead and Dying Doomed Hitches include “Damned”,”Fatality” and “Dying”.	Quirk — A Doomed Quirk indicates a Character or Descendant who isn’t entirely aware of their doomed status, it could be that the curse they are under is not very powerful, or can be largely ignored under the right circumstances. Doomed Quirk Triggers typically specify the nature of the curse or predestination e.g. “Potential Time-Traveller”, “Life detailed in Prophesy you never read”, “Possibly Bitten by Werewolf / Zombie”, “Remotely Cursed”, “Forgotten Curse”, etc Flaw — A Doomed Flaw indicates a Character or Descendant who is fully aware of their doomed status. They know the prophecy, know exactly what they can and cannot do under their curse or geas, or understand exactly when they will die, and accept this all with simple fatalism. Doomed Flaw Triggers usually indicate the limits of the Curse, such as “Time-Traveller”, “Prophesied”, “Lycanthropy Curse”, “Zombiefied”, etc. Woe — A Doomed Woe indicates a Character who accepts that doomed status completely. They will not question, fight against it, or even test the limits. For them, their doom is already written, they may have effectively already seen the events that are going to happen and are rarely surprised by events as they unfold, although they may be surprised if they have not realised the events unfolding are the ones they have forseen for some reason. Doomed Woe Triggers typically indicate the attitude of the Characetr to the Doomed Hitch, or some special circumstances about it, e.g. “Resigned”, “Institutionalised”, “Pessimistic”, “Focused”, “Does not apply on Tuesdays in August.”, etc.
Yonder ⚋ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Loss-of-Sense — The Hitch of Loss-of-Sense does exactly what it says on the tin. When a Character is blinded or deafened they are obviously handicapped by this Hitch, but what about those who suffer from a lack of balance, or don’t know when they are hungry, or simply have no common sense? This Hitch will cover them too. Dead and Dying Loss-of-Sense Hitches include “Loss of life”,”Moribund” and “Numb”.	Quirk — A Loss-of-Sense Quirk indicates the Character or Descendant has lost some accuracy in perception on one of their senses, but has not completely lost the sense, so perhaps they may find reading more difficult, are forced to wear hearing-aids, glasses or some other aid, or they may have some colour-blindness, or a diminished sense of smell or taste. Typically the Loss-of-sense Quirk Triggers will define exactly which sense is impacted and how, “Short-sighted”, “Tinnitus”, “Can’t taste saltiness” etc. Flaw — A Loss-of-Sense Flaw indicates a near complete loss of the affected sense. A profoundly Deaf Character for example, while having no hearing, may have some perception of noises from air pressure. A Blind Character may have some sense of space, size or brightness from the warmth on their skin etc. Loss-of-sense Flaw Triggers usually indicate the sense that is lacking, “Sightless”, “Blind”, “Deaf”, “No Common Sense”, etc. Woe — A Loss-of-Sense Woe indicates a Character or Descendant that has completely lost some sense that they should have been able to access. This might mean the Character is completely blind, unable to even feel infra-red light heating their skin, or completely lacking balance they may never stand, or even sit up. Loss-of-sense Woe Triggers usually specify the additional complications the Character or Descendant suffers from, such as “Cannot Sense any Light”, “Cannot Taste or Smell”, “Deaf and has no inner monologue”, etc.
Zeal ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Devotion — What some people do from duty others do from Devotion. The power of True Love can bend people to its needs again and again, whether it be Romantic, Familial or Religious in nature, this is the Hitch for those who love, who are devoted to a person, cause or faith. Dead and Dying Devotion Hitches include “Martyred”,”Loyal to the end” and “Devoted to the wrong cause”.	Quirk — A Devotion Quirk indicates a Character or Descendant that has a positive feeling for another Character or thing. This feeling may be categorised as a crush, or an infatuation, but can represent a strong attachment, mild adoration, or distant reverence, which they will do their best not to break. Devotion Quirk Triggers usuallly help define the positive feeling and how it is expressed, “Familial Love”, “Loyalty to the boss”, “Miss them when they aren’t there”, “Think abou them constantly”, etc. Flaw — A Devotion Flaw indicates a Character or Descendant that has a strong attachment to some other person or thing. This may be categorised as adoration, devotion, affection, friendship, reliance, codependence, fealty or love, and has a profound effect upon the Character or Descendant affected. Devoted Characters are completely loyal to the subject of their Devotions, which can make them blind to issues around them. Characters Devoted to another will rarely realise they have become a monster for example. Devotion Flaw Triggers typically indicate the extents of the devotion, “Would die for them”, “Would lie for them”, “Would kill for them”, “Would probably not sell them to pirates”, etc. Woe — A Devotion Woe indicates a Character or Descendant who is driven completely by their feelings for another person. A Devotion Woe can ask a Character to lay down more than their life to protect the ones they love, and they will do it unthinkingly. Of course there is no greater Woe than when someone is Devoted to someone who is unworthy and intends to betray that devotion and trust. Devotion Woe Triggers tend to indicate exactly how far the Character will go, “Body, and Soul”, “Always”, “Would lay down the lives of yourself and all your men for them”, “Even death will not stop me”, etc.
Facet	Hitch	Hitch Rules

Gnarl Proficiencies

Then the Gnarls of the Hitch are important, the Hitch Gnarls usually affect the Character or Descendant that has the Hitch, but they can also affect the User of a Descendant, Allies, or random passers-by, depending upon the Gnarl. Each Gnarl is different and larger Hitches have more than one Gnarl.

Facet

Gnarl

Emotions — The Gnarl of Awe is Emotions. A Hitch with an Emotions Gnarl will generate Emotional Effects when Triggered. Typically the emotion generated is specified by at least one Trigger Proficiency. Typically Negative Emotions are created, but Positive Emotions are possible. This emotional effect usually consists of a Psych attack with a single card per Emotions Gnarl that has Pips equal to half the Banes. The Attack is made at the current Stakes and usually targets the Character with the Hitch, the Descendant’s current User, or a Character allied with them.

Facet	Emotion Positive	Emotion Negative
Awe ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Fascination — A sense of interest in something. Wonder — A sense of interest and amazement combined. Reverence — Wonder mixed with deep respect and a hint of fear.	Fear — A sense of anticipation or foreboding of pain or danger. Terror — An overwhelming or paralysing sense of fear or dread. Horror — Fear or Terror mixed with revulsion or disgust.
Burden ⚋ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Acceptance — A sense of agreeing to take what was offered by another. Trust — A sense of confidence in another and their actions and morals. Admiration — A feeling of deep respect and approval in another.	Impatience — A feeling of irritation or a desire for change or excitement Unsatisfied — A feeling of discontentment and wanting more. Ambition — An insatiable desire for something or someone (usually power, wealth, or a particular career).
Craft ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Hope — A sense or feeling that something you want to happen, will actually happen. Assured — A sense of confidence and belief in something or someone. Certain — A feeling that something is undoubtedly true (or false depending upon context).	Anxious — An often mild sense of usually unspecific worry about the future. Concerned — A sense of worry about a specific thing. Disturbed — A sense of extreme worry and upset usually about some specific event that either may occur, or has occurred and may again.
Dominion ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Sympathy — A sense of support for another who is suffering. Compassion — A deep sense of sympathy that stems from having suffered through what another is suffering. Empathy — A sense of feeling the suffering (or other emotions) another is feeling.	Embarrassment — A sense of nervousness about what people might think of you. Shame — A feeling of embarrassment mixed with guilt that you feel because of something that you have done, or that people think you have done. Humiliation — A sense of disgrace and loss of self-respect that goes beyond shame and embarrassment.
Enigma ⚋ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Ambiguity — A mixture of feelings and sensations that is not easy to understand. Puzzlement — A state of not being able to understand something properly, that usually results from not having all the required information. Confusion — A state of not being able to understand anything, usually as a result of extreme emotional, physical, mental or pharmaceutical stress.	Sheepishness — A sense of embarrassment about yourself and your own behaviour. Ashamed — A mix of sheepishness and mild guilt because of something you have done. Guilt — A feeling of being ashamed and sorry because of your actions.
Fury ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Approval — A feeling that someone, or something, is suitable. Fun — A sense of enjoyment, playfulness, mirth or amusement. Fervour — An intense sense of emotional arousal often marked by earnestness.	Irritation — A sense of mild annoyance or impatience usually caused by a specific individual, thing, or event. Anger — A sense of displeasure and belligerence caused by you believing you have been mistreated or wronged by another. Rage — A sense of violent anger, that is often beyond logical reason.
Gossamer ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Affinity — A sense of having something in common with another. Attraction — A sense or feeling of liking someone, particularly in a romantic or sexual way Bonding — A sense of deep personal or intimate connection with another.	Attachment — A sense of liking someone. Longing — A strong sense of wanting someone, or something (such as wanting to leave a place and return home, or even the longings associated with addictions). Envy — A strong longing for something someone else has or is.
Heresy ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Scepticism — A disbelief in something claimed without proof. Disbelief — A feeling of not believing something, or someone, even with some (usually inconclusive) proof Rejection — A refusal to accept, approve or believe something, or someone, despite supporting proof.	Dissatisfaction — A feeling of discontent and displeasure. Disappointment — A sense of dissatisfaction caused by another not meeting your expectations. Frustration — A feeling of being thwarted in your goals, dreams or desires.
Inertia ⚋ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Decided — The sense that you have made a decision. Determination — The sense that you will defend a decision that you have made Resolute — The sense of extreme determination where you will die to defend your decision	Nostalgia — A feeling of comfort and happiness thinking about the past, or idealistically and sentimentally “re-imagining” the past. Regret — A feeling of sadness or sorrow when thinking about the past. Bitterness — A feeling of anger and sadness when thinking about the past.
Jeer ⚋ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Amused — A sense of being entertained pleasantly. Mirthful — A sense of happiness and amusement, usually marked by laughter. Joy — A sense of great happiness and mirth.	Impertinence — A feeling or display lacking in respect for another. Insolent — A feeling marked by casual disrespect for another. Contempt — A feeling of complete disrespect for another.
Key ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Interest — A feeling of wanting to know about or take part in something. Focused — A feeling of great interest and concentration. Immersion — A feeling of complete focus and involvement in a subject.	Preoccupation — A feeling where you are distracted by thoughts about someone or something. Obsession — A feeling where you find it hard not to think about the object of your preoccupation. Compelled — A feeling that you must act upon your preoccupation.
Liberty ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Tolerant — A feeling of acceptance when faced with adversity. Caring — A feeling of concern and empathy for others, particularly those who oppose them. Selfless — A feeling where your needs are unimportant compared to the needs of others.	Nervous — A feeling of worried excitement. Agitated — A feeling of over-stimulation by nervousness. Distraught — A sense of deeply agitated emotion that is often bordering on derangement.
Miasma ⚋ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Bemusement — A feeling of confusion that usually stems from missing information. Giddiness — A feeling of excited confusion that results in scatterbrained impulsiveness. Silliness — A feeling of excited, often hysterical or drunken, confusion that results in ludicrous folly.	Sadness — A sense of unhappiness or mild sorrow. Sorrow — An overwhelming sense of sadness and loss. Despair — A sense of paralysis that extends from a feeling that nothing you can do will change anything.
Nature ⚋ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Comfort — A pleasant relaxed feeling. Relief — A pleasant relaxed feeling that you get when something bad doesn’t happen or ends. Delight — A feeling of great pleasure and relaxation.	Inclination — A feeling that you might want to have or do something. Desire — A strong feeling that you want to have or do something. Hunger — An overwhelming feeling that you must have or do something.
Orthodox ⚋ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Knowing — A feeling of being informed about a subject. Understanding — A feeling of knowledge and comprehension about a subject or individual. Epiphany — A profound and sudden understanding that leads to discovery or invention.	Aversion — A feeling of dislike for a person or topic. Disgust — A strong feeling of aversion. Revulsion — A feeling of disgust so strong that it sickens you.
Phoenix ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Warmth — A feeling of generous happiness usually directed towards another. Fondness — A strong feeling of affection or love directed towards a person or less often a thing. Passion — An uncontrollably strong enthusiasm or affection for a person or thing.	Ruffled — A feeling of mild annoyance usually caused by the actions of another. Irritated — A feeling of annoyed impatience often caused by perceived bad actions of another. Hate — A feeling of intense dislike for something, or someone.
Quiet ⚋ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Patience — A feeling of good natured tolerance to a situation or delay. Composure — A feeling of mental steadiness when under stress. Serenity — A feeling of blissful mental repose despite any external stress.	Reserve — A feeling of doubt about a person or action. Timidity — A feeling of fear of speaking out. Dumbfounded — A feeling of surprise or fear that stops you from speaking coherently.
Rook ⚋ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Attentive — A feeling of interest and thoughtful examination. Alert — A feeling of attentive awareness and observance. Vigilance — A feeling of heightened awareness where you pay special attention to a specific person or thing.	Uneasy — To be nervous or uneasy because of something or someone. Worried — A feeling of being uneasy, troubled and anxious about something or someone. Desperate — A feeling of extreme worry, feeling almost hopeless about someone or something.
Sin ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Contentment — A feeling of happiness when you have what you wanted. Satisfaction — A feeling of very pleasurable contentment. Fulfilment — An intense feeling of contentment.	Schadenfreude — A feeling of amusement in another’s misfortune. Smug — A feeling of self-satisfaction. Conceited — A feeling of excessive pride.
Trial ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Confidence — A feeling of hopefulness that you are up to a challenge. Courage — A feeling that occurs when one overcomes fear and pain to accomplish a goal. Valour — A feeling of extreme courage in the face of great adversity, danger and pain.	Discomfort — A feeling of pain usually stemming from tension. Suffering — A feeling of pain accompanied by misery, often caused by injury. Torment — A feeling of intense suffering usually caused by prolonged afflictions or tortuous injuries.
Virtue ⚋ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Tenderness — A feeling of compassion for the welfare of another. Affection — A feeling of caring for someone or something. Love — A very strong feeling of caring, that may include romantic or sexual attraction, but can be platonic or familial.	Cocky — A feeling of self-assertive confidence, that is usually not appropriate. Self-Righteous — A feeling that you morally justified in your actions and beliefs and others are not. Vainglorious — An excessively pompous, sanctimonious and self-righteous pride in your own abilities and accomplishments.
Wyrd ⚋ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Considering — A feeling of weighing choices in a decision. Contemplating — A feeling of thinking deeply about a subject or decision. Cogitate — A feeling where you are thinking so deeply about a subject that almost nothing will disturb you from those thoughts.	Indifference — A mild feeling of apathy and lack of caring. Resentment — An angry and unhappy feeling that is directed toward someone you feel wronged or ignored you. Spite — A feeling of wanting others to suffer for a perceived slight.
Yonder ⚋ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Excited — A feeling of happy enthusiasm about what you believe is happening. Elated — A feeling of happiness and excitement. Euphoria — A feeling of great, if often short-lived elation	Disaffection — A feeling of being distant from a group or individual that you were once close with. Loneliness — A feeling of sadness usually caused by isolation from a group or individual. Alienation — A feeling that you do not belong to any group, that you have no place in society.
Zeal ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Enthusiastic — A feeling of being very interested or excited about something. Ardent — A feeling of strong emotion associated with someone or something. Ecstatic — A feeling of great happiness that may involve mystic transcendence, usually about something or someone.	Surprise — A feeling that you get when the unexpected happens. Amazed — A feeling of not believing someone or something especially unexpectedly Shocked — A feeling of being very surprised when something bad happens unexpectedly.
Facet	Emotion Positive	Emotion Negative

Expense — A Burden Gnarl is called an Expense and represents a payment of Sway that must be made when the Hitch Triggers. This expense is equal to the Hitch Banes and is calculated as Tao Sway for each Expense Gnarl.

Difficulties — The Gnarl of Craft is Difficulties. Difficulties Gnarls simply raise the Difficulty of any Action attempted when the Hitch is Triggered by the Hitch Banes for Score Difficulties and Hitch Marks for Pip Difficulties. This will raise the minimum Score required to Draw cards or increase the Pips required to generate a Wound in the current Stakes in addition to any other effects.

Limit — The Gnarl of Dominion is a Limit. Limits effect how effective a Character can be, restricting their ability to act at a distance, effect multiple targets, or even limit their effectiveness in combat. Broadly each Limit defines the maximum Score, Maximum Pips or Maximum number of cards that the Character or Descendant may generate for a specific purpose. Range Limits are usually based on 52 minus the Banes as a Score, or cards may be limited to only those with Pips lower than 16 minus the Hitch Marks, or they may be Limited to playing at most 4 minus Ruins cards on a Limited Action.

Shadows — The Gnarl of Enigma is Shadows. A Hitch with an Shadows Gnarl will affect the Target Character with a shadow Umbral effect. Usually this Umbral is specified by one of the Trigger Proficiencies. The Hitch Banes will act as the Umbral Boon for that Facet for each Shadows Gnarl the Hitch has.

Berserk — The Gnarl of Fury is Berserk, when a Hitch with a Berserk Gnarl is Triggered it will automatically activate the most powerful Annex the Character or Descendant has available, which has no RT currently, and attempt to attack or injure a random target in the Location with that Annex, berserk Actions will usually move closer to their target before attacking. Berserk Actions do not generate RT as normal, but instead generate Hitch Ruins RT on the Annex used.

Tangling — The Gnarl of Gossamer is Tangling. Tangling replaces the cost of a Gnarl with a cost of a Tangle instead (usually Tangles are the costs of Annexes). Tangles it should be noted create their cost by the interactions with Nimbed and Umbral Proficiencies in the Annex. Hitches do not have Umbral or Nimbed Proficiencies generally, so Ruins Proficiencies from the Hitch (often Trigger Proficiencies) will count as Umbral Proficiencies for the calculations of the Tangle. The Tangle will apply to all actions that the Character may attempt to make.

Distorted — The Gnarl of Heresy is Distorted, a Hitch with a Distorted Gnarl affects all information that a Character or Descendant with the Hitch perceives or attempts to communicate. The Yarn-Teller may alter any message or description the Character or User will receive, or send to another when the Hitch is Triggered, it is suggested that all communications are conducted in text unless the Referee is very comfortable with winging such things, and players agree to ignore overheard messages. Generally the Yarn-Teller may remove one letter from any message or description for each of the Hitch Banes. They may also or instead alter the spelling or pronunciation of one the remaining words for each of the Hitch Marks. Finally, they may add one word for each of the Hitch Ruins.

Time — The Gnarl of Inertia is Time, a Hitch with a Time Gnarl steals time from a Character or Descendant, slowing them down, making them forget what they are doing momentarily, or even making them black-out when the Hitch is Triggered. The Time Gnarl immediately affects the Character or Descendant with an RT equal to the Hitch Marks, this affects any Action currently underway which will not Resolve until that RT has been paid off. A second Time Gnarl creates a GRT equal to the Hitch Ruins as a Character or Descendant pauses, jams, forgets and remembers, etc. Three Time Gnarls create Black-Outs with an Extend Duration equal to the Hitch Banes as Banal, Intrepid, or Bold Sway as the Author, Referee and Yarn-Teller agree is appropriate for the setting, genre, etc.

Feelings — The Gnarl of Jeer is Feelings. When Triggered a Hitch with a Feelings Gnarl creates emotional responses in those observing the Character or Descendant, typically positive emotions target enemies first, negative emotions target allies first. The Feelings Gnarl generates a (usually Positive) Emotional Effect Psych Attack (basing the emotion on the Facet of one of the other Proficiency’s – often the Root or a Trigger) that has 1 card per Feelings Gnarl, but adds Hitch Marks Pips to the Card. Feelings based Psych attacks are made at the current Stakes.

Facet	Emotion Positive	Emotion Negative
Awe ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Fascination — A sense of interest in something. Wonder — A sense of interest and amazement combined. Reverence — Wonder mixed with deep respect and a hint of fear.	Fear — A sense of anticipation or foreboding of pain or danger. Terror — An overwhelming or paralysing sense of fear or dread. Horror — Fear or Terror mixed with revulsion or disgust.
Burden ⚋ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Acceptance — A sense of agreeing to take what was offered by another. Trust — A sense of confidence in another and their actions and morals. Admiration — A feeling of deep respect and approval in another.	Impatience — A feeling of irritation or a desire for change or excitement Unsatisfied — A feeling of discontentment and wanting more. Ambition — An insatiable desire for something or someone (usually power, wealth, or a particular career).
Craft ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Hope — A sense or feeling that something you want to happen, will actually happen. Assured — A sense of confidence and belief in something or someone. Certain — A feeling that something is undoubtedly true (or false depending upon context).	Anxious — An often mild sense of usually unspecific worry about the future. Concerned — A sense of worry about a specific thing. Disturbed — A sense of extreme worry and upset usually about some specific event that either may occur, or has occurred and may again.
Dominion ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Sympathy — A sense of support for another who is suffering. Compassion — A deep sense of sympathy that stems from having suffered through what another is suffering. Empathy — A sense of feeling the suffering (or other emotions) another is feeling.	Embarrassment — A sense of nervousness about what people might think of you. Shame — A feeling of embarrassment mixed with guilt that you feel because of something that you have done, or that people think you have done. Humiliation — A sense of disgrace and loss of self-respect that goes beyond shame and embarrassment.
Enigma ⚋ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Ambiguity — A mixture of feelings and sensations that is not easy to understand. Puzzlement — A state of not being able to understand something properly, that usually results from not having all the required information. Confusion — A state of not being able to understand anything, usually as a result of extreme emotional, physical, mental or pharmaceutical stress.	Sheepishness — A sense of embarrassment about yourself and your own behaviour. Ashamed — A mix of sheepishness and mild guilt because of something you have done. Guilt — A feeling of being ashamed and sorry because of your actions.
Fury ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Approval — A feeling that someone, or something, is suitable. Fun — A sense of enjoyment, playfulness, mirth or amusement. Fervour — An intense sense of emotional arousal often marked by earnestness.	Irritation — A sense of mild annoyance or impatience usually caused by a specific individual, thing, or event. Anger — A sense of displeasure and belligerence caused by you believing you have been mistreated or wronged by another. Rage — A sense of violent anger, that is often beyond logical reason.
Gossamer ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Affinity — A sense of having something in common with another. Attraction — A sense or feeling of liking someone, particularly in a romantic or sexual way Bonding — A sense of deep personal or intimate connection with another.	Attachment — A sense of liking someone. Longing — A strong sense of wanting someone, or something (such as wanting to leave a place and return home, or even the longings associated with addictions). Envy — A strong longing for something someone else has or is.
Heresy ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Scepticism — A disbelief in something claimed without proof. Disbelief — A feeling of not believing something, or someone, even with some (usually inconclusive) proof Rejection — A refusal to accept, approve or believe something, or someone, despite supporting proof.	Dissatisfaction — A feeling of discontent and displeasure. Disappointment — A sense of dissatisfaction caused by another not meeting your expectations. Frustration — A feeling of being thwarted in your goals, dreams or desires.
Inertia ⚋ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Decided — The sense that you have made a decision. Determination — The sense that you will defend a decision that you have made Resolute — The sense of extreme determination where you will die to defend your decision	Nostalgia — A feeling of comfort and happiness thinking about the past, or idealistically and sentimentally “re-imagining” the past. Regret — A feeling of sadness or sorrow when thinking about the past. Bitterness — A feeling of anger and sadness when thinking about the past.
Jeer ⚋ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Amused — A sense of being entertained pleasantly. Mirthful — A sense of happiness and amusement, usually marked by laughter. Joy — A sense of great happiness and mirth.	Impertinence — A feeling or display lacking in respect for another. Insolent — A feeling marked by casual disrespect for another. Contempt — A feeling of complete disrespect for another.
Key ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Interest — A feeling of wanting to know about or take part in something. Focused — A feeling of great interest and concentration. Immersion — A feeling of complete focus and involvement in a subject.	Preoccupation — A feeling where you are distracted by thoughts about someone or something. Obsession — A feeling where you find it hard not to think about the object of your preoccupation. Compelled — A feeling that you must act upon your preoccupation.
Liberty ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Tolerant — A feeling of acceptance when faced with adversity. Caring — A feeling of concern and empathy for others, particularly those who oppose them. Selfless — A feeling where your needs are unimportant compared to the needs of others.	Nervous — A feeling of worried excitement. Agitated — A feeling of over-stimulation by nervousness. Distraught — A sense of deeply agitated emotion that is often bordering on derangement.
Miasma ⚋ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Bemusement — A feeling of confusion that usually stems from missing information. Giddiness — A feeling of excited confusion that results in scatterbrained impulsiveness. Silliness — A feeling of excited, often hysterical or drunken, confusion that results in ludicrous folly.	Sadness — A sense of unhappiness or mild sorrow. Sorrow — An overwhelming sense of sadness and loss. Despair — A sense of paralysis that extends from a feeling that nothing you can do will change anything.
Nature ⚋ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Comfort — A pleasant relaxed feeling. Relief — A pleasant relaxed feeling that you get when something bad doesn’t happen or ends. Delight — A feeling of great pleasure and relaxation.	Inclination — A feeling that you might want to have or do something. Desire — A strong feeling that you want to have or do something. Hunger — An overwhelming feeling that you must have or do something.
Orthodox ⚋ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Knowing — A feeling of being informed about a subject. Understanding — A feeling of knowledge and comprehension about a subject or individual. Epiphany — A profound and sudden understanding that leads to discovery or invention.	Aversion — A feeling of dislike for a person or topic. Disgust — A strong feeling of aversion. Revulsion — A feeling of disgust so strong that it sickens you.
Phoenix ⚊ ♥ Suit: Hearts ♥ Ordeal Trump: Healing (Survival / Magic) / Deception (Hide / Feint) / Magic (Positive) Description: Hearts represent Love, Family and the comforts of home. Hearts are the warmth of a cosy fireplace, and social wealth rather than material. In the Tarot the suit is called Cups, and represents the feminine and elemental Water. Tarot Meaning: Love, Relationships, Affections, Family, Sympathy, Peace. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Nurturing, Farming, Relationships, Medical. Hearts act as Trumps for the following Actions: Blending in, Cooking, Escaping, Healing, Hiding, Hunting, Insulting, Joke-telling, Lying, Magic, Mimicry, Riddling, Spinning a tale, Surgery, and Survival. Any type of Wound can be healed with a Heart. Parry:Locked RespiteAll unmatched Cards from the original attack are Discarded by the Defender, however with each card they Discard they may either use the card to Heal/Stabilise one of their own wounds (or damage to the Parrying Descendant), or they may use the card to slow their attacker with additional RT (Pips) or GRT (Pips/5). Soak: DisengageThe Soak Card acts as a Heal card, and is discarded along with the Attack card. This immediately Heals all Wounds in play that have less Pips, including the remaining Wounds in the Attack, by one Wound Level (discards Distracts).	Warmth — A feeling of generous happiness usually directed towards another. Fondness — A strong feeling of affection or love directed towards a person or less often a thing. Passion — An uncontrollably strong enthusiasm or affection for a person or thing.	Ruffled — A feeling of mild annoyance usually caused by the actions of another. Irritated — A feeling of annoyed impatience often caused by perceived bad actions of another. Hate — A feeling of intense dislike for something, or someone.
Quiet ⚋ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Patience — A feeling of good natured tolerance to a situation or delay. Composure — A feeling of mental steadiness when under stress. Serenity — A feeling of blissful mental repose despite any external stress.	Reserve — A feeling of doubt about a person or action. Timidity — A feeling of fear of speaking out. Dumbfounded — A feeling of surprise or fear that stops you from speaking coherently.
Rook ⚋ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Attentive — A feeling of interest and thoughtful examination. Alert — A feeling of attentive awareness and observance. Vigilance — A feeling of heightened awareness where you pay special attention to a specific person or thing.	Uneasy — To be nervous or uneasy because of something or someone. Worried — A feeling of being uneasy, troubled and anxious about something or someone. Desperate — A feeling of extreme worry, feeling almost hopeless about someone or something.
Sin ⚊ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Contentment — A feeling of happiness when you have what you wanted. Satisfaction — A feeling of very pleasurable contentment. Fulfilment — An intense feeling of contentment.	Schadenfreude — A feeling of amusement in another’s misfortune. Smug — A feeling of self-satisfaction. Conceited — A feeling of excessive pride.
Trial ⚊ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Confidence — A feeling of hopefulness that you are up to a challenge. Courage — A feeling that occurs when one overcomes fear and pain to accomplish a goal. Valour — A feeling of extreme courage in the face of great adversity, danger and pain.	Discomfort — A feeling of pain usually stemming from tension. Suffering — A feeling of pain accompanied by misery, often caused by injury. Torment — A feeling of intense suffering usually caused by prolonged afflictions or tortuous injuries.
Virtue ⚋ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Tenderness — A feeling of compassion for the welfare of another. Affection — A feeling of caring for someone or something. Love — A very strong feeling of caring, that may include romantic or sexual attraction, but can be platonic or familial.	Cocky — A feeling of self-assertive confidence, that is usually not appropriate. Self-Righteous — A feeling that you morally justified in your actions and beliefs and others are not. Vainglorious — An excessively pompous, sanctimonious and self-righteous pride in your own abilities and accomplishments.
Wyrd ⚋ ♣ Suit: Clubs ♣ Ordeal Trump: Defence / Trade / Control / Magic (Negative) Description: Clubs represent the power of politics and a stoic, blind materialism. Clubs can be seen as a dark corrupting force on the world, crass materialism, sin, magic and anger, but the club is also symbolic of protection, law and justice. In the Tarot the Clubs are called Staves or Wands, in some traditions they represent Intellectual Air, but in most they are Fire. Tarot Meaning: Power, Fame, Politics, Ability, Money. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Wealth, Politics, Power. Clubs act as Trump for following Actions: Bartering, Controlling, Corrupting, Emotional-intensity, Guarding, Magic, Displaying might, Politics, Self-Defence, Socializing, and Trade Negotiations. Clubs can be used to defend any type of attack. Parry:DisarmAll the cards of the attack are immediately discarded, along with the Parry Card. The remaining cards of the Defender’s Parry can now each be used to cause the Attacker to drop a Descendant (starting with the attacking weapon usually), can also cut armour straps, belts etc, or steal hats. This basically adds RT equal to the card Pips to the Annex that was used to attack. Every 5 Pips also creates a point of GRT for the Character (representing how much time the Character must spend picking up, or readying the weapon again. Court cards additionally may damage the Descendant that was disarmed, as standard for the Stakes. Soak: WardThe matched Attack card, and one other randomly selected Attack card are discarded.	Considering — A feeling of weighing choices in a decision. Contemplating — A feeling of thinking deeply about a subject or decision. Cogitate — A feeling where you are thinking so deeply about a subject that almost nothing will disturb you from those thoughts.	Indifference — A mild feeling of apathy and lack of caring. Resentment — An angry and unhappy feeling that is directed toward someone you feel wronged or ignored you. Spite — A feeling of wanting others to suffer for a perceived slight.
Yonder ⚋ ♠ Suit: Spades ♠ Ordeal Trump: Attack / Perception / Penetration (Opening / Navigation / Logic) Description: The Spades Suit is the suit of suffering, said to be good for the soul, but miserable for a Monday. Competition, perception, endurance and curiosity are positive aspects associated with the suit, but spades also represent destruction, betrayal, distance, might and death. In the tarot, the Suit is replaced with Swords, which (depending on the tradition) may represent either damaging Fire, or more commonly the cutting intellect of Air. Tarot Meaning: Misfortune, Suffering, Loss, Mourning, Treachery, Betrayal, War, Lawsuit, Conflict. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Confrontation (e.g. Warfare, Lawsuit), Competition (Sports, Quizzes etc), Perception (Spot Hidden). Spades act as Trumps for the Following Action Types: Attacking, Balance, Climbing, Contagion, Desecration, Destruction, Feats of Strength, Lock-picking, Navigation, Perception (Search/Spot), Staying power, and Stoicism. Spades can be used for any type of attack. Parry:Redirect-AttackThe damage from the original attack (less the Parried Card) is redirected by the Defender to the Attacker, their Descendants or their Allies. Soak: Counter-AttackThe matched Attack card is reflected back at the Attacker, or their Descendant, as Narratively appropriate.	Excited — A feeling of happy enthusiasm about what you believe is happening. Elated — A feeling of happiness and excitement. Euphoria — A feeling of great, if often short-lived elation	Disaffection — A feeling of being distant from a group or individual that you were once close with. Loneliness — A feeling of sadness usually caused by isolation from a group or individual. Alienation — A feeling that you do not belong to any group, that you have no place in society.
Zeal ⚊ ♦ Suit: Diamonds ♦ Ordeal Trump: Preparation (Research / Work / Patience) / Movement (Sneaking / Sprinting) / Listening Description: Diamonds represent the finer things of life, they are bright and sparkling. Representing the creative even spiritual aspects of materialism such as beauty and art, that transcend base materialism like wealth. Despite this the Diamonds are recognised as being the Coins suit of the Tarot, with a strong tie to Elemental Earth. Tarot Meaning: Travel, Money, Business, Contracts, Deals, Voyages. Ordeal Text: Ordeal Types: Travel (e.g. Chase, Race) / Creativity (e.g. Smithing, Painting). Diamonds act as Trump for the following Action Types: Art, Building, Charming, Crafting, Driving, Emoting, Forgiving, Keeping Your Cool, Listening, Meditation, Motion, Prayer, Preparation, Research, Sprinting and Working in general. Any type of action can be prepared with a Diamond. Parry:Seize the initiativeThe cards of the original attack (less the matched card) are immediately added to the Defender’s Ordeal Pool. They may then play as many cards as their Descendant/Annex normally plays including the Parry card (1-4) usually into one of their Style Reserve, and then immediately discard any cards over Pool Limit. Soak: ReadyThe matched Attack card is immediately Prepared by the Defender (as they wish). The Soak card is discarded.	Enthusiastic — A feeling of being very interested or excited about something. Ardent — A feeling of strong emotion associated with someone or something. Ecstatic — A feeling of great happiness that may involve mystic transcendence, usually about something or someone.	Surprise — A feeling that you get when the unexpected happens. Amazed — A feeling of not believing someone or something especially unexpectedly Shocked — A feeling of being very surprised when something bad happens unexpectedly.
Facet	Emotion Positive	Emotion Negative

Exposed — The Gnarl of Key is Exposed, a Hitch with an Exposed Gnarl draws attention to the Character or Descendant, making them more obvious and increasing the Difficulty of not being noticed or seen considerably. The Exposed Gnarl Banes as Banal, Intrepid or Bold Sway (as defined by the Type of the Hitch and setting and genre) define the Size of the Group or Location necessary to hide the Character or Descendant in plain sight. E.g. a Bane 10 Hitch with an Intrepid Gnarl requires a Character to hide in a crowd of at least 10 people, or at least a Room or Truck of Space. In any smaller group or space the Character or Descendant will add the Hitch Banes to the Difficulty of any Hiding or concealment based Test, and add the Hitch Marks to any Pip Difficulty to hide.

Chance — The Gnarl of Liberty is Chance. A Hitch with a Chance Hitch adds a negative Bane Die to the Dice Pool of any Action taken while the Hitch is Triggered, which subtracts from the Combined Roll or creates Failure Levels of its own when Lady Luck decides.

Noxious — The Gnarl of Miasma is Noxious. A Hitch with a Noxious Gnarl harms the Descendant or Character when the Hitch Triggers. The normal way this is handled is by treating half the Hitch Banes as the Base Pips of an Unsoakable Toxin Attack. A Bane 10 Noxious Gnarl would create an Unsoakable Toxin Flesh Wound.

Instinct — The Gnarl of Nature is Instinct. When a Hitch with an Instinct Gnarl is Triggered the Hitch will take a predefined Action with a Score equal to the Hitch Banes, or Pips equal to the Hitch Marks. Instinct responses can be to flee (Flight moving away), flinch (prepare defences), flirt (or similar charm offence defence mechanisms or sexual activity), hide/vanish, or fight (attack whatever Triggered the Hitch). This Instinct cannot be broken or ammended once set, exposure to the trigger will always result in the same response, no matter the circumstances until the Hitch is Resolved or this Gnarl is removed.

Stress — The Gnarl of Orthodox is Stress. Stress is nervous energy that can be positively used, but in excess creates nothing but harm, but Stress is a normal response to any kind of adversity. Hitches that are triggered simply add Stress to the Character or Descendant. The Stress Gnarl will create Hitch Marks Stress for the Character or Descendant each time the Hitch is Triggered.

Burning — The Gnarl of Phoenix is Burning. A Hitch that has a Burning Gnarl burns away Hitch Marks Boons every time the Hitch Triggers. A Descendant will lose a number of Boons equal to the Hitch Marks from their Annexes in total. Each Annex can lose no more than Hitch Ruins Boons in one go, though. Master Annexes are Targeted by Quirks only when there are no other options left. Characters affected by the Burning Gnarl will similarly loose a number of Boons equal to the Hitch Marks, however a number of these Boons equal to the Hitch Ruins will be lost from the Character’s Facet Boons and not Annexes. The Facets affected should be chosen by the Hitch Author, Referee, Yarn-Teller or Player as appropriate. Facets that lose Boons are automatically Unlinked from their Anti-Facet. Personality and Size Annexes cannot be Targeted by Quirk Hitches while there are other options remaining.

Suppression — The Gnarl of Quiet is Suppression. A Hitch with a Suppression Gnarl when Triggered immediately restricts and limits the Character or Descendant, negating a number of Success Levels equal to the Hitch Marks on all attempted Actions while Triggered. Suppression Gnarls do not negate all Success Levels, instead only every second Success Level is negated, which often means the Suppression has “negations” left over, these “negations” are converted into Unheard Successes and distributed randomly to nearby Characters.

Blockage — The Gnarl of Rook is Blockage. A Hitch with a Blockage Gnarl when Triggered blocks a Character or Descendant from accessing Marks Proficiencies. A Character or Descendant is blocked from accessing a number of Proficiencies equal to the Hitch Marks. So a Bane 10 Blockage Gnarl will block 3 Proficiencies. Author, Referee and Player should agree upon the Proficiencies that are blocked by the specific Hitch a Character has, canonically the Author of the Character (often the Player) has final say, but of course the Referee may override this via a Ref Fiat in any gaming scenario.

Harm — The Gnarl of Sin is Harm. A Hitch with a Harm Gnarl injures the Character or Descendant everytime the Hitch is Triggered. The Harm Gnarl allows the Yarn-Teller to Draw and Play Ruins cards as an attack, at the current Stakes, on the Character or Descendant whenever their Hitch is Triggered. These attacks are soaked as normal by the Character or Descendant.

Testing — The Gnarl of Trial is Testing. A Hitch with a Testing Gnarl adds an additional Test with a Score Difficulty calculated from the Hitch Marks (as Banal/Intrepid/Bold as appropriate). The nature of this Test is usually based on the Hitch Facet, although other Facets are possible. For example a Bane 10 Testing Gnarl can create a Difficulty 10 / 16 / 45 (depending if the Facet is Banal / Intrepid /Bold) Test, so making the Character perform a Mundane Activity, such as logging in or getting dressed, before they can proceed, would probably be Diff 10.

Prudence — The Gnarl of Virtue is Prudence. A Hitch with a Prudence Gnarl will force a Character towards Preparing Hitch Marks cards on a specific Action while Triggered, each Action attempted must have exactly Hitch Ruins cards prepared to the specified Action. For example, if a Character or Descendant has a Banes 10 Prudence Gnarl that forces them to Prepare a counter-attack when it is Triggered then if the Hitch is triggered they will have to Prepare 1 card from every Action they take into a counter-attack Action that should reach 3 Cards when they are done.

Ruling — The Gnarl of Wyrd is Ruling. A Hitch with a Ruling Gnarl when Triggered imposes a Rule upon the Character or Descendant. The Rule imposed is usually based on the Hitch Banes (as Sway), but can be Banal, Intrepid or Bold depending upon the Hitch Facet and the setting, era and genre. Rulings can be used to penalise Characters in a variety of ways, adding Obstacles in the Character’s way, Narrative events (such as Gains, Revelations, Frays, Snags, Sweepings, etc), force Wyrd Tarot Dooms (or entire Yarn-Spreads) upon a Character, or even create new Characters, Descendants, Hitches, Events and Plots, with suitably large Hitches. For example at Banes 10 a Hitch could if Banal add or subtract a Level of Success from a Card, if Intrepid it may add a Character (Chorus) Extra to work against the Character, or grant them a point of GRT, and if Bold the Ruling could allow any opposed Character nearby to play 2 Ordeal Cards from their Pool whenever the Hitch Triggers.

Displacement — The Gnarl of Yonder is Displacement. A Hitch with a Displacement Gnarl when Triggered changes how the Character or Descendant is positioned, either physically, emotionally, or metaphorically. Displacement could make a Character teleport across a room, feel alienated from their closest friends, or think the room has shrunk or expanded. A Displacement Gnarl can move a Character as though affected by a Score equal to the Hitch Banes (as though Flying in the current Terrain type although Banal/Intrepid/Bold Sway to Chi conversions apply), this movement can be in any Action Space, including Psychosocial ones, or it can adjust the Character’s or Descendant’s sense of Space by altering their perceived or actual Size (making things bigger or smaller). For example, a Banes 10 Displacement Gnarl, could Banally move a Character 8 metres across open Terrain (Intrepid would be 16 metres and Bold 45 metres), or allow them to completely cross a Psychosocial Space, but not leave it, or enter another, or the Character could grow to the Size of a Car (making everyone else feel toddler-sized) assuming Banal, or if hallucinatory that size change could easily be Bold, then the Character might imagine they had shrunk to the size of a louse, only a few millimetres tall, or that they were now half the size of the buildings around them.

Intensity — The Gnarl of Zeal is Intensity. A Hitch with an Intensity Gnarl makes others react more powerfully than usual to the Character or Descendant with the Hitch. When Triggered the Gnarl adds Ruins Nimbed Proficiencies (usually determined by the Author, Yarn-Teller and Referee based on the Trigger Proficiencies) to the Actions of Marks Annexes that opposes the Character or Descendant with the Intensity Gnarl. Each Nimbed Proficiency will behave as though it was created by a Nimbed Facet with a Boon equal to the Hitch Banes. So an Intensity Gnarl in a 10 Banes Hitch will add 1 Nimbed Proficiency (for example Speed) to any 3 Annexes currently working against the Character or Descendant with the Hitch.

Facet

Gnarl

Hitch Tier

Which leads us to the issue of the Hitch Tier. You might notice that the different Hitches behave differently depending upon if they are a Quirk, Flaw or Woe. Each Tier behaves differently because they are very different in intended effect.

Characters are expected to have a selection of Quirks, that define minor aspects of the Character. Additionally, they should have at least a couple of Flaws, with perhaps as many as a handful, and at least one serious Flaw. Only the most powerful of Characters actually have Woes. Woes are generally reserved for Goblins, Demons, and Demon-Lords, as well as a few others plagued by the Increated. Although it is said that a few Færy Nobility and Fantasy Heroes can possess pure Woes that give them Yarn, and not Twists, most do not. Instead they must carefully manage their Flaws, keeping them below their Facet Boons, to avoid Increated attention.


Tier	Description	Gnarls
Quirk	The smallest tier of Hitches, are called Quirks and are intended for subtle characterization, and annoying nuisances. Quirks may have a Boon no greater than Half the Character’s Facet Boon	1
Flaw	The middle tier of Hitches, are called Flaws and are intended to be profoundly afflicting for the Characters that have them, representing things the Character should want to change about themselves, their imperfections, biases and phobias amongst other things. Flaws may be no bigger than the Character’s Facet Boon.	2
Woe	The greatest tier of Hitches are the devastating Woes. Woes have Banes higher than the Character’s own Facet Boons, seemingly creating additional suffering from nothing. It is perhaps because of this that Woes usually attract the Increated. The Increated, who lurk forever just beyond the imagination, once they spot a Woe Trigger a few times will swoop in to swap all the Sway generated by a Woe being triggered with Twists. These Twisted Woes allow Characters to generate Twists and store them on their Hitches, creating Twisted Facets, but can disable a character when triggered. Woes can be at most Boon 40 for most Characters and Twisted Woes can never be larger than Boon 82.	3
Resolved (Persona)	The Hitch is Resolved and instead the Character may claim an additional Persona. This additional Persona will grant the Character a new way of gaining Chi and may add new Goals.	0
Resolved (Core)	The Hitch is Resolved and instead the Character may claim an additional Core. The additional Core will grant the Character the Chi gain or other associated enhancement.	0
Resolved (Edge)	The Hitch is Resolved and instead the Character may claim an additional Resolved Hitch Edge. This is the most common result of a resolved Hitch. Resolved Hitch Edges add slight benefits to a Character that are impossible to get any other way.	0
Resolved (Monster)	The Hitch is Resolved and instead the Character becomes of Monster of the Hitch Facet. Resolved Monsters are intended for NPC Arcs, but PC Monstrous Arcs are allowed.	0
Tier	Description	Gnarls

You can see how the impact of the Tiers affects the Hitch directly. A Hitch must have as many Proficiencies as the Marks of the Hitch. Which usually means the additional Proficiencies can act as additional Triggers and Gnarls (although there is a limit on Gnarls). Some small Quirks will not have enough Proficiencies to have a separate Hitch Type, Trigger and Gnarl, and so a single Proficiency may end up doing double or even triple duty.

Lets consider a simple Hitch that a Character may have. Such as the easy to understand “Scars” Hitches. Scars are the normal hitches a Character takes after they have recovered from an injury. A small Scar for example can look like this:

Quirk: “Small Scar” × 3[1/0.5] (N) [Scars]{Trigger} ^{Gnarl: Instinct Flinch}

While this Small Scar Quirk is possible in the system, it is self-referential, and is based on the Proficiency of the real “Small Scar” Hitch. Which is created by combining more simple Proficiency Threads together, in much the same way, they could be combined to create an Annex instead of a Hitch.

A more interesting Small Scars Quirk then requires 2 different Proficiencies (“Scars” and “Small” at the minimum, although note here, that one Proficiency must do at least double duty as Type, Trigger or Gnarl) and therefore must have minimum Banes of 5 for the Quirk, although a Character with an Awe of 20 could have a Quirk of Bane 10, this is not going to be very common. Most Quirks will be of the order of 5 to 9, a very few may get as high as 12.

Quirk: “Small Scar” × 5 [2/1] “A small scar of that exact type that one rarely remembers exactly how one got it.” [Scars]{Trigger} “Scar” (N), “Small” (D) ^{Gnarl: Limit (47/14/3)}

When we move beyond Quirks into the more powerful Flaws, and then Woes, the numbers of Proficiencies available is usually no longer any sort of limiting factor to the Hitch. You may have each Proficiency doing a separate job, which could look like this.

Flaw: “Small Mysterious Scar” × 13 [4/1] “A small scar of that exact type that one rarely remembers exactly how one got it.” [Scars] “Scar” (N), {Trigger} “Mysterious” (E), “Small” (D) ^{Gnarl: Limit (39/10/2)}, “Mystery” (E) ^{Gnarl: Shadows (Mysterious Umbral demands secrecy or Questions Failure Level)}

As Hitches grow bigger with time, Players may have opportunity to change and refine their Hitches often, sometimes keeping Gnarls and Triggers the same, other times having their Hitches evolve and change. This is entirely normal and should be mostly the Player’s decision, although the current Yarn-Teller (or the Yarn-Teller running this Character’s Arc) and Referee should be consulted, the Player is always considered the Author of their Character.

Banes, Marks and Ruins

Hitches have an equivalent to Boons, but being negative in nature we give them a different name, Banes, and we generally note the Banes with a number. With any Boon we can note the Score and the Draw, and Banes are no different.

Hitch Banes — Usually a number between 1 and 50, although rarely will they get bigger than 30.
Hitch Marks — The equivalent of Scores and usually affect Pip Difficulties.
Hitch Ruins — The equivalent of a Boons Draw and can negate discard and draw cards.

Adding Hitches

Hitches are sometimes added to Characters and Descendants during play, most often by being Wounded by a Mortal or worse Wound. Occasionally Players or Referees will wish to add a Hitch to a Character for Narrative reasons (for example if a close friend, or family member dies then you may want a Lament).

When adding a new Hitch like this the Player, Yarn-Teller and Referee should agree the Bane of the Hitch (rather than using the Character’s Miasma Score, which determines how big Hitches created by Wounds are usually). Players should clear new Hitches with their Referee and the current Yarn-Teller (or the specific Yarn-Teller running that Character’s Arc if appropriate), as Hitches have a direct impact on the Character’s power level, adding to their Personality Annex, and the maximum Scale the Character can access. Additionally care should be take when adding Hitches as you can force Characters to change Experience Tier or Character Type .

Triggering Hitches

When a Hitch is triggered (you see a spider when Arachnophobic, or another Character sees your Scars), it has its effect based on the Gnarls and Tier. This is always a negative effect, Stressing a Character out, making Actions more Difficult or Limited as appropriate, so you might think there is a good reason to make triggers as unlikely as possible (by making it not Arachnophobia say, but instead a fear of Babies called Smelvetta), all the advantages of having a Phobia without the drawback of the Yarn-Teller accidentally triggering it. Yarn-Tellers hate that sort of thing, and are likely to create a Plot where the Character has to enter an orphanage where all the children inside are called Smelvetta, just to trigger the Hitch over and over again.

So to balance this negative effect from triggering a Hitch you gain something to compensate, this Gain usually depends upon the Character Type and the Hitch Tier, but is usually Chi or Twists. Quirks usually grant Chi although they can grant Yin or Yang if they are very small. Flaws grant Chi (or occasionally Yarn) and Woes almost always grant Twists, but can grant Yarn occasionally, if the Character and setting align.

Hitch Limits

The number of Hitches that a Character may have is limited by both the type of Character that is being built (or is creating the Descendant — as a Descendant shares Facets and Hitch limits with its creator or current owner depending upon the Incarna of the Descendant) and their experience Tier.


Type	Description	Rules	Min-Hitches	Max-Hitches	Woe Gain	Hitch Gain	Gain	Max Stored Chi	Sway Gain
Extra (Vex)	Vexes are simplistic and weak animals and characters, they are static, unchanging stereotypes and one-dimensional characters, they are intended for small animals and unimportant none-speaking roles. They generally have little effect on the outcome of a story.	Vexes are made from a single Skill Annex, usually named for the Extra or “Living” or “Doing Stuff” that the Vex uses for all actions. Vexes have no Hexagram, no Personality Annex and may only gain Chi from Geometry or by triggering Hitches. Vexes cannot spend Chi except on their own actions. Vexes are not really limited in Hitches at all, you can add them for flavour. Vexes can have a Scale of -3 to +20 as it is not restricted by Hitches, but by the Plot.	0	24	1 Twist/Yarn when triggered	1 Chi when triggered	Normally 1 Chi for Persona / Core / I-Ching / Geometry gains	Master Annex Highest possible rolled Score	1 Yin/Yang
Extra (Chorus)	Chorus are simple NPCs (Secondary or Tertiary Characters) that may have a larger part in a Story. They are usually at best two-dimensional characters, and are seldom named roles beyond “Towns-person #3” or “Second Guard”.	Chorus are usually made from a single Talent Annex, although they may also have Skills as a Talent Descendant. Chorus have no Hexagram, no Personality Annex and may only gain Chi from Geometry or by triggering Hitches. Chorus cannot spend Chi except on their own actions. Chorus are not really limited in Hitches at all, you can add them for flavour. Chorus can have a Scale of -3 to +20 as it is not restricted by Hitches, but by the Plot.	0	24	1 Twist/Yarn when triggered	1 Chi when triggered	Normally 1 Chi / Sway for Persona / Core / I-Ching / Geometry gains	Master Annex Highest possible rolled Score	1 Yin/Yang
Extra (Cast)	Cast are fairly simple NPCs, usually a Secondary Character, that usually have a recurring role, or are important to an individual Story. They are often also used as Alternates for bigger Characters. Cast can be two-dimensional if they are reused too often, although the addition of Personas, Cores and I-Ching can add depth.	Cast are created from a Power Annex, but may have additional Skills and Talents (usually one per Hitch to a Max of the Power Score (Boon Reduced)). Cast can have a Scale of -3 to +20 based on the Plots involved. Cast may have a Persona and Core Proficiencies rather than a true Personality Annex. They often have at least 3 Hitches (although not compulsory). They usually have I-Ching Hexagrams.	0	24	1 Twist when triggered	1 Chi when triggered	Normally 1 Chi / Sway for Persona / Core / I-Ching / Geometry gains	Master Annex Highest possible rolled Score	1 Yin/Yang
Extra (Force-of-Nature)	The most powerful of the Extras, these are important villains, major recurring tertiary roles and even storms, floods and actual Forces of Nature. Like all Extras they can be somewhat lacking in depth, although the addition of Personas, I-Ching, etc can go a long way toward adding a third dimension.	F.O.Ns are made from Super-Annexes, and can have lots of Skills, Talents and Powers, one per Hitch, to a maximum number of the Super-Annex Score (Boon Reduced). They may have a Scale of -3 to +20 based on the Plots involved. They can be more powerful than PCs (certainly starting PCs) so use responsibly. They may have Geometries, Personas, Cores, Resolved Hitches, Monster Facets and I-Ching, or not as required.	0	24	1 Twist/Yarn when triggered	1 Chi when triggered	Normally 1 Chi / Sway for Persona / Core / I-Ching / Geometry gains	Master Annex Highest possible rolled Score	1 Yin/Yang
Lite Character	Lite Characters are a simplified Character that may be used as NPCs or PCs in a simplified game. They are good for recording Alternates in more Detailed Characters.	Lite Characters essentially multiply Proficiencies rather than building actual Annexes. This makes them quick to build and easy to play. Lite Characters can also use Extras as Alts. Lite Characters can have I-Chings, Personas, Cores and Hitches.	0	24	Ruins in Twists/Yarn when triggered	Ruins in Chi when triggered	Normally 1 Chi for Persona / Core / I-Ching / Geometry gains	Master Annex Highest possible rolled Score	1 Yin/Yang
Archetype Character	Archetypes are Characters that the Ref uses for really important NPCs, they are real Characters, but are less detailed than standard Characters. Archetypes can also represent a good early example Character for a Player and are easily use to create Alts for more Detailed Characters.	Archetypes simplify Full Characters with card Archetypes, and limited number of Facets (often 1-6 Stats of Boon 8-18) for ease of creation and use (Facets are often gathered together into a Stat that share their Boon – some Games even specify the Stats). It is not unusual to begin play using Archetype Characters. They usually migrate to Full Characters if they are reused.	0	24	Ruins in Twists/Yarn when triggered	Ruins in Chi when triggered	Normally 1 Chi / Sway for Persona / Core / I-Ching / Geometry gains	Master Annex Highest possible rolled Score	1 Yin/Yang
Grunt	Grunts are detailed T13 Characters who are limited in power. Most Characters will be Grunts in most Stories. Grunts make excellent Characters, and can easily become Hero Characters by gaining additional Hitches through a number of Episodes / Stories.	Grunts are detailed Characters (usually restricted to only 1 or 2 Alternatives). They have Hexagrams, Personality Annexes, and everything else that a detailed Character may have, but can only spend Sway to increase, or decrease their current actions, Boons, or to purchase Proficiencies. They may spend Chi on Descendants or altering their Facet Boons. Grunts are restricted in Scale and Hitches to between 1 and 4.	1	4	Ruins Twists/Yarn when triggered	Ruins in Chi when triggered	Personality Draw Chi for Persona / Core / I-Ching / Geometry gains	Personality Boon	1 Yin/Yang
Goblin	Goblins are Grunts who have at least one Woe Hitch. This makes them Twisted and more powerful than a standard Grunt. Goblins are good for low-level bad-guys, especially somewhat inhuman ones. Twists grant them additional, but limited edges on Grunts.	Goblins are Grunts with Twists. They are limited in numbers of Twists by their Hitches, which they may have between 2 and 5	2	5	Ruins Twists when triggered	Ruins in Chi when triggered	Personality Annex Draw Chi for Persona / Core / I-Ching / Geometry gains.	Personality Annex Boon	1 Yin/Yang
Hero	The generic term for Faery-Commoners, Changelings, Eelafin, Mercari, Wyrdchilde, Human-reincarnated Bulmäs, and Paradox Warriors. Usually played with a Full character, they may have multiple Alternates from Past-Lives, Quantum realities, Soul-Stealing/Eating, possessions or mental instability as required.	Hero level characters can spend Chi to do things like reloading the game, playing Wyrd Tarot Cards, as well as purchasing Annexes, Alternates, Proficiencies and Descendants.	3	8	Ruins in Twists/Yarn when triggered	Marks in Chi when triggered	Personality Annex Score for Persona/Core/I-Ching gains	Personality Annex Value	Personality Annex Draw Yin/Yang
Demon	Demons are created when a Hero has at least one Woe. They can also be called Hobgoblins (Goblins that gain additional Hitches usually, but occasionally Faery-Goblins will also be called Hobs). They may also be created by Increated making a Twisted Pact with a mortal (as this always creates a Woe Hitch). Demons are powerful, able to manipulate the Tapestry around them to their advantage.	Demons can expend Chi and Twists. They often have multiple Alternates (with perhaps only one Alternate having a Woe). Some Demons (usually Hobgoblins) can steal souls adding them as Alternates.	4	8	Ruins in Twists when triggered	Marks in Chi / 1 Twist when triggered	Personality Annex Score for Persona/Core/I-Ching gains	Personality Annex Value	Personality Annex Draw Yin/Yang
Yarn-Teller	Yarn-Teller is the term we use for Characters that can manipulate reality to create Narratives of their own devising. Faery-Nobles, Demi-Gods, Arch-Mages, Superheroes, Grand-Mercari, Solos, Brass etc…	Yarn-Tellers are able to Doom-Weave with Yarn cards. Side-step between realities, create metaphor bubble realities and manipulate Space-Time directly.	6	13	Marks in Twists/Yarn when triggered	Banes in Chi when triggered	Personality Boon Chi for Persona/Core/I-Ching gains	Personality Super-Value	Personality Annex Score Yin/Yang
Demon-Lord	When a Demon gains enough power (or adds additional Souls enough to “evolve”) or a Yarn-Teller has a Woe Hitch, they may become a Yarn-Telling Greater Demon, a Demon-lord. Demon-lords are the most versatile Characters in the system, you can use them to model everything from Tyrants to Deranged Super-Villains. Hobgoblins that gain enough power to be considered Demon-lords usually go by the Title of Orc, Ogre or Ettin instead. They are generally considered more brutish, and less sophisticated than Demon-lords.	Demon-lords can Yarn-Tell and use Twists too. The most powerful Demon-lords are almost Plots in their own right, creating Stories and Arcs by their whim.	7	14	Marks in Twists when triggered	Banes in Chi when triggered	Personality Annex Boon Chi for Persona/Core/I-Ching gains	Personality Annex Super-Value	Personality Annex Score Yin/Yang
Bulmäs	The Bulmäs are either shape-shifting embodied spirits of nature, or Nullite-enhanced, organic, Terra-forming engines, and are Soul-eaters, soul-farmers, or soul-protectors, depending upon who you ask, and which path you are talking about. They are responsible for many stories of lizard-people, werewolves, centaurs, the Minotaur and other beast-men. Bulmäs may add other souls to their own by eating, or for the most powerful just meeting, people.	Bulmäs use their Wyrd Tarot hand to shape-shift and walk the Lea to travel between Locations. They can refer to it as a Lea Hand as it represents the local Lea paths, rather than the Local Tapestry. A Bulmäs is usually limited by the number of souls they carry. Bulmäs can only Lea Walk once they have two Souls, and are limited to the paths that reflect their lifestyle (Herd (Grunts and Heroes) / Hunter (Mostly Heroes) / Broccen (Territorial Heroes and Yarn-Tellers) / Vermis (the Solo Lord Vermis is all Vermis, although some Alternates are less well integrated than others) / Labyrinthine (Yarn-Tellers that guard the Labyrinth and save lost souls) / All-walker (Yarn-Tellers who act as Lea Guardians and can duplicate souls) / Hell-Walker [also Hell-goats, Hell-bats, Hell-cats, Hell-hounds, Hell-boars, Hell-wyrms and Ettins] (Bulmäs with a Woe Hitch, highly prized by the Increated, they hunt souls for their masters, or duplicate them for them)). Lea cards are played and remain in place on a character like Wyrd Tarot Court cards, where they add their Pips to all Scores the Bulmäs generates that reflects this animal form. Lea cards do allow some Bulmäs to manipulate the Tapestry (as Wyrd Tarot or Yarn Cards).	1	13	Varies from 1 Twist for Hell-goats, to Ruins Twists for Hell-hounds, to Marks Twists for Hell-wyrms, Ettins and Hell-Walkers. Some Bulmäaut;s such as Vermis can gain Marks Yarn instead of Twists.	Varies as Grunt, Hero or Yarn-Teller by number of Souls carried and path.	Personality Annex Boon Chi for Persona/Core/I-Ching gains	Personality Annex Super-Value	Personality Annex Score Yin/Yang
Kaiju	Kaiju are how we describe enormous Characters, be they whales, self-aware vehicles, ogres, dinosaurs, dragons, giant-robots, radioactive-dinosaurs, mech-suits, clanks, battle-toons, demon-princes, living-gods, or eldritch cosmic-horrors.	Any Character with a Size Annex is technically a Kaiju. They may be able to Yarn-Tell, Twist or Doom-Weave, depending on what sort of Character has been given a Size Annex. Size Annexes do not have Proficiencies to create Value, but are based instead on the size required. Kaiju may use their Size Annex to any reasonable effect (pound attacks, resisting most weapons, soaking damage, stepping huge distances, etc).	1	24	Marks in Twists/Yarn when triggered	Banes in Chi when triggered	Size Annex Boon Chi for Persona/Core/I-Ching gains	Personality Super-Value	Size Annex Score Yin/Yang
Neechies	Neechies are the sensation of motion out of the corner of the eye. They are the least of the Increated, stirring the edges of human vision in the hopes that the Character will believe them to be something, making the Neechie a true Increated. In T13, if you think you just saw something out of the corner of your eye, then be very careful what you think it might be, you may have just summoned an Increated and gifted it a Nightmare Form.	Neechies are non-existent Characters, that have no Character sheet, but can suddenly “exist” if they are believed in by another Character. Neechies are nameless, and seek to be given any identity. To this end they can store Success and Failure Levels and transfer them to those who believe.	0	0	Cannot have Hitches	Cannot have Hitches	1 Chi for Persona/Core/I-Ching gains where possible. +5 Chi, +1 Twist and +1 Transferable Success or Failure Level when believed-in or imagined into existence.	13 Chi	1 Yin/Yang
Increated	Increated are the beings that were left out of the Creation of T13 by the Prime Anomaly, instead these beings were conjured into existence by human imagination and interactions between semi-deleted code chunks in the Nullite systems the Anomaly was made from. They are Neechies with Hitches, who banded together for co-operation initially, but later factionated. Increated usually dwell in both a “real-world” like T13 and the realm of Shades, which was created and populated by Garner accidentally during the Paradox War. Shades is a sub-real space that only exists because of the force of will of Garner, the horrific Dominion of Blakk, and the power of the souls being forced to believe it into existence so they can survive there. These souls are recruited, stolen, and traded by the most powerful Increated (those with the shortest Names) from various universes by various means, Mot for example created the Kirk of Death in the T13 Universe to allow him to collect the souls of the dead. If an Increated is named incorrectly by a powerful Character it may cause the Increated’s name to change (becoming shorter and adding Hitches usually).	Increated are only capable of having a Facet Value in a Facet they have a Hitch in, and will always have a Facet Boon one lower than their Hitch. Otherwise they can be treated as any of the Goblin — Demon-lord types, depending on the number of Hitches. Increated can also have a Size Annex, in which case see Kaiju. Increated Names are 25 syllables long, less one for each Hitch (or Resolved Hitch) they have, to a minimum of 1 Syllable. Increated can convert Tao Sway directly into Twists on a 1 for 1 basis, and so usually steal the Yarn created by Woes and replace it with a similar number of Twists for any Character with a Woe.	1	24	Banes Twists	Banes Twists	Personality Annex Score Twists for Persona/Core/I-Ching gains.	Personality Annex Super-Value	1 Yin/Yang
Type	Description	Rules	Min-Hitches	Max-Hitches	Woe Gain	Hitch Gain	Gain	Max Stored Chi	Sway Gain

The Experience Tier of the Character is also important to the number of Hitches.


Type	Description	Rules	Min Hitches	Max Hitches
Fresh	A new Character that has little or no experience of the real world, they may have some education, street smarts, battle experience, or professional training, but never all four.	Fresh Characters generally begin with the minimum number of Hitches for their Type, but may add up to 2 additional Hitches. Fresh Characters often start with a negative Scale and usually begin play as Young-Adults or Kids.	Normal for Type	Up to +2 over Minimum
Experienced	Any Character that has survived a few Stories, or Chapters, is usually considered an Experienced Character. Some Narratives may require a Character to remain Fresh for longer than this, but if they have received new Hitches, then they are probably experienced.	Experienced Characters generally have at least one more Hitch than their minimum, and usually have at least 3 more than the minimum. They are generally around Half full of Hitches and at least one is usually Resolved.	Minimum for Type +1	Up to Half of Max for the Type
Veteran	Veteran Characters have survived through at least one Volume Plot, and have Resolved at least two of their early Hitches.	Veteran Characters generally are within 3 of their Maximum Number of Hitches for their type and always have at least Half their Hitches either filled or Resolved.	Half of Max for Type	Max for Type -1
Maxed	A Maxed Character has generally experienced enough of the world that nothing surprises them anymore. Maxed Characters have typically survived several Volumes and completed at least one Character Arc.	Maxed Characters simply have their Maximum number of Hitches possible for that type (and a Scale to match). Usually a Maxed Character will have at least Half of their Hitches Resolved.	Max-Hitches for Type. Half of them Resolved	Max-Hitches for Type
Type	Description	Rules	Min Hitches	Max Hitches

So for example when building a Fresh Demon they could have between 4 and 6 Hitches, but a Veteran Paradox Warrior (Hero) would have between 5 and 7 Hitches. Theoretically both Characters are on a par, although the Twists of the Demon’s Woes will give the Demon a significant advantage in many ways.

Revolving and Resolving Hitches

Over time Hitches sometimes become stale, perhaps they haven’t been triggered in a long time, or something happens that means the Hitch no longer makes narrative or logical sense. A simple, common example might be that if you have a “Persecuted by Sheriff Jones” × 15, but Sheriff Jones just retired, then it might be time to resolve or revolve that Hitch.

Revolving the Hitch simply means that we change the details of the Hitch. Normally revolving a Hitch will cause its Bane to increase by one, but you can also pay Chi to reduce the Bane at this time if you want. So in the example of “Persecuted by Sheriff Jones” could become “Persecuted by the Sheriff” × 16. Now, whoever the new Sheriff is, you know they will persecute you also, and moving towns or even county won’t help here either.

Then again sometimes you might actually resolve a Hitch instead of just revolving it. Perhaps you saved Sheriff Jones’ life, it wouldn’t then make sense for him to carry on with the Persecution. Or perhaps you go see a Psychiatrist or Psychologist to get treatment for your Arachnophobia, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or Mental Scars.

Usually resolution comes from a Story (often a subplot of the Character Arc), it is always an option when one of the sides embodies as a Hitch Facet. So if an Arachnophobe Character defeats a Terror monster (who no doubt used a spidery form or controlled swarms of spiders to tap that Arachnophobia) then it makes sense to have them no longer afraid of normal spiders.

Resolved Hitches can change as follows. Quirk and Flaw Hitches are effectively lost, replaced instead with one of the types of Resolved Hitches. Which no longer adds the Hitch Value to the Character’s Personality Annex it instead adds the full Facet Value as follows:

A new Persona from the same Facet, so an Awe Emotional Hitch could become an additional Idol Persona in their Personality Annex. This is a Resolved Hitch Persona.
A new Core from the same Facet, so that Phobia could become an Enhancer Core. This is a Resolved Hitch Core.
A Resolved Hitch Edge from that Facet, the Phobia becomes Valour, granting extra Success Levels for bravery. This is a Resolved Hitch Edge and is usually the preferred resolution.
or finally, and this is usually reserved for bad guys and NPCs, but occasionally a Hero might also folllow this path, the Character gains a Monster Facet and Monster Pool, in this case the Phobia would make them into a Terror. This is a Resolved Hitch Monster.

Resolved Woes are slightly different, they still resolve into the above types, but only up to the Facet Boon, this leaves Boons that we haven’t dealt with which the Referee may decide what to do with. The options are:

Discard the remaining Hitch Banes— This leaves the Character diminished, and should be treated as a punishment of sorts. E.g. The Character with a Harrowed Woe “Persecuted by Sheriff Jones” secretly kills the Sheriff, they resolve the Dominion Woe, and might add a Leader Persona. However, the Ref decides to discard the remaining Boons, reducing the Character’s Personality Annex. They are made lesser for the killing.
Add the remaining Hitch Banes to the Facet, increasing it to the level of the former Woe, this will however also reduce the Anti-Facet by the same number of Boons (if Joined). This alters a Character permanently and can diminish or harm the concept, so use this wisely. E.g. The Character’s Dominion would be pushed up to the Boon of the “Persecuted” Woe, and they would also lose Yonder. This can imply that with the Sheriff gone, the Character assumes some leadership role in the community, perhaps over some criminal gang. Facets can only rise to a maximum of Boon 25 plus the current Scale, beyond this the Boons must be either Discarded or moved to a new Hitch.
Add a new Hitch, with Banes equal to the difference in Facet Boons and Woe Banes. Usually this “Shadow” Hitch is related, but tangential to the original Woe. So, maybe the Character “Persecuted by Sheriff Jones” × 28 tried to help the Sheriff against the Villain. When it was revealed to be one of Jones’ Deputies, the Sheriff realised they had been wrong all this time, and apologised, before shooting the Deputy and dying. The original Woe is resolved, but the Character’s Dominion is only 18, this adds a new Hitch such as “Lament for Sheriff Jones”, “Wanted for a crime they did not commit” or “Found Not Guilty” equal to the difference in Boons and Banes (in this case 10), and depending which way the townsfolk take the scene when they find it, and if there were any witnesses.