preview four

mental trauma

Mental Trauma initiative tests

Morale Rolls during combat are a type of fear
In addition to suffering physical trauma during adventures, characters mental trauma (see next page). However,
might also face mental trauma such as fear, stress, and aural shock. the psychophysiology of confronting violent
threat—especially that deriving from folk—

fear
Simple fear is not uncommon; it arises and subsides rather quickly.
Experiencing intimidation, suffering spell effects, or confronting a
ghost can all force characters to make a Fear Roll. When required, they
test Will on the Fear Roll table and apply the results immediately.
fear roll
will test
cf0 catatonic: character is unaware, unable to act, move, or defend.
At the end of their next turn, test Will with a −20 penalty. A
success improves the condition to terrified. Retest each turn.
cf5 terrified: character flees at a full Move if possible (or must Pass),
and is only able to choose Dodge or Block defence. If safe from the
fear source for ten minutes, the character becomes steady.
f afraid: character must succeed on a Will test at the start of each
turn in order to move towards or target the fear source with an
action. A Will failure means they must Pass or move away from it
for the turn. Once safe from and out of LOS of the source for one
minute, the character becomes steady.
s steady: character may act freely against this source of fear but still
has to make Fear Rolls against new ones.
cs brave: character may act freely against this source of fear and
receives +20 bonus to all Fear and Morale Rolls for 10 minutes.
differs slightly from other sources of fear.
Trained warriors respond more successfully
in these situations, and so Morale Rolls test
Initiative rather than simply Will.
aberrance example
Galmos has been lured to a Nolah’s cave by
its Yearning Geas ability. He arrives confused
psy but conscious enough to perceive the ghastly
menace emerging from the shadows.
2 + abe Because the Nolah has Aberrance 1, Galmos
immediately makes a Fear Roll with a −5
penalty (ABE ×5). Having a WIL 9, Galmos
1 + abe tests EML 40—a 56 is a Failure (F), leaving him
afraid. He must succeed on a Will test at the
start of each turn to act aggressively. He also
suffers one Psyche Stress level from the Nolah’s
abe
ABE score, giving him a Psyche trait in about 10
minutes (as explained on page 3).
In the meantime, the Nolah acts first and
swings its morningstar. Without a readied
weapon, Galmos may only dodge. He survives
½ abe and, at the start of his turn, he succeeds on a
Will test with the −5 ABE penalty. No matter,
0 he still chooses to flee.…

PSY: the last column indicates whether and how many Psyche Stress
Levels the character accrues (explained on page 3). The amount is zero,
one (CF5), or two (CF0), but facing entities with Aberrance increases
the PSY level by the indicated ABE amounts.

Aberrance
Some sources of fear are so bizarre, grotesque, or deviant that
they make resisting fear more difficult and failing to do so more
consequential. The source is usually a freakish beast or spirit but could
also be a fell artefact. In the sidebar example, it is a Nolah Ivashu.
Whatever the source, it expresses Aberrance (ABE), a rating with no
technical limit but usually given between one and six. The Bestiary
chapter notes which entities have aberrance and how much.
aberrance effect
The moment they encounter a source of aberrance, characters and
creatures make a Fear Roll. Entities who possess aberrance themselves
are usually immune to its effect from other sources.
Fear Penalty: Fear Rolls include a penalty equal to five times the source’s
ABE. This same penalty also applies to Will and Initiative tests.
Psyche Stress: Aberrance increases the Psyche Stress Levels accrued
from the Will test on the Fear Roll table. On a failed test, the amount is
increased by the ABE score, as in the sidebar example. On a Success (S),
the victim accrues PSY equal to half the ABE score, rounded down.

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mental trauma
vanquished
Combatants are considered vanquished when
at least one of these conditions applies to them:
catatonic withdrawing
surrendered incapacitated
terrified unconscious
routed killed
Combatants suffering trauma that prevents
movement or aggressive actions are also
considered vanquished. The GM decides when
such ‘incapacitation’ applies, but it includes
paralysis, entanglement, and various esoteric
effects (such as sleep or enthralment). Grievous
injuries to the head, torso, and legs are also
vanquishing because of the loss of function
and mobility.
Group Cohesion Example: ten allies each make
a Morale Roll when they know five allies are
vanquished (leaving five); another Morale Roll when
three more allies are vanquished (leaving two); and
another when one more is lost (leaving one).
rally roll
A Rally Roll is a test of Command that affects
all routed and withdrawing allies within clearly
discernible earshot. If perception is in doubt,
the allies must successfully test Awareness to
hear the commander.
command test
cf unresponsive: affected allies will not
respond to any Rally Rolls for ten minutes.
f unresponsive: affected allies will not
respond to any Rally Rolls for one minute.
s reaction roll: at the end of their next
turn, affected allies make an Initiative test.
If successful, they become steady. If failed,
they keep moving and may retest Initiative
at the end of each turn.
cs steady: affected allies are no longer routed
or withdrawing; they may take actions.
rally roll example
Faldrik suffers a G4 left shoulder injury and
manages a CS on the insuing Shock test. As
noted in step 5 of the Injury Routine (see
Preview 3), the resulting Shock Index 6 allows
him to avoid being stunned or incapacitated,
even though his left arm is now unusable.
However, the Grievous injury triggers a Morale
Roll. Against Initiative ML 60, the roll is 95—a
CF5 that leaves him Routed and inflicts one
level of Psyche Stress (PSY1)…(continued in the
sidebar example on page 3).
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Morale
For most combatants fighting spirit collapses before their body does.
Gaming groups can decide whether to simply roleplay the impact of PC
morale, but the following rules should apply to NPCs and creatures.
morale triggers
Certain situations trigger a Morale Roll. No matter whose turn it is,
combatants immediately make a Morale Roll for each situation that
triggers it for them, even making successive tests from several triggers.
Impairment: suffering a Serious or Grievous injury triggers a Morale
Roll. The combatant makes the test after the accompanying Shock Roll
and after recovering from any associated Shock State (see Preview 3).
Group cohesion: realising at least half your remaining allies have been
vanquished triggers a Morale Roll. This could be a lessening threshold
crossed several times throughout a fight (see Vanquished in sidebar).
Special: other situations might trigger a Morale Roll, such as seeing
a leader vanquished or becoming greatly outnumbered. Some special
triggers might be distinct to one particular side in the battle at hand:
when the gate is breached; when the rally flag of Larani is captured.
Creatures: certain beasts are more or less vulnerable to morale effects.
Bizarre or mighty creatures can even induce fear and penalise the
Morale Rolls of their opponents through Aberrance (page 1).
morale roll
A Morale Roll is a test of Initiative. The effect applies immediately.
morale roll
intiative test
cf0 catatonic: character suffers two Psyche Stress levels (PSY 2) and is unaware,
unable to move, act, or defend. At the end of their next turn, test Initiative. A
success means the character becomes aware and starts fleeing in the manner
as for routed (below). A failure means no change (retest each turn).
cf5 routed: character suffers one Psyche Stress level (PSY 1) and selects the
Move action each turn to flee combat at a full Move. If fleeing not possible,
the character Passes and surrenders if threatened. If unthreatened after five
minutes, the character becomes steady.
f withdrawing: character selects the Move action each turn to retreat from
combat using at least a half Move; or Passes if movement not possible. If out of
LOS for a minute, or unthreatened after five minutes, they become steady.
s steady: character may take any action.
cs brave: character may take any action and receives a +20 bonus to subsequent
Morale, Fear, and Rally (Command) Rolls for the next five minutes.
Combatants who fail a Morale Roll can still be triggered to make
another one, but they only suffer at any given moment the most severe
resulting state (the one displayed nearer the top of the table).
[�.�] rally roll
Once as a free action on their turn, aware characters who are not
vanquished may attempt a Rally Roll in order to inspire and steady
routed and withdrawing allies (see sidebar).

stress d10 description
Mental trauma that inflicts lingering damage is called stress. There are
two types measured in the game: mundane Psyche Stress; and the more
esoteric and fell Shadow Stress. Such Shadow of Bukrai is associated
with entities called Morvrin, but it is not detailed in this preview.
Psyche Stress
Psyche Stress is measured in Psyche Stress levels (PSY), akin to how
physical trauma to the body is measured in Injury levels. Psyche Stress
usually occurs as a derivative of other phenomena, such as critically
failing a Fear or Aural Shock Recovery roll (see page 4).
Each instance of stress produces its own PSY level, usually between
one and six. Players track each case of PSY separately, similar to the
recording of individual physical injuries.
Psyche Trait
When psyche stress occurs, no matter the level, the character gains an
indefinite psyche trait. Choose or randomly select one from the list
in the sidebar; or create a unique one that better reflects the stress.
The trait does not actually manifest until about 10 minutes after the
trauma that caused it, but it then remains for as long as the character
still possesses at least one of its PSY levels. During recovery, there is a
chance the trait becomes permanent (page 4).
Fatigue: once the psyche trait manifests, the character accrues five
weakness fatigue per PSY level suffered. Such fatigue abates only with
psyche stress recovery—thus the victim remains ‘weak with fatigue’.
intensity
A new psyche trait is treated like any other personality Trait—the
player simply roleplays when the character expresses it during the
game. At this stage, there is no test associated with the Trait. Should the
character acquire the same psyche trait again while still suffering from
it, the intensity worsens to an Impulse. On the third and subsequent
times, the Impulse becomes a Disorder.
With such increased intensity, the character must now make a Will
attribute test to keep the trait from expressing itself when challenged
or triggered. Players can still voluntarily roleplay its expression as they
wish without making a test, but they now must make a test if they wish
to suppress it when triggered. The success level needed varies according
to the intensity—an Impulse requires a Will Success (S) to suppress; a
Disorder requires a Will Critical Success (CS).
PSY levels: sum the PSY levels of multiple instances of the same trait.
For instance, a character suffering from PSY 1 stress with a Paranoid
psyche trait faces a new stress that produces PSY 2 stress. Depending
on the narrative circumstances, the GM and player could agree that this
new trauma should also induce a Paranoid trait, thus combining into
a PSY 3 stress with an increased intensity to an Impulse. Alternatively,
the trauma could have expressed itself as a new trait (Hyperactive, for
instance) with a separate PSY 2 stess.
Duration: when a psyche trait expresses itself, it lasts for as long as the
character faces the causal trigger and for about 10 minutes thereafter.
For an Impulse or Disorder, a Will CF on the ‘suppression test’ means it
lasts for d6 × 10 minutes beyond facing the causal trigger.
preview four
mental trauma
psyche traits
1 Angry: the character seeths with hostililty,
manifesting in belligerant debate or violent
reaction to perceived slights.
2 Despressed: the character suffers from
a debilitating sadness that produces
disinterest, pessimism, or crushing despair.
3 Detached: the character is empathetically
numb and often oblivious or disrespectful
to others.
4 Hallucinatory: the character sees, hears,
smells, tastes, or feels something that isn’t
there, despite contrary evidence.
5 Haunted: the character harbours obsessive
guilt or anguish concerning a traumatic
event, tormented by the memory of it.
6 Hyperactive: the character is an unsettled
bundle of ineffectual energy, haphazardly
undertaking disjointed tasks.
7 Nervous: the character is easily agitated,
unsettled by even minor interruptions and
hesitant in facing the unknown.
8 Paranoid: the character suffers delusional
persecution, likely related to the traumatic
event or its implications.
9 Phobic: the character has an irrational fear
or aversion to something strongly linked to
the causal trauma.
10 Reckless: the character has an assertive
disregard for personal safety, regardless of
an action’s risks or advantages.
stress accrual example
…(continued from the previous page). Faldrik’s
CF5 Morale Roll renders him Routed and also
inflicts one level of Psyche Stress—he flees
the battle. About 10 minutes later, he becomes
steady but acquires an indefinite psyche trait.
Faldrik previously carried no psyche traits.
A d10 roll produces Reckless. In the Stress
section of the character sheet, the player writes
Reckless PSY 1.
Given Faldrik’s Morality 8, the new trait is
likely not the result of much guilt about leaving
his compatriots behind. The player decides it
comes from the trauma of nearly dying. Since
it is only a trait, the player chooses when the
recklessness manifests, imagining it occurs
during future battles. With merely one PSY
level, Faldrik will likely recover from it quickly,
but for now suffers five indefinite fatigue as
long as the trait remains. The GM rolls a d6 to
determine how much time passes before the
first Psyche Stress Recovery roll: four days…
(continued in the sidebar example, page 4).
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 preview four
mental trauma
psyche stress recovery
cf grievous stress: an indefinite psyche
trait becomes permanent. A permanent
one increases Intensity by one level.
f no recovery: Psyche Stress remains;
continue recovery rolls.
s recovery: Psyche Stress reduced by one;
character recovers when PSY is zero or less.
cs recovery: Psyche Stress reduced by two;
character recovers when PSY is zero or less.
stress recovery example
…(continued from the previous page). On
the trail after sundown on the second day,
Faldrik’s companions hasitly set up camp in
the dangerous, Gargun-infested foothills of
the Rayesha Mountains. The player decides
that during his watch Faldrik storms off into
the perimeter forest, overly intent—reckless
even—on rooting out any trouble before it
befalls the camp.
Sure enough, he finds it. Four brigands,
who had been stalking the group, ambush
him alone. Faldrik manages to drive off two
despite his grievously disabled left arm. The
player wishes to fight on, but the GM calls for
a Morale Roll under the circumstances (page
2). The player rolls a CF 0—Faldrik collapses,
catatonic from fear, and acquires two PSY-
levels. Both GM and player agree these two
PSY levels should combine with the PSY 1 of
the Reckless trait, raising the total to PSY 3
(15 fatigue) and increasing its intensity to an
Impulse. Faldrik must now succeed on a WIL
test to resist his reckless urge when tempted.
His friends arrive in time to rescue Faldrik
and soon find a nearby manor village to rest.
On day four, Faldrik makes his first Psyche
Stress Recovery Roll: a CS reduces the PSY
to one (5 fatigue), with the Reckless trait
remaining an indefinite Impulse.
The GM rolls the second d6-day recovery
period: five days. Faldrik eventually succeeds
on the Will test, reducing PSY to zero and
removing the fatigue and the Reckless impulse.
aural shock recovery
cf no recovery: Aural Shock remains;
character also gains one Psyche Stress
level. Continue recovery rolls.
f no recovery: Aural Shock remains;
continue recovery rolls.
s recovery: Aural Shock reduced by one;
character recovers when AS is zero or less.
cs recovery: Aural Shock reduced by two;
character recovers when AS is zero or less.
Psyche Stress Recovery
Characters make a Psyche Stress Recovery Roll for each instance of
stress associated with the same trait. A recovery roll is a Will test once
every d6 days on the Psyche Stress Recovery table (sidebar). Fatigue
penalty does not apply.
Fatigue Recovery: each reduction of one PSY level removes five of the
associated weakness fatigue.
recovery summary
Characters continue Psyche Stress Recovery rolls for each separate
instance until no PSY levels remain, regardless of intensity (Trait,
Impulse, or Disorder) or duration (Indefinite or Permanent). This
implies the following typical procedure:
• Psyche stress usually consists of a few PSY levels and an indefinite
psyche trait. If the character avoids a CF on the Psyche Stress Recovery
table, then when PSY gets to zero, the pysche trait disappears.
• If the character rolls just one CF during recovery, then the psyche trait
becomes permanent. The character continues making recovery rolls in
order to reduce PSY and its accompanying fatigue to zero. However,
the character will retain the psyche trait permanently.
• If the character rolls a second CF during recovery, then the permanent
trait increases intensity to a permanent impulse. A third or more
CF would increase it to a permanent disorder. The character still
continues making recovery rolls until PSY levels are zero.
Another way characters increase the intensity is to suffer new psyche
stress levels for the same trait while recovering from the old stress
associasted with it. The intensity would increase in the same manner:
a trait goes to an impulse; and an impulse, to a disorder. This is what
happens to Faldrik in the sidebar Stress Recovery Example.
aural shock
Characters can suffer a temporary disruption between their soul and
body called Aural Shock. Each instance is rated from one to six levels
(AS 1–6); multiple sources combine into a single total. Such mental
trauma can arise from the Spell Misfire table, as in this excerpt:
d100 misfire result
61–80 minor principle leak: a portion of the summoned Principle leaks from a
faulty Form. The caster prevents a Total Release only by absorbing it—but
suffers Aural Shock 1 in the process.
81–90 serious principle leak: same as 61–80, but Aural Shock 3.
91–99 grievous principle leak: same as 61–80, but Aural Shock 5.
While afflicted, the character may not make Aura and Aura-based skill
tests, such as Fate Rolls, Spirit tests, or tests of any skill in the Esoteric
group. If required to make one—if targeted by a spell, for instance—
then a victim of Aural Shock automatically achieves a CF.
To recover, the character makes a Will test once per day on the
Aural Shock Recovery table (sidebar). Fatigue and impairment
penalties do not modify the test.
Fatigue: each AS level produces five weakness fatigue. It abates only as
the Aural Shock is reduced.