Path of the Protagonist

The Path of the Protagonist tells the story of your hero.

**Requirements:** In the Spotlight (Beginner), Base Course Set

**Path Completion Bonus**: Gain 6 Hero Points and increase your Hero Point capacity by 3

## Core Abilities

**Dedication**

**Cost**: 100 XP

This ability may be taken multiple times. Each time you take this ability, choose a subject of lore which you are passionate about. Gain +2 to all checks made related to this subject. Your chosen subject must have a level of specificity and rarity similar to these examples: painting, gambling, bird-watching, politics of Est Acre, laws of trade, alcohol brewing, gardening, or dog training.

**Declare Attack**

**Cost**: 100 XP

**Activation**: 1 Action, 3 Vim

*Get ready for the Rushing Flash Hammer Barrage! Wait, wait, no, I've got a better name for it...*

You prepare your enemy for the hurt they're about to receive. Your next single-target attack this turn deals double damage, but your target gains 1 Alert.

**Blessing in Disguise**

**Unlocks**: Path of the Byronic Hero

**Cost**: 100 XP

**Activation**: Free Reaction

Choose a Grate and invoke it as a Tide for all purposes. This ability is usable once per Rest.

**Hero's Mentorship**

**Cost**: 100 XP

**Activation**: Passive

Once per Rest, when you earn Legendary Roleplaying while interacting with a player character at least 3 Levels lower than you, they gain 100 XP and you gain 1 Hero Point.

**Heroic Epic**

**Cost**: 200 XP

**Activation**: Passive

*You keep a chronicle of the heroics that surround you. It makes you feel heroic, too.*

Once per Intermission, gain 1 Hero Point.

**The Assistant**

**Cost**: 200 XP

**Activation**: Passive

Choose three Attributes. Once per Rest, when you successfully Assist a check using one of these Attributes, gain a Hero Point.

## Optional Extras

**Heroic Flourish**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Cost**: 200 XP and 3 Hero Points

**Activation**: 1 Reaction

When you purchase this ability, reduce your maximum Hero Point capacity by 3. Gain Flow to any roll. This ability is usable once per Rest.

**Hero in Flux**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Cost**: 200 XP and 3 Hero Points

**Activation**: Passive

When you purchase this ability, reduce your maximum Hero Point capacity by 3. Whenever you gain Heroic Creativity, also gain Flow.

**Exceptional Training**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Cost**: 200 XP and 3 Hero Points

**Activation**: Passive

When you purchase this ability, reduce your maximum Hero Point capacity by 3.

This ability allows you to buy one Gift-exclusive ability as if you had that Gift. You must meet all other prerequisites and pay any purchase costs as if you had that Gift. **Exceptional Training** may be purchased multiple times.

**Change of Heart**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Cost**: Free

*The Path you chose was not the right one for you. And that is okay, because it led you to a better one. For good or ill, all Paths lead to the future.*

Choose a Path that you have purchased at least two abilities from. You are refunded an amount of XP equal to half the amount of XP you spent on this Path. You also gain the Tide “Abandoned the Path of (Path name)”. This Tide is considered compelled when the situation would warrant using an ability from this Path but you intentionally choose not to. Using an ability from this Path costs a Hero Point in addition to the activation cost. At the GM's discretion, this may also apply Ebb or Flow as you resort to old habits. You may purchase abilities in this Path after taking **Change of Heart**, but the XP refund that was originally applied to this Path does not affect this purchase. **Change of Heart** may be taken multiple times; each time this ability is taken, it must apply to a different Path.