Path of the Black

The Path of the Black seeks nothing and grants nothing. This Path is recommended for characters who want to take drawbacks to gain XP.

**Requirements:** Flawed (Beginner), Base Course Set

**Path Completion Bonus:** Gain the Tide *"...of the Black"*

## Core Abilities

**Epic Failure**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

Whenever you roll doubles 1s on a check, the result is always a critical failure unless rolling with a Hero Point (for Boost or Reroll). Gain 250 XP.

**Boring Person**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

Tides you invoke only grant +2 instead of +3. Enforced Tides you invoke only grant +4 instead of +6. Gain 150 XP, or 300 XP if you have No Gift.

**Mundane**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

Your Hero Point maximum is reduced to 3 and cannot be increased. Gain 200 XP, or 400 XP if you have No Gift.

**Sickly**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

Whenever you recover HP through Resting Recovery, you recover only half of what you would normally, rounded down (min. 0). Gain 150 XP.

**Inferior**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

Lose 1 Attribute point taken from an Attribute greater than 0. If the difference between your highest Attribute and lowest Attribute is 4 or more, you must select your highest Attribute. Gain 400 XP. This ability can be taken once every 3 Levels.

**Cold-Blooded**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

You take double damage from burn damage. Gain 200 XP.

**Hemophilia**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

You take double damage from bleed damage. Gain 200 XP.

**Carrying Capacity of the Black**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

Your carrying capacity is halved. Gain 200 XP.

**Weak**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

All of your attacks deal 6 less damage (min. 1). Gain 400 XP.

**Uninspired**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

Take a -6 penalty to all casting rolls and halve your maximum MP. Gain 300 XP.

**Unmagical**

**Prerequisite**: **Uninspired**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

You cannot learn any abilities which use magic, including all spells. Abilities you have already purchased which use magic are now unusable. You automatically fail all casting rolls. You cannot benefit from magical items. Gain 300 XP, resistance to magical damage, and +3 to checks made to resist magical effects.

**Feeble**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

You take one fewer Grievous Wound to die. Gain 150 XP.

**Easily Bruised**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

Whenever you receive a direct hit or glancing blow (that is not Evaded), lose 3 HP. Gain 250 XP.

**Trained at the Black Academy**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

*"Where'd you learn to shoot like that? At least our barns are safe."*

Take a cumulative -10 Accuracy penalty for every 3 hexes of distance between you and your target, rounded down. Gain 300 XP.

**Easily Manipulated**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

Gain 300 XP and the Grate *"Easily Manipulated."* This ability triggers when you are compelled to any Tide or Grate for the first time since your last Rest. You must accept this compel and you get no XP for it. In addition to compels through the GM through NPCs, player characters may also persuade you to an action, thus compelling you to this Grate. When you purchase this ability, you must announce to the other players and the GM that you have acquired this Grate.

**Beholden to Grates**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

Gain 250 XP. Once per Quest, you must compel yourself to at least one Grate and accept no XP from doing so. At the end of a Quest, if you have not compelled yourself to a Grate, lose 250 XP.

**Defeatist**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

When you fail a check, you cannot attempt checks of that Attribute again until the next Rest. Gain 100 XP.

**Addict**

**Cost**: Free

**Activation**: Passive

[Content warning: drug abuse] You are addicted to a substance. When you take this, choose a drug. Gain either: Addiction Level 1 and 100 XP or Addiction Level 2 and 250 XP.