Editing The Sheltered Hand

[[File:The_Sheltered_Hand.png]]


== A Brief History ==


The Sheltered Hand is a peninsula jutting off a larger continent. Called 'The Hand' originally as it separates into five smaller peninsulae.

It gains the name Sheltered in two ways.

First, the Suntoucher Mountains - a range of large mountains that blocks most travel to and from the peninsula. The Suntouchers extend into the ocean both to the North and South, making travel even by water treacherous.

Second, some three hundred years ago, the great prophet Carran, tired of the near constant war between the gods and their faithful, had the audacity and the courage to upbraid them.

While all know that the gods cannot - or at least, will not - slay mortals directly, as the saying goes, 'you'd be surprised what you can live through'. None doubt his courage.

Nor was his tongue lacking, either, as he convinced some of the gods - eighteen in all - to aid him. He took his followers and others as tired of the war as he, and removed to The Hand, home at the time to a long-isolated peoples - the Saram - who welcomed him and his followers.

The gods with him then put up The Shield. The passes between the mountains and even the water paths, could no longer be traversed by any armies, and no gods, nor their power, could operate from outside.

Several nations formed, but the people of the Sheltered Hand learned a lesson - the intervention of Gods wasn't needed for folk to fight, and fight they did.

The priests of the Gods and the followers of Carran strove mightily to stop the fighting, but all they managed was to limit it.

Until seventy years ago - give or take - when the followers of Carran, now calling themselves The Creed of Carran, showed their hand. In every nation then standing, The Creed had been building power, and they showed that power, stopping the wars and battles that were occurring. The Churches of the Gods, working with The Creed, helped to enforce that peace. Even the Gods, it seems place the Creed of Carran over worship to their own faiths, though they do still ask for worship.

Of course, no peace is perfect. There are still skirmishes, outlaws, and so on, but the Creed prepared for that, as well. They created an offshoot - the Carran Guild - which provides training and some support to the kind of outsiders who can act when others can't.


== Character Creation ==

'''Step One''' – Determine Characteristics

Characters have ''Might'', ''Perception'', ''Agility'', ''Stamina'', ''Presence'' and ''Will''.

Assign values: 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 2 as desired.

'''Step Two''' – Choose [[Anam:Peoples|People]]

Characters come from one of the following People: Humans, Sinandre, Tarat, Yryc, Havlin, Gnomon, and Halflings

Your choice of People gives your character Special Attributes, Advantages, or other benefits, which has been provided up thread.

'''Step Three''' – Choose [[Anam:Cultures|Culture]]

Characters come from one of ten different cultures.

Each Culture provides three Abilities at Student (2) from a set list of five, a list of preferred weapons, and a Bonus Background, which covers the general knowledge learned within that Culture (See upthread).

'''Step Four''' – Choose or create Background.

Each Background provides two Abilities as Apprentice (3). In a change from upthread, if your Background increases a Cultural Ability, that Ability goes to Apprentice (3) and you can select another Ability at Student (2).

'''Step Five''' – Choose or create a Profession

Creating a Profession (I don’t have many created yet, my bad) is simple enough. Choose five Abilities that fit within that Profession. One of those Abilities will be raised to Adept (5), and two others to Journeyman (4).

This includes Special Abilities such as Magic.

If one of the Abilities Raised already has a Level from Culture or Background, raise that Ability, then select another Ability (Choosing first from the others available to the Profession) to take the Level of the prior Ability.

(Example: If selecting Melee Weapons to raise to Adept (5), but the character already has it at Student (2), Melee Weapons is raised to Adept (5) and another Ability is taken at Student (2).

In addition, every Profession either provides access to a Special Ability or it provides a set Advantage, representing a specific bit of training available only within that Profession. The value of the Advantage can be +1, +2 or +3, based on how specific the conditions of its use are.

'''Step Six'''

Spend Advances. Every character has 15 Advances available to spend on increasing Characteristics, Increasing Ability Levels and purchasing Special Attributes.

Characteristics cost 2 Advances per point, so to increase a Characteristic from 4 to 6 would cost 4 Advances.

Abilities are a little harder, mostly because they’re where all the action is. Increasing an Ability costs the Level you’re gaining in Advances. (To gain Master (6) from Adept (5) costs 6 Advances.)

You can also purchase new Abilities. The cost is the same – gaining Neophyte (1) with an Ability costs 1 Advance.

Special Attributes cost Advances based on their Scope and Impact. I’ll work with you on the cost of any Special Attributes.

'''Step Seven'''

Final Steps.

Determine secondary Characteristics:

Wound Threshold is 2. Will of 5 or 6; or Stamina of 5 or 6 will add 1 to that (This is cumulative if you wish to spend sufficiently to get both). Add any benefits from People.

Base Weight is 100 kg. Orcs have a Base Weight of 150 kg. Might determines how much your character can carry or lift.

Movement: 8m. Only increases by purchasing an appropriate Special Attribute.

Bruises: Wound Threshold +2. Most characters will have a value of 4.

Wounds: Wound Threshold +1. Most characters will have a value of 3.

Conditions: All characters start with 3 Condition slots, unless a Special Attribute increases that value.

Finalize Abilities:

In addition to the Abilities provided by Culture, Background and Profession, character have some abilities that can be used at a Default Level, if not purchased higher. This is not a purchased Level, and only applies if the Ability was not purchased otherwise.

Athletics has a Default Level of ½ Might

Acrobatics has a Default Level of ½ Agility

Awareness has a Default Level of ½ Perception

Presence provides a Default Level to one of the following Abilities: Deceive, Intimidate, Oratory, Persuasion or Seduction. The Default Level is ½ Presence.

Gear

For anything except weapons and armour, the only restriction is that of reasonability – whatever your character is carrying, they should be able to carry, and shouldn’t include more than one minor luxury item (A Fur lined cape, a small, semi-precious stone, etc.)

== Peoples ==

'''The Sinandre''' (Elves)

Advantage: Elven Sight +3 on all Tests involving seeing at great distances (more than a mile).

Special Attribute: Starlight Vision; Negate up to -3 Circumstance penalty due to lack of light if they are above ground under a clear sky.

Ageless

'''The Tarat''' (Dwarves)

+2 Bruise Track

Special Attribute: Low Light Vision; Negate up to -3 Circumstance Penalty if there is any light within 120’.

'''Yryc''' (Orc)

Special Attribute: Stronger - Increase Base weight by 50 kg.

Special Attribute: As above.

'''The Havlin''' (Halfing/Hobbit)

Tough - +1 Bruise Track

Advantage: Halfing Arm; +2 on any attack with a small (< 1 lb) thrown object.

1 Extra Advance

'''Gnomon''' (Gnome)

Advantage: Move with Nature; +2 on Stealth Tests when outside.

Special Attribute: Low Light Vision: As above

2 Extra Advances

'''Halflings''' (Half Elf)

Advantage: Elven Sight: As above.

Advantage: Charismatic: +1 with all Social Tests.

2 Extra Advances

'''Humans'''

+1 Condition

3 Extra Advances

[[Anam:Peoples|Additional Information on the Peoples of the Sheltered Hand]]

== Cultures ==

The Sheltered Hand is in the very '''very''' early Iron Age for the most part.

Armour and Weapons are mostly of Bronze, with some Iron here and there.

Two nations know how to make Steel, and do, but neither sells the secret, and costs for Steel weapons are astronomical.

[[Anam:Cultures|Cultural Information]]

'''Cultural Mechanics'''

'''Acalani'''

Abilities: Awareness, Crafting, Deceive, Persuasion, Social Circles

The Acalaniprefer short swords and other short blades. Ranged weapons are acceptable only for war or hunting.

Acalani receive the Linguist Background as their bonus background.

'''Trakken'''

Abilities: Crafting, Melee Weapons, Social Circles, Survival, Teamster

Trakken tend to use axes and polearms mostly, when weapons are called for, and bows are widespread for ranged weaponry. Their focus on self-sufficiency is such that a Trakken character may choose one Background as their bonus background.

'''Caslaht'''

Abilities: Awareness, Bureaucracy, Deceive, Persuasion, Social Circles

For weapons, the Caslaht prefer Javelins, Spears, Cudgels or Staves. All Caslaht PCs have the Merchant Background as their bonus background.

'''Delisse'''

Abilities: Athletics, Crafting, Melee Weapons, Ships, Survival

For weapons, the Delisse prefer short swords, clubs, daggers and crossbows.

All Delissethe Sailor Background as their bonus background.

'''Sartana'''

Abilities: Awareness, Bureaucracy, Crafting, Oratory, Social Circles

For weapons, the Sartana tend towards large weapons – Pikes, War spears, Mauls and Greatswords, as well as Heavy Crossbows. The Sartana receive the Acolyte Background as their bonus background.

'''Kal'''

Abilities: Crafting, Melee Weapons, Scholarship, Seduction, Social Circles

For weapons, shortswords and pikes. The Kal tend not to use ranged weapons at all individually – their armies are usually well supplied with catapults, however. All Kal characters have the Entertainer Background as their bonus background.

'''Faram'''

Abilities: Awareness, Oratory, Social Circles, Scholarship, Unarmed Fighting

For weapons, Faram go with staves or polearms, or simply fight unarmed. Faram characters have the Scholar Background as their bonus background.

'''Anlat'''

Abilities: Animal Handling, Athletics, Awareness, Ranged Weapons, Survival

For weapons, the Anlat go with shortswords, daggers, short bows and javelins.

The Anlat receive the Nomad Background as their bonus background.

'''Sinandre'''

Abilities: Athletics, Awareness, Ranged Weapons, Stealth, Survival

For weapons, the Sinandre use Shortswords, Long Bows and Nets.

The Sinandre receive the Hunter Background as their bonus background.

'''Tarat'''

Abilities: Athletics, Crafting, Melee Weapons, Oratory, Survival

The Tarat prefer heavy maces and axes for combat, eschewing ranged combat generally.

Tarat characters receive the Artisan background as their bonus background.

Bonus Background - Backgrounds (Still to come) will provide Abilities to characters, as well as informing any Broad abilities as to what Tasks the character can perform. Bonus Backgrounds do not provide Abilities, but do provide that effect on Broad skills. Essentially, it's Cultural General Knowledge.

== Backgrounds ==

[[Anam:Backgrounds|Background Information]]

== Professions ==

[[Anam:Professions|Professions]]

== The Creed ==

The Creed – more properly known as The Creed of Carran – are the primary Church within the Sheltered Hand. Individual gods have their own churches and centers of worship, yet almost all acknowledge the authority of the Creed of Carran.
 
The Creed takes its name from the agreement that Carran reached with the gods that they would not war against each other, an agreement which they have upheld. As none of the gods who were part of a pantheon were able to convince their entire pantheon to join Carran, the Gods within the Shield represent numerous cultures and belief structures, the Creed gives them all some stability and a framework within which they can work together.

The Creed do not worship any single God, rather they give reverence to the agreement – the Creed – which Carran made, and in general to the Gods for upholding the Creed.

To this end, they have amassed a great deal of temporal power. The various nations are allowed to function as they will, within their borders, saving only that they do not persecute any followers of the Creed, or of Gods who follow the Creed.

Any conflicts between nations are expected to be placed before the Creed for arbitration.

Most of those currently ruling the nations have been put into place by the Creed, either directly or by more subtle means.

== Gods of the Sheltered Hand ==

The Creed recognise 18 Gods – these are the ones who came with Carran and created The Shield.

They are, as noted, representative of numerous cultures and pantheons. Most of these Gods can be found in any nation, though each nation does tend to have favourites.

[[Anam:The_Rosseni|The Rosseni]] - Popular amongst the Acalani

[[Anam:The_Twins|The Twins]] - Most popular amongst the Anlat and the Delisse

[[Anam:The_Family_of_Rehma|The Family of Rehma]] - Most popular with the Trakken and the Delisse (as well as any fisherfolk, no matter where they live)

[[Anam:Individual_Gods|Individual Gods]]

[[Anam:Non-Creed_Gods|Non-Creed Gods]]

[[Anam:The_Anathema|The Anathema]]


== Essential Rules ==

[[Anam:Abilities_in_The_Sheltered_Hand|Abilities List]]

When reading the following rules - aside from the Resolution Rules - bear in mind that the primary function of the Anam system is to be a toolkit for GMs, from which they can create their own systems, wrapping everything around that Resolution system. The Sheltered Hand uses the 'Default' method by and large, which is why these rules are included, but they are fairly dense.

[[Anam:Resolution_Rules:Resolution_Rules|Resolution Rules]]

[[Anam:Attributes_and_Abilities|Attributes & Abilities]]

[[Anam:Special_Abilities|Special Abilities]]

[[Anam:Conflict|Combat Rules]]

'''Conflict in a Nutshell:'''

This applies to all forms of conflict – Physical, Mental and Social.

'''Time'''

Physical Conflict takes place in turns that cover roughly 6 seconds. Any other conflict occurring at the same time as Physical Conflict takes place in the same time frame.

Mental Conflict, when occurring by itself, takes place in turns of 1 second.

Social Conflict, especially when debating or arguing for effect, has turns that can be as much as 5 minutes.

'''Actions'''

''Free Actions'' – These take very little time and are not Tested. Activating a Power (Special Attribute), drawing a weapon from a well-fitted sheathe, snapping off a one-liner, etc.

''Movement'' In a given physical conflict round, each character may make a single Move action up to their Move.

''Perform a Task'' Any Tested action is involved here. Picking locks, attacking with a weapon (or with words), or performing an active defense. If the action could require a Test, it counts – and each character can perform only one Task per Combat Turn.

''Attack'' involves a Task against a TD of the defender’s Passive Defense (Acrobatics for Physical conflict, other Abilities as appropriate for Mental / Social conflict.

''Active Defense'' involves taking a Test of the character’s defense ability specifically in an attempt to get a better defense than is available passively.

Manipulation: Attempt to manipulate the conflict by taking advantage of terrain, taunting the opposition, flanking or the like. This is a catchall option. Success provides a special Circumstance modifier (Special in that it stacks with existing Circumstances) with a limited lifespan.

''Range''

Range is fairly abstract –

Close range is for true ‘in your face’ combat.

Melee range is within 3-6’ generally (some weapons will have stats that extend that).

Short range is for Thrown weapons (not more than about 60’)

Medium range is the ‘average’ range for mechanical ranged weapons such as bows and the like.

Long range is the longest practical range for mechanical ranged weapons.

Extreme range is the farthest that a mechanical ranged weapon can be fired – such shots are always effectively blind.

''Damage''

All characters have two damage tracks: Bruises and Wounds, as well as a number of Injury boxes.

An attack is successful if its Effect Level equals the defense Level. At that base success, the damage is 1 Wound.

For every Level that the attack’s Effect level exceeds the defense Level, that damage increases by 1.

Some weapons and other options may increase the damage done as well.

The total number of wounds is compared to the character’s Wound Threshold. If the total damage is less than the Wound Threshold, the character takes a Bruise.

If the character’s Bruise track gets filled, any new bruises roll up to become Wounds.

If the total is higher than their Wound Threshold, the character must mark one Wound for each point above that value.

Soft Armour adds to the wearer’s Wound Threshold, but any damage exceeding its protective value reduces that value by 1. (So Leather, with a Protective Value (PV) of 2, loses 1 if an attack does 3 damage). This can be repaired with a little downtime.

Hard Armour has a Hardness Value (HV) which reduces the Wounds a successful attack will do, and can even reduce the damage below 0 – meaning that the armour prevented even a Bruise. Hard armour is tiring to wear and makes some actions more difficult.

The higher the Armour’s HV, the more restrictive it can be for those actions.

If the player doesn’t want to take Wounds, especially when receiving multiple wounds, they can instead take an Injury, which will soak up 3 Wounds.

An Injury is a Condition, such as a sprained wrist, a broken leg or the like. Each Injury inflicts a Circumstance Modifier of -2 for any actions which would be impacted by that Injury.

The Bruise track clears at the end of that conflict scene.

The Wound track clears after a full scene (at least two to three hours) of rest.

Injuries must be treated, either with Scholarship (Medicine) or by magic.