Local Threat Skills

These are skill calls you may hear from threats in our chapter that are not standard elsewhere in the rules. If you hear them in the field, this is what they mean!

Absorb - Upon witnessing a Target use any skill, the creature with this ability may call “Absorb”. The creature is now able to utilize that skill. If the creature using this skill is a zombie, the user cannot use it to gain the ability to speak, drive vehicles, or otherwise engage in activities that require strain intelligence.

Reshape - Upon witnessing a Target use an ability from any melee or unarmed weapon, the creature with this ability may call “Reshape.” The creature is now able to utilize that ability one time.

Lift Off -A creature with this ability may call “Lift Off: 5 foot radius Stun.” The creature using this ability is now in the air and can only be attacked by ranged weapons until it lands.

Inspire - A raider with this ability may call ”By my voice, all other Raiders INSPIRE! Immune to Status Effects, Damage Reduction 60 seconds!”. They will call “immune” to all status effects (stun, blinding, mangle, etc.) and all damage will be reduced by 10 to a minimum of 1 for 60 seconds. After 60 seconds, the raiders immediately go into bleedout. Cannot use skills while under this effect.

Eviscerate: A Zed with this ability may add X Damage Murder, No avoid to a successful strike.

Reveal - At will, the threat can call “By My Voice, Reveal Lineage!”. All nearby Lineage must call out what Lineage they, audibly, for the threat to hear. This skill is commonly seen on threats with the Adapt skill.

Adapt - Every X seconds, the threat calls “Adapt: Lineage!”, replacing “Lineage” with a nearby Lineage enemy. Until the next Adapt call, the threat deals Bane of the declared Lineage. Each Adapt -must- switch to a new targeted Lineage unless no other kinds of Lineage are nearby.

Billow - “Stage X, X disease” Zed uses its pores to blow out a cloud of a disease unique to that zed. Check the post office for notes on the progression of the disease, and the guide on scene will explain the mechanics for the stage you have now acquired - note, Casted Characters should not make any attempt to actually blow on a lead character, that is icky.

Psionic Command (X) (Level) (Time)- If the phrase “(Level) Psionic command, do X (Level is the level of mental endurance required to spend 5 mind to resist) (Where X is a short command that the LC is required to follow at the best of their ability). This skill allows a abberant creature to essentially influence the actions of a strain for a set amount of time.

Isolate - A threat may call the skill “Isolate” This skill is resisted by having the Proficient Mental Endurance skill purchased, and expending the mind for a basic mental endurance. The Isolation effect is a anomaly effect that removes a lineage’s ability to perceive the living, and only see the undead or those under the Infect skill (see below). You may still see them out of character, and safe combat practices should be followed. This effect ends after 1 minute. You may still see Fulldead and any lineages affected by Blue Hue Goo. This effect’s full details need to be uncovered by players via research, trial and error.

Frenzy - Affected players attack all targets nearby. Negated by a master level of Mental Endurance at 5 mind, Mind Killers are Immune. While under the effect of this skill, you are not killing blow active against other Lead Characters.

Consume - Player sinks into the Gravemind via the same mechanics / roleplay of a death brew. Guide on scene will instruct player on what happens next. Negated by basic Mental Endurance.

Come With Me - Like a consume call, except this one can only be negated by having Master Mental Endurance and Spending 10 mind. A Mind Killer may reduce the cost by half, down to 5 mind.

Infect - An undead with this ability may strike a player with a brawling or ranged attack and declare Downsurge - “Infect”. if the strike against the lineage is successful, on the lineage’s next bleedout (or the next 12s, whatever is shorter), the lineage will pause their bleedout timer 1 minute into their bleedout, and stand up, healing 1/2 of their body. Upon standing up, the lineage has the following modifiers. You cannot become re-infected for one hour. This effect’s full details need to be uncovered by players via research, trial and error.

  • The LC’s Bleedout timer is paused until this effect ends.

  • The LC does not gain the Keyword - Undead during this time.

  • The LC may use any ranged, melee or brawling weapons on your character

  • The LC may not use other items (including but not limited to gizmos, injectables, brews, meals, etc) while under the Infect mechanic.

  • Re-entering bleed out by losing the temporary 1/2 Body removes the "Infect" downsurge.

  • The LC is compelled to attack any nearby Lineage targets, Fulldead excluded.

  • Upon losing your restored body, the LC will re-enter bleedout with the amount of time left when the original timer was paused.

  • Being healed while in bleed-out, but before the 1 minute timer, does not remove the Infect downsurge. The effect will delay its activation until your next bleedout.

  • An LC cannot be affected by the "Infect" downsurge more than once per hour.