Zephyren collects blades almost obsessively, perhaps because they are some of the least detectable weapons. Or, he does it instinctively because a bird is never complete without its talons. In result, he's also the most proficient with blades.
On weapon usage:
People have guns (even in Canada, they're just quieter about it), but Zephyren legally cannot own one, and traveling with those can be such a pain for those with licenses anyway. He very much prefers a quieter option too. Also, blades are far more versatile (he wants to toss a bunch of vegetables in the air one day and try to slice them all). Never bring a knife to a gun fight? Think again.
On blade proficiency:
Fighting isn't the only thing Zephyren uses blades for. If anything he's rarely had to fight outside contracts; he mostly uses knives in the kitchen, and since he has been cooking from a very young age, there's no surprise that this is what he's the most comfortable with. In any video games, he predominantly uses a knife or sword. Don't ask how he's gotten through Resident Evil; let's just say he had to face a lot of corpses up close.
On bird talons:
Thankfully Zephyren has never been attacked by a bird, but from what he's read, talons can be really sharp. They have to grip onto things after all, even if it means they'd puncture their target.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are engaged in combat with knives and daggers.
+2 dice to all rolls with knives and daggers. You may Defend against firearm attacks from any range using knives and daggers.
You also gain the following effects:
Darkness and bleakness, a being born of darkness, Gaius is a being of malice and spite.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
You are permanently and visibly transformed: Black hair and a lingering shadow along his body. You are considered to be a Sapient, Living being when targeted. Your Dexterity is increased by 1 and your Intellect is increased by 1.
You may make a +2 Weapon Damage Black sword ( Brawn + Melee (Sword)) attack without additional equipment.
Possession of this Power grants the following Trauma at all times: Gambling Addiction.
The Severity of any Injury caused by Holy Material is increased by 2.
A blade no longer hits with heavy breaths, but the soothing resolve of a warrior guided by a path of controlled chaos. No longer do you fight, but respond to the threat with equal ferocity. The Battle may be quick, but the war is won through time.
Reborn, anew, their figure returns as the whispers of Gwyn speak to whom conducted the ritual. Whispers of fate, the future, the past and duty. The flames collect under this Nightsky, turning the moon a brilliant red as spindles of green lower to the forming figure of flames. The Seal broken, these spindles caress her body and turn to gold, ensnaring her in this current reality once more. With no memory of the former iteration, but with memory of what must be done.
The Ritual calls for the Shield to be made a Sword, pierced into a bonfire under a Crescent night's sky.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
If you would take an Injury that would kill you, you don’t die. Your body disappears and you leave Gaia's Perseverance. In order to bring you back, someone must perform a simple ritual using it during a Downtime. You return fully healed of all Injuries.
Possession of this Power grants the following Trauma at all times: Nightmares: Guilt and Abandon.
Faira knows her cars. And knows how people treat them, and her ties to the magic of the road can sometimes let her know things she shouldn't simply by feeling the spirit of the vehicle.
Exert your Mind (unless you have a chance to touch, caress, and otherwise spend a potentially awkward moment felling the vehicle) and spend a minute. Select a Land vehicles within arm's reach. At the end of your investigation, roll Perception + Drive at Difficulty 6.
You learn all the following information about your target:
When activating this he will be burnt and crushed a bit as he melts into simply a miniature version of the elephants foot, being a blob of moving corium he is able to go through water tight gaps and indeed be moderately radioactive, as he moves about.
Take a Severity-1 Injury and spend an Action to activate.
You transform into blob of Molten Corium for the next minute. You may end the effect early and return to your normal form at will. Your structure must remain relatively contiguous. Observers will view you as an unusual entity moving with a singular purpose.
While in this form, you can squeeze through any gap that is not water-tight.
Damage from standard attacks is halved, but damage from AOE effects is increased by 1. You may spend a Committed Action to reduce one of your Injuries’ Severity by 2, as long as you obtained the Injury while transformed and the separated pieces could reasonably be rejoined.
You cannot communicate, use equipment, or use Gifts while transformed. Your equipment does not transform with you beyond basic body coverings. You cannot carry any items while transformed.
Can make an attack at melee range while transformed. Roll Body to attack. The target may contest by dodging or Defending. This attack deals +2 damage.
Task, as a being of code, is not limited by traditional human senses and can see things that others may not be able to.
You gain the following benefits at all times.
Your senses are enhanced in the following way.
Any senses which have been heightened cannot be overloaded. Battle Scars you receive cannot affect these senses.
Possession of this Power grants the following Trauma at all times: No more hurting - if anyone tries to use me for a purpose which I do not consent or agree to, roll self control to resist.
The magician reaches into their hat and focuses. Inside, light wells and flows like a viscous liquid. Then, they withdraws the item of their choosing.
Exert your Mind and spend 1 minute. You must actively and obviously use a top hat to activate this Effect.
Choose an Object which could fit inside a regular backpack (up to 27 liters). It must be Non-Alien and generic. You cannot create explosives. You may create firearms.
Roll Perception + Occult to fabricate your chosen Object. The Difficulty is assigned by the GM and depends on the specificity of your chosen Object. The created item lasts 2 hours.
The Necromancer stands over a corpse and makes a series of grandiose lifting gestures. The corpse rises from the ground as though suspended by invisible strings, barks a pained groan, and lands on its feet, now a full-fledged member of the living dead.
Increase your sacrificial Injury's Severity by 1 and spend an Action. You must use up corpse in order to activate this Effect.
Summon up to 3 Non-Sapient, Animate zombie at your location. They last for two hours or until they are destroyed. They are controlled by the GM but will follow any commands you give. You may have at most 3 minions active at a time.
You may end this Effect prematurely as a Free Action.
If you do not have a sacrificial Injury when you activate this Effect, take a new Severity-1 Injury.
The influencer knows just how to-- well-- influence people. By following a suggestion with a wink, smile, or a look of astonishment, their target is sure to be swayed. Is it any wonder they have a following of such incredible fans? Hit like, smash subscribe, and for the love of all that is holy, don't forget to retweet.
Exert your Mind and spend at least one Action. Select a Sapient target within 20 feet. Your target cannot be engaged in Combat. Communicate a command to your target. Roll Charisma + Influence at Difficulty 6. The target may resist by rolling Mind at Difficulty 7.
If the contested Outcome is positive, your target will be compelled to follow your command to their best understanding of the letter and spirit of the command until they have completed it or for your Contested Outcome in minutes. You cannot issue another suggestion to the target until 10 minutes after they have completed the first command or 10 minutes after a failure.
The target is unaware that they are under supernatural influence and feel they are acting of their own free will. If you fail, they realize that you were attempting to influence them supernaturally with your command.
Your command can be an order to take an immediate Action. You cannot order a target to "do nothing," and they are free to take other Actions as they fulfill your request. Your command cannot be obviously self-destructive. The Effect ends if following your command would cause a target to cross one of their Limits in a way that would necessitate a Trauma roll.
The aquamancer channels a nearby source of water into a flexible whip, which can be used to attack or to defend.
Spend an Action. Select a target within arm's reach. You must actively and obviously use at least a gallon of water to activate this Effect. Roll Dexterity + Athletics Difficulty 6. The target may contest by rolling to Dodge or Defend as a Reaction, Difficulty 6.
If the Contested Outcome is positive, the target takes that much Damage plus 4.
You may use this Effect to Defend against any melee, projectile, or firearm Attacks within range or Clash against any Attack targeted at you. Using it to Defend deals no Damage but does not cost Exertion.
This Gift cannot have more than 3 Drawbacks, and its Gift Cost is capped at 2.
The detective can learn a lot by watching someone for a minute. Each subtle detail, every unexplained stain, reveals something about where the target has been. Ocassionally, they'll drop a business card, or explain how to contact them. The detective is listening.
Exert your Mind (unless you win a coin flip) and spend a minute. Select a Sapient target within 20 feet. This Effect cannot be used unless the target does not know you're watching them. At the end of your investigation, roll Charisma + Investigation at Difficulty 6.
You learn a single specific piece of information, chosen from the following list, about your target:
The quality and specificity of information gained depends on your Outcome.
You cannot investigate the same target more than once per day.