Messengers
Messengers are the communications force within the Armies of Heaven. They possess incredible Swiftness and Control (Self-Control). They certainly have the Control to stay out of unnecessary War.
When they do engage an opponent, most Messengers prefer to engage them from afar using a Bow or Sling. This is because they do not have an abundance of Endurance or Resolve to stand firm in the face of adversity.
Messengers have a Passion to accomplish their missions in service to the Most High. They are often tasked with delivering news or observing and bearing witness to what they have seen. They are also sent to appear to humans in dreams, visions, or even in manifested form. In setting about their tasks, Messengers will always try to find the most efficient way to do things. “Work smarter, not harder,” is the Messenger’s unspoken motto. Their increased Perception helps them in this, allowing them to more easily Perceive information that can help them and their allies make the best decisions possible. Their skill can also help them avoid revealing their own presence before they wish it known. Messengers often tend to be loners if for no other reason than others must struggle to keep up.
The Messenger has the face of an Eagle. The Eagle is representative of deity. It is also an efficient and perceptive hunter, soaring high above all things and spotting the smallest of prey.
Special Abilities
Situational Awareness reduces the cost to improve all Social Attributes by 1 (to a minimum of 1).
Trained Eye lets a Messenger choose a Target to watch. The Messenger must pass a Perceive Interaction vs. the Target (with a Difficulty of 0) and will then have certain benefits against the Target. The Messenger ignores any Guard the Target gains from Defensive Stance. The Messenger also gains 1 Adjustment in their favor vs. any Strike made by the Target or when making Check Rolls and Resist Checks vs. the Target.
The Messenger may attempt to establish Trained Eye only once per Turn. The Messenger may drop the current Target to attempt to watch a new Target. If the Messenger loses line of sight with the Target for an extended time, Trained Eye may be lost.
|
Trained Eye |
Tier:1 |
Tier:2 |
Tier:3 |
Tier:4 |
|
Messenger |
1 Defensive Adjustment and ignore Guard from Defensive Stance on 1 Perceived Target |
2 Defensive Adjustments |
2 Perceived Targets |
3 Defensive Adjustments |
Development Styles
Messengers are very capable combatants, but their true value shines in the information they gather, their ability to get places quickly and often unnoticed, and the influence they can have on others. They do have some choice in weapons, Maneuvers, and Fighting Style, but not as much flexibility as Warriors enjoy. Because they are less hardy, many Messenger players prefer to stay at range during combat, but others want to stay close enough to be able to use their Social Skills to support their allies and wear on their enemies.
Fighting Styles can help with any of these goals. Ranged Maneuvers can help a Messenger stay safely at range and act as a mobile turret. Shield Bearing Maneuvers can help a Messenger be safer in close quarters. Dual-Wielding Maneuvers can help a Messenger take down key targets quickly.
Careful choice of Primary and Secondary Basic Attributes can strongly affect the experience of playing a Messenger as well. A character can go all-in on speed, or they can boost their ability to deal damage or defend themselves. They can shore up their endurance and strength of will to stand strong against opposition, or they can let their passion blaze against their enemies.
Messengers strength and quick growth rate in Social Attributes allow them quite a bit of flexibility. Investing in "to Perceive" can enable the Messenger to scout and to read important information about situations and those involved in them. They can learn strengths and weaknesses of others, enabling tactical and efficient action to be taken. Messengers who invest in "vs. Perceive" are the opposite, able to sneak past others and able to keep information close and guarded. Messengers who invest in specific Social Skills can powerfully influence other elohim and humans alike in those ways, be it exciting, calming, or directing. A Messenger could even seek to be immovable, choosing to invest in their Social Composures.
After reaching at least Rank:3 Messengers can consider joining one of a few Disciplines. These Disciplines lean into specific play styles as well. Each come with benefits, but also costs that the character may not want to pay. Some players see that a certain Discipline is exactly what they want their character to be while many also realize that they prefer the flexibility of remaining a Messenger independent of the additional restrictions of a Discipline. Evangels are inspiring motivators, but give up the option of ranged combat. Nothing gets past the keen observance of a Watchmen, but they spend a lot of time away from the group, in the air and looking for threats. A Witness can assume the form of a horse and patrol the earth, strong in their power of observance and evading notice, but they also spend much time separated from a group and forego ranged combat options.
Warrior Disciplines
Attributes
Messengers gain the following bonuses to their Basic Attributes during character creation:
Might = +3
Control = +7
Swiftness = +12
Endurance = +3
Resolve = +3
Passion = +3
Messengers' Seed Multipliers, meaning the amount of growth in a Basic Attribute for each Seed of Growth sprouted, are as follows:
Might = x1.5
Control = x3
Swiftness = x2.5
Endurance = x1.5
Resolve = x1
Passion = x2
Starting Skills and Progression
Messengers begin knowing 2 Martial Maneuvers at Mastery Level 1 and will learn some more as they progress in Rank. But Messengers really stand out in how quickly they grow in their Social Attributes, surpassing all other Orders.
Each new Rank a Messenger will gain:
- +2 to their Primary Attribute (Rank:40+ increases 7 instead)
- +1 to their Secondary Attribute (Rank:40+ increases 3 instead)
- 12 Seeds of Growth (Rank:40+ adds 40 Seeds instead, 7 in Primary and Secondary, 12 at random, and 14 assigned how you like)
- 2 Social Points
- 1 Maneuvers Point
At certain milestones, Messengers will also gain bonus Social Points. The character will gain other bonuses at these milestones as well that are not specific to their Order.
Milestones:
- Rank:7 (graduation from Fledgling status) = 2 Social Points
- Rank:12 (Tier:2) = 3 Social Points
- Rank:24 (Tier:3) = 4 Social Points
- Rank:40 (Tier:4) = 5 Social Points