Health

AX.C.11.01

Starting Health

Starting Health is calculated as:

20 + Body Value + Lineage Health Modifier

The Lineage Health Modifier is a flat value granted by the character's chosen Lineage. If the Lineage provides no Health Modifier, this value is 0.

Example: A character with Body 3D and a Lineage Health Modifier of +2 begins play with 20 + 3 + 2 = 25 Health.

Health at Generation, Fortitude Investment

If a character invests Talent dice in Fortitude during character creation, each die of Fortitude increases their starting Health total.

For each die placed in Fortitude at generation, roll 1D6 + Lineage Health Modifier and add the result to starting Health.

Example: A character with Body 3D, Fortitude 2D, and a Lineage Health Modifier of +1 calculates starting Health as follows:

Base: 20 + 3 + 1 = 24
Fortitude 2D: roll 2 × (1D6 + 1), results of 4 (3+1) and 6 (5+1) = 10 additional Health
Starting Health: 34

Health Advancement

When a character increases their Fortitude Talent through XP advancement, they gain additional Health for each die of increase.

For each die of Fortitude value gained, roll 1D6 + Lineage Health Modifier and add the result to current maximum Health.

Health advancement through Fortitude is limited by the standard Talent maximum of 5D. A character may not advance Fortitude beyond 5D and therefore cannot gain Health advancement beyond that point through this method.

Health Summary

Event	Health Gained
Starting Health	20 + Body Value + Lineage Health Modifier
Each Fortitude die at generation	1D6 + Lineage Health Modifier
Each Fortitude die gained through advancement	1D6 + Lineage Health Modifier

Damage Types & Effects

AX.C.11.02

Different damage types may have additional effects beyond Health loss:

Physical Damage:

Slashing: May cause bleeding (ongoing damage)
Piercing: May cause bleeding or penetrate armor
Bludgeoning: May cause stun or broken bones (impacting wit or speed)

Energy Damage:

Fire: May ignite combustibles, ongoing burning
Cold: May cause freezing, slowed movement
Lightning: May cause paralysis or equipment damage
Acid: May corrode armor and equipment

Special Damage:

Poison: Often applies conditions or ongoing damage
Necrotic: May prevent healing or reduce Body Attribute
Psychic: May cause mental impairment affecting Wit

GM Discretion: Additional effects are optional and situational.

Massive Damage (optional)

AX.C.11.03

This optional rule can make combat more dangerous and cinematic.

Massive Damage Threshold: Taking damage equal to or greater than your maximum Health in a single hit.

Effect: Make immediate Body Save or suffer additional consequences:

Success: Continue normally (just take the damage)
Failure: Suffer one random severe injury (broken bone, scarring, permanent condition)

Healing

AX.C.11.04

Short Rest

A Short Rest is a brief recovery period taken after an encounter when no immediate threat exists.

Duration: 10–15 minutes
Recovery: Body Value in Health
Frequency: As often as circumstances allow, the GM determines whether conditions are safe enough for a Short Rest
Conditions: No active combat or imminent threat. Characters may tend wounds, catch their breath, and prepare for the next engagement.

Short Rest recovery represents physical stabilization rather than full recuperation. Serious injuries and conditions require a Long Rest to address.

Profession Progression Track abilities that refresh on a Short Rest become available again after a Short Rest is completed.

Long Rest

Living tissue heals naturally over time with adequate rest.

Duration: 8 hours, including sleep
Recovery: Body Value + 1D6 for each die of Fortitude
Frequency: Once per day
Conditions: Must have shelter, food, and water

Progression Track abilities that refresh on a Long Rest become available again after a Long Rest is completed.

Limitations

Cannot exceed maximum Health
Must be in relatively safe conditions
Severe injuries or conditions may prevent natural healing (GM discretion)

Talent, Medicine

Characters can treat others' or their own injuries using medical knowledge and supplies.

Using the Medicine Talent

Action: 10 minutes (outside of combat)
Check: Wit + Medicine vs Threshold 2
Roll with Advantage (4+) while in camp or other safe location
Roll with Disadvantage (6 only) in the middle of combat
Success: Restore 1D6 Health for each success rolled
Equipment: A Healer's Kit adds dice equal to its current modifier to the Medicine roll
Frequency: Each patient may only be treated once per day

Self-Treatment: Using Medicine on yourself increases the Threshold to 3 due to the difficulty of treating your own injuries.

Kits

A Healer's Kit contains bandages, field dressings, and basic medical supplies sufficient for emergency treatment.

Properties

Starting Modifier: +3D to the Medicine roll
Degradation: The modifier decreases by 1 after each use
Spent: When the modifier reaches 0, the Kit is depleted and must be refilled or replaced before it can be used again
Refill: Requires access to appropriate supplies and approximately 1 hour to replenish (restores to +3D)
Cost: See Genre Catalog for setting-appropriate pricing

Tracking: Record the Kit as "Healer's Kit (+3D)" and reduce after each use.

Example

Use	Modifier	Bonus to Roll
1st	+3D	Wit + Medicine + 3D
2nd	+2D	Wit + Medicine + 2D
3rd	+1D	Wit + Medicine + 1D
Spent	0	Kit must be replaced

Odd Power Healing

Odd Talent traditions with healing applications restore Health through extraordinary means.

Action: Primary Action (or as specified by the Genre Catalog)
Check: Attribute + Odd Talent vs Threshold 2
Roll with Advantage (4+) while in a safe location
Roll with Disadvantage (6 only) in active combat
Success: Restore 1D6 Health for each success rolled
Frequency: Each patient may only be treated once per day
Range: Touch or Close (typically, see Genre Catalog for tradition-specific ranges)

Odd Power healing can also remove one Condition instead of restoring Health, choose one effect per use, not both. Conditions applied by Odd Talents or extraordinary sources may require specific responses as defined by the Genre Catalog.

Stacking Healing

All three recovery methods, rest, Medicine, and Odd Power, may apply to the same character in the same day. They do not interfere with each other.

Condition Types

AX.C.11.05

Conditions are categorized by which Attribute they impair.

Body Conditions: Affect physical capability
Speed Conditions: Affect movement and agility
Wit Conditions: Affect mental acuity and perception

How Conditions Work

Application:

Character exposed to condition source (disease, poison, spell, etc.)
Make appropriate Save (Body/Speed/Wit) vs Threshold
Success: Avoid condition
Failure: Suffer condition effect

Effect:

Reduce the affected Attribute by Condition Severity.

Minor: -1D to Attribute
Moderate: -2D to Attribute
Major: -3D to Attribute

Impact: All dice pools using that Attribute are reduced. Derived statistics recalculate.

Example:

Character with Speed 4D suffers a moderate Speed condition (-2D).
Their Speed is now effectively 2D.
Defense recalculates using the reduced Speed

Recovery from Conditions

Daily Save:

After each Long Rest, make a Save vs original Threshold
Success: Condition is removed
Failure: Condition persists

Healer Assistance:

A Healer can use their Wit+Medicine (Threshold 2) to assist with a Save
Each success provides +1D on the next Save
This represents treatment and care improving recovery chances

Example: Healer treating the character rolls Wit + Medicine and gets 2 successes. Character makes Body Save (Body+Fortitude+2D for Healer Assist ) vs disease (Threshold 2).

Magical Healing:

A Mystic can use Attribute + Odd (Threshold Condition Severity+1) to completely remove one mundane condition
No Save required, automatic removal
Healer must choose: restore Health OR remove condition (not both)

Body Conditions

Body conditions impair physical health, stamina, and strength.

Common Body Conditions:

Disease: Illness, infection
Poison: Toxins in bloodstream
Exhaustion: Severe fatigue
Weakening Curse: Magical strength reduction

Effects:

Reduce Body value
Health maximum value recalculates
All Body-based rolls reduced
Body Saves reduced

Save to Resist: Body Save when first exposed

Recovery: Body Save each day after Long Rest, or magical healing

Example - Disease:

Exposure: Make Body Save Threshold 2
Failure: Contract disease (Minor, -1D Body)
Body 4D becomes 3D temporarily
Health maximum reduces from 24 to 18
Each day, make Body Save (Threshold Condition Severity+1) to recover

Speed Conditions

Speed conditions impair agility, reflexes, and mobility.

Common Speed Conditions:

Entanglement: Vines, webs, ropes restricting movement
Paralysis: Cannot move
Slowing Magic: Magical movement reduction
Leg Injury: Broken ankle, twisted knee

Effects:

Reduce Speed value
Defense recalculates (becomes easier to hit)
All Speed-based rolls reduced
Speed Saves reduced
Movement may be halved or prevented

Save to Resist: Speed Save when first exposed

Recovery: Speed Save each day after Long Rest, or magical healing

Example - Entanglement: Exposure: Make Speed Save Threshold 2 Failure: Entangled (Moderate, -2D Speed) Speed 3D becomes 1D temporarily Defense is decreased based on new Speed value Movement halved Each Turn, make Speed Save (Threshold Condition Severity+1) to escape Can also attempt to break free with Body Save (Threshold Condition Severity+1) or Body+Strike to cut free

Wit Conditions

Wit conditions impair mental acuity, perception, and social capability.

Common Wit Conditions:

Confusion: Disorientation, unclear thinking
Fear: Overwhelming terror
Mind Fog: Clouded thoughts
Psychic Trauma: Mental damage from psychic attack
Charm: Magically influenced thoughts

Effects:

Reduce Wit value
All Wit-based rolls reduced
Wit Saves reduced
May cause irrational behavior (GM discretion)
Social interactions may be impaired

Save to Resist: Wit Save when first exposed

Recovery: Wit Save each day after Long Rest, or magical healing

Example - Fear:

Exposure: Frightening sight, make Wit Save Threshold 2
Failure: Frightened (Minor, -1D Wit)
Wit 3D becomes 2D temporarily
All Wit rolls at -1D
May cause avoidance of fear source
Each day, make Wit Save (Threshold Condition Severity+1) to overcome fear

Condition Severity

Minor (-1D):

Save Threshold: 2
Duration: Typically 1-3 days
Examples: Common cold, minor fear, slight entanglement

Moderate (-2D):

Save Threshold: 3
Duration: Typically 3-7 days
Examples: Serious illness, significant injury, moderate curse

Major (-3D):

Save Threshold: 4
Duration: Typically 7+ days
Examples: Deadly disease, crippling injury, powerful curse

Multiple Conditions

Different Types: Stack normally

Body condition + Speed condition = both apply
Reduces both Attributes

Same Type: Do NOT stack use the worst one

Two Body conditions = only the worse one applies
Mild disease + severe poison = only severe poison applies
Each condition must be remedied individually to remove all the effects

Example: Character has Minor Exhaustion (-1D Body) and Moderate Poison (-2D Body) Only the Moderate Poison applies (worse condition) If Moderate Poison is cured, Minor Exhaustion then applies

Magical Conditions

Some conditions are inherently magical and cannot be removed by mundane means.

Common Magical Conditions:

Curses: Ongoing magical effects
Petrification: Turned to stone
Polymorph: Changed into another form
Possession: Another entity controlling you

Removal:

Cannot be removed by time or natural healing
Cannot be removed by Heal Talent
Requires magical intervention
Threshold: Whatever caused condition may impose Threshold modifier

Breaking Magical Conditions:

Mystic casts appropriate counter-magic
Victim makes Wit Save, bolstered by caster's Magic pool value
Threshold based on original curse/effect power

Example - Curse Removal:

Victim cursed by powerful witch (Threshold 3 originally)
Wizard with Magic 4D attempts to break curse
Victim makes Wit Save + 4 (caster's Odd power value) vs Threshold Condition Severity+1
Success: Curse broken
Failure: Curse remains, can try again after Long Rest

Zero Health

AX.C.11.06

When your current Health reaches 0 or below, you fall unconscious and are dying.

Immediate Effects

Fall prone
Drop anything held
Unconscious (cannot take actions)
Must stabilize or die

Stabilization

While dying, you must make Body Saves to stabilize:

Process

On each of your Turns, make a Body Save (Threshold 2)
You have a number of Turns equal to your Fortitude value to stabilize
First Success: You stabilize (unconscious but not dying)
All Failures: You die

Assistance

Allies can help you stabilize before you die:

Using Heal Talent

Action: Primary Action
Check: Wit + Talent vs Threshold 3
Success: You stabilize immediately
Equipment: A Healer's Kit adds dice equal to its modifier to a Medicine Challenge

Using Magic

Any healing power that restores at least 1 Health, immediately stabilizes you
Magic can bring you back from dying to conscious

Using First Aid

Even untrained allies can attempt Wit vs Threshold 3
Success: You stabilize but remain unconscious

Death & Resurrection

AX.C.11.07

Permanent Death

A character permanently dies when:

They fail all stabilization saves while dying
They suffer Overkill damage (negative Health equal to maximum)
They are killed by certain magical effects
The GM determines death is appropriate to the narrative

Resurrection

Bringing the dead back to life requires powerful magic.

Requirements:

The Body mostly intact (not over killed)
Death occurred within 1 hour (without special magic)
Powerful caster with appropriate abilities

Check: Wit + Odd Talent vs Threshold 4 (+ hours dead)

Cost: May require rare components, XP sacrifice, or other costs (GM discretion)

Success: Character returns to life at 1 Health

Failure: Character remains dead, can attempt again with increased Threshold