The Forest of Loss takes those who it touches, hollows them out, and sends them back as monstrous husks to unknown ends.
However, there are a select few that emerge, not unchanged, but still themselves. There was something within them that could not be broken, could not be snuffed out, by the full force of Loss.
This change grants the Forest Touched power over life, and the flow of life, in a symbiotic relationship with the seed of the Forest inside themselves.
Their powers are greatest when within the Forest or its bounds.
Class Feature: Outcast
Forest Touched are treated with suspicion and fear throughout Rastaban. Only in the Forester's Guild, and Outside the Embrace, does this fear and suspicion ease off.
In those outer places, they understand the dangers the Forest poses, and appreciate how crucial the Forest Touched are in combating that peculiar menace.
Forest Touched typically fare worse than their counterparts in the social politics of the City. Services are harder to obtain; trust and kinship harder to earn.
In any situation where blame is equally likely to be attributed to any one of a number of people, and one of them is Forest Touched, then it is likely the Forest Touched will bear the blunt of the blame.
Class Feature: Affiliation
Gain the Affiliate skill for the Forester's Guild.
Skills
Lv1
Survivor
You gain hits equal to your psyche hits.
Sense of the Forest
This allows you to tell information about the general area, and if the forest has taken an active interest in you.
You can also tell whether creatures, plants of people fall under the forest's dominion, although the latter is often subtler and can close examination of the individual.
You can also sense nearby forest creatures.
Gift of Life
You may freely transfer body hits to anyone you can see.
Take X damage to call HEAL X at range.
Immaterial Threads
Whenever you HEAL someone through medical roleplay you HEAL them for 1 additional point.
Flesh Hard as Stone
Gain a RESIST.
Lv2
Circle of Life
Whenever you HEAL someone else through medical roleplay, take the same HEAL call yourself.
Increased Regeneration
You recover from pain and wounds quicker than most.
Take all WOUND calls at half duration.
Empathetic link
When fighting against forest creatures: gain a DODGE per monster physrep, which must be used against that creature.
Surge of Might
Your limbs surge with unnatural strength as the flame of your life burns brighter.
You may take a TRIPLE to call REPEL by melee.
Animal Companion
You have a loyal animal companion, which is also touched by the forest.
You are able to communicate with this animal on an instinctual level and even to a limited degree share its senses.
This animal can be anything (within reason) but pick one of the benefits below which seems appropriate.
You may if you wish buy this skill multiple time to take additional benefits.
The first time you drop to zero hits in an encounter take a HEAL 0.
Gain 3 uses of FEAR per encounter.
Gain 1 DODGE per encounter which may be used to dodge ranged calls.
Gain 1 PSYCHE.
Deep Roots
You are able to do more whilst bleeding out than others.
You can, with effort, crawl on the floor, or talk.
Lv3
Thornheart
Pre-req: Deep Roots
You may hide your life deep inside within the thorny briar which now takes the place of your heart.
When you are bleeding out your body attempts to regenerate itself. After 15 seconds bleeding out without taking further damage you must call HEAL 4 on yourself as your body pulls itself back together.
If you are executed reset this time and add 10 seconds to it rather than dying.
Thorn Shard
You tear a shard of Thorn from your body.
Take a QUINT
This should be represented by a dagger, which counts as standard quality.
When you strike with the dagger you may call CURSE.
If this is not dodged you may count the target as a forest creature, as the shard worms its way into their flesh.
Once you have hit an opponent with the dagger, you must discard it, as the physrep is consumed.
Forged Will
Gain 1 RESIST.
Dominion
Whilst within the wood you may at least temporarily bend it to your purpose.
You may take a TRIPLE to call WOUND BOTH LEGS on someone at range.
You may take a DOUBLE to call REPEL.
You may take a TRIPLE to call STAGGER 10 on a STAGGERED target.
Viridian Dreams
You no longer need to sleep.
If you decide to try anyway, talk to a GM.
Immaterial Threads
Whenever you HEAL someone through medical roleplay you HEAL them for 1 additional point.