Scenes
A scene is a unit of active gameplay: everything from a tense negotiation to a running firefight to an investigation of a crime scene. All scenes use the same core loop (see The Basics). There is no separate "combat mode"; the system handles violent and non-violent encounters with the same mechanics.
A scene ends when the DM determines its dramatic purpose has been fulfilled: the objective is achieved or lost, the threat is resolved or escaped, or the situation has fundamentally changed.
Breakthroughs
A breakthrough is a moment of growth during a scene: a new technique clicks, a god's gift manifests, your body adapts, or training finally pays off under pressure. Breakthroughs represent your character growing — new abilities, deeper mastery. They are distinct from cutscenes, which represent what happens between scenes: acquiring equipment, building relationships, recovering.
Once per scene, when you are in the spotlight, you may declare a breakthrough. Choose one:
| Breakthrough | Effect |
|---|---|
| New Talent | Gain a talent you meet the prerequisites for (domain, weapon, boon, or standard) |
| Capacity Increase | Increase one capacity maximum by 1. If Vigor, Wit, or Zeal, you may also increase one of the associated action ratings by 1. |
When you declare a breakthrough, briefly describe what's happening in the fiction that triggers this growth. No roll is required. A new domain talent might represent a technique clicking into place mid-fight. A boon might be a god answering a desperate prayer. A capacity increase might be adrenaline pushing past old limits.
Cycle
Each breakthrough cycle contains 2 talent breakthroughs and 1 capacity increase. You may take them in any order. Once you've claimed all three, the cycle resets.
Example: Izzo takes a new talent in Scene 1 (a Glass domain talent). In Scene 2, he takes a capacity increase, putting +1 into his Vigor maximum and increasing his Maneuver rating. In Scene 3, he takes his second talent (a boon from Apollo, since he meets the favor prerequisite). That completes the cycle. In Scene 4, a new cycle begins and he's free to choose any breakthrough again.
Standard Talents
Standard talents are generic upgrades available to any character through talent breakthroughs. They cover universal needs that no specific talent category owns.
| Standard Talent | Effect | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Life Line | Gain 1 life line (+2 wound segments) | Maximum 6 life lines |
| Capacity Floor | Increase one capacity minimum by 1 or 2 (your choice) | Capacity Maximum |
| Expertise | Choose one action. That action's luck becomes action rating + 3. | 1 expertise per primary capacity (Vigor, Wit, Zeal) |
Capacity Floor is a double-edged sword. Raising a capacity minimum brings you closer to "at minimum" conditions (Exposed, Demoralized, Exhausted), but also means your capacity roll target is higher when you reach that state. Some domains actively benefit from hovering near minimums.