Senses I (sage ability)

Senses I is an amateur-status sage ability in the study of Heightened Senses, providing the character with an enhanced awareness of their surroundings through the five primary senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. This heightened sensitivity grants the character a +1 bonus on all rolls related to these senses, helping them detect subtle changes in their environment and improving their response to sensory stimuli. While some common applications are outlined below, this list is by no means exhaustive and the benefits of this ability will expand as new relevant situations arise during gameplay.

By enhancing the character's sensitivity to these five senses, this sage ability makes them more attuned to their environment, allowing them to perform more effectively in situations that rely on perception, fine motor skills and awareness of subtle cues in the surroundings.

Sight

The world around the character becomes sharper, more detailed and vivid. Colours seem brighter, contrasts more distinct and movement clearer. Even from a distance, the character can pick out fine details in the landscape or on an enemy's face. Shadows are no longer as oppressive and night-time or dim environments take on a softer clarity, allowing them to pick out shapes and movement where others may be left guessing. They can also spot hidden threats or elusive objects that might have otherwise been overlooked.

• When using a missile weapon to target an enemy at a distance of 20 or more combat hexes, the character gains a +1 bonus to hit when rolling to attack. This benefit reflects the character's improved ability to track distant targets and take more accurate shots.

• The spell also improves the character's ability to see in low-light conditions, increasing their natural vision by one grade of illumination. For example, sight may improve from full darkness to starlight, or from starlight to dim moonlight, allowing them to see in conditions where others might struggle.

Hearing

This allows the character to pick up sounds that would normally be drowned out. Footsteps on gravel or the faintest rustling of a cloak are clear, as is the presence of distant conversations, the sounds of others whispering and of persons creeping through underbrush or sliding weapons Every change in tone or pitch becomes significant.

• When defending against an enemy attempting to approach through stealth, the character's experience level is treated as 1 higher for the purpose of detecting their presence. This makes the character better equipped to sense an enemy's subtle movements and approach.

• Additionally, the character's hearing improves their ability to respond to ambushes, granting them a +1 bonus when trying to avoid being surprised or when rolling for initiative during an ambush. This bonus represents the character's sharper awareness of sounds in their environment, such as the rustling of footsteps or the subtle shifting of an attacker.

Touch

Allows the character to feel more subtle textures and changes in the environment. The weight of objects is more noticeable in their hands, and even the smallest variations in temperature or pressure are immediately apparent. When groping around in darkness or searching through objects, they can sense small details — such as the difference between a loose stone or a hidden compartment — without effort. Their sensitivity to tactile feedback allows them to react quicker to changes in their surroundings.

• When fighting in conditions of magical darkness, the character gains a +1 bonus to hit opponents. This bonus reflects the character's enhanced ability to perceive their opponents through physical sensations, even when visibility is impaired by magical forces.

• The character saves 1 action point when searching for an item within a pack or sack. This represents the character's heightened sense of touch, allowing them to quickly and efficiently identify and retrieve objects without wasting time or effort.

• The character's wisdom is increased by 1 point when making checks to avoid setting off a trap. Their acute sense of touch allows them to more easily feel subtle shifts, vibrations or mechanical triggers in their environment, increasing their awareness and helping them avoid triggering dangerous traps.

Smell

Changes in the air can be detected, such as the faint odour of things decaying, the presence of an animal nearby or if food or drink is spoiled or tainted before tasting it. While not overpowering, this heightened sense makes the character more attuned to their environment, helping them notice the subtle odours that might indicate danger or opportunities.

• The character's ability to detect poison in food and drink is enhanced, granting a +1 bonus on saving throws against poisoning from ingestion. Their heightened sense of smell allows them to detect subtle changes in the scent of food or drink that would otherwise be overlooked.

• The character also gains an increased chance of not being surprised by odourous creatures, such as skunks, troglodytes or rotting undead. Their keen olfactory senses allow them to detect the presence of creatures by their distinctive smells, giving them a chance to react before being ambushed.

Taste

Characters can tell when food is fresh, when a dish has been prepared with skill or when something is off — whether it's under-seasoned, overcooked or spoiled. They may also be able to identify ingredients in a recipe with just a bite. The character's sensitivity to taste allows them to notice small details that would go unnoticed by most, enhancing their ability to judge food quality or spot discrepancies.

• The character gains five knowledge points in their ability to cook, reflecting their refined sense of taste. This allows them to create more flavourful dishes, identify ingredients with greater precision and improve their culinary abilities in general. The character's heightened sense of taste gives them a deeper understanding of food, allowing them to adjust recipes or taste for subtle flavours that others might miss.

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