Passing Through (sage ability)
Passing Through is an amateur-status ability.
Empowers the character with the ability to move past a single person that is "on guard," even in broad daylight, so long as expedience is not a condition. Essentially, the character watches, and waits for the right moment, having observed the habits of the person that is bypassed. Then, moving at normal speed, the character simply walks past, without being noticed.
This may require waiting for a second guard to take a break; or waiting for a changing of the guard. If multiple guards are engaged in a discussion, and one or fewer are actively on guard, the moment of passing remains possible. The character's distance from the single guard is not relevant; it is a matter of timing. This may take a hour or more to accomplish — but the ability promises that it will be accomplished, and without a die roll.
If a second guard is actively watching also, the ability will be foiled; as well, if an action is taken beyond moving pass, this will also draw immediate attention. Nor will the ability enable the character to smuggle other persons past. If more than one character with the ability wishes to move past, the act will have to take place at different moments. The timing typically requires a die roll of 1 to 100 minutes between opportunities to successfully move past a guard.
If someone distracts the guards, so that they cease to be actively on guard, of course this will provide the character with a more immediate opportunity.
Characters can thus move right through a town gate or past a toll without paying. Because this is an ability and not a spell, the skill can be repeated as often as necessary, within the time frame provided. Note that repeated attempts in a single day will increase the amount of time waiting for the next opportunity by 25 minutes, cumulatively. Thus, once entering a space, the character with the ability would have to wait d100 +25 minutes to slip out again; and then d100 +50 minutes to enter a second time that day.
Once inside a facility, the character would be able to rely upon the sage acceptance to remain in that place unmolested.
See Guile
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