Leverage (sage ability)
Enables the character to request favours without entering into an ally's debt, as was described in schmoozing. This is done through the accumulation of allies, for each new ally provides the potential for dirt upon every other ally who is known to both the ally and the character.
The value of the skill is, like functionary, in gaining multiple allies within a single locality. Even the lowliest ally, a beggar or a charwoman, will tend to accumulate information upon other locals, however high might be their status. Therefore, whenever an additional ally is gained, the player should make two checks.
- When a new ally is obtained, roll a d20 for each ally the character already possesses. If a 1 is rolled, this indicates that the new ally has provided information that can be used in exchange for a free favour from one of the character's existing allies.
- Similarly, each previous ally may hold information regarding the newest ally. Thus a d20 for each previous is rolled to determine how many favours may be gained from the new ally. For each 1 rolled, one free favour may be requested.
The favours from any individual must be requested no less than in one week intervals. None of the information obtained can be used for more than the number of favours indicated; once the leverage is gained, the ally relationship to the character reverts to that described under Schmooze.
Note also that the character need not reveal one ally to another by this process - the character is assumed to be merely inquiring quietly about another person within the locality.
See Politics
