During Session Zero, our group began character creation. One of our players was trying to choose a focus and was having difficulty as the provided ones did not fully suit their character vision.
As they describe their character concept, the joke was made “If only there was a ‘Cut a Bitch’ focus.” This led to a few other jokes about the different abilities it could grant and so I offered to actually make this custom focus.
The character is an “Intimidating Elocutionist Who Will Cut a Bitch”. Due to their character vision, I made this to suit the intimidation and elocutionist aspects.
They have reviewed and approved this focus and I can’t wait to see how it plays out.
WILL CUT A BITCH
You are living proof that sharpness is a way of life. Whether through a flash of steel or a cutting remark, your precision leaves people bleeding, sometimes literally, sometimes just wounded where no one can see. You carry blades like extensions of yourself, and your tongue is every bit as dangerous. Others rely on strength or luck. You rely on edge, on never dulling your instincts, your wit, or your resolve.
Some people train for years to master their weapons. You become yours.
Connection
Choose one of the following with your group:
- Pick one other PC. They once mocked you and still carry the scar, physical or otherwise. You have never forgotten it.
- Pick one other PC. They are the only one you have ever trusted to hold your blades without fear, or to hear your unfiltered thoughts.
- Pick one other PC. You share a mutual understanding: words and weapons both draw blood. You two work disturbingly well together.
- Pick two other PCs. You have cut both, one with a blade, one with words. They each remember which it was.
Minor Effect Suggestion:
Your attack or remark leaves a lingering impression. Your target hesitates, suffering a hindered task on their next action.
Major Effect Suggestion:
Your strike or word is so precise it cripples composure. Your target is disarmed, silenced, or flees in fear for one round.
TIER 1
Always Prepared (Enabler)
You are never without a light bladed weapon. Regardless of searches, disarmament, or confinement, you can always make light weapon attacks as if armed.
Razor Wit (2 Intellect points)
Your tongue cuts as deep as your blade. You gain an asset on all tasks involving intimidation, insults, or provocation.
When targeted by an attack, you may spend 2 Intellect points to deliver a cutting remark that shakes your opponent’s focus, granting an asset on your defense roll against that attacker.
When making a roll involving intimidation, insults, or provocation, you may spend 2 Intellect points to do 1 point of nonlethal mental damage as a verbal attack.
TIER 2
Blade Proficiency (Enabler)
You are trained in light bladed weapons and intimidation.
Your light bladed weapons do 1 additional point of damage.
Retort (3 Speed points, Reaction)
When an opponent misses you with a melee attack, you may immediately counterattack with your light weapon. This counterattack is hindered, but if it hits, it deals normal damage and grants an asset on your next attack against that foe.
TIER 3 (Choose One)
Slice the Air (3 Speed points, Enabler)
Your strikes are surgical in precision. For one minute, all attacks you make with light bladed weapons gain one additional asset and ignore 1 point of the target’s Armor. You can also cut through simple bindings, ropes, or manacles as a free action.
Tongue Lash (3 Intellect points, Action)
You bait your foe with a perfectly chosen insult, cruel observation, or mocking provocation. Make an Intimidation or Provocation roll against the target’s level. On a success, for one minute, all actions they take against you are hindered by one step, and all actions you take against them gain an asset.
Alternatively, by spending 4 Intellect points instead, you may lash out harder, inflicting 3 points of nonlethal mental damage as a verbal attack in addition to the hindrance and asset effects.
TIER 4
Sharper Than Most (Enabler)
You are specialized in light bladed weapon attacks and in tasks involving intimidation. Your light bladed weapons do 1 additional point of damage.
TIER 5
Bark and Bite (6 Intellect points, Enabler)
You fully embrace the marriage of word and weapon. Activating this ability immediately triggers Tongue Lash. For one minute, you may use either your Speed or Intellect Pool for attacks made with a light bladed weapon or for verbal assaults. During this time you may make a verbal assault as your action per the rules of Tongue Lash.
During this time, your verbal attacks can deliver the same damage as your light bladed weapon, reflecting the cutting precision of your words. In addition, you may make one physical attack and one verbal attack in the same round. Each requires its own roll and counts as a separate attack.
TIER 6 (Choose One)
The Final Cut (Enabler)
Every motion is perfect, every strike decisive.
When you make an attack using your light bladed weapon attack, including when using Bark and Bite, you inflict an additional +3 damage.
If this attack reduces a creature to 0 Health, you may immediately:
- Make another attack with your light bladed weapon attack against a target within immediate range, and
- Attempt an Intimidation task against a different creature within short range as a free action.
Each kill is a punctuation mark, clean, final, and terrifying to all who witness it.
Word of Ruin (7 Intellect points, Action)
You speak one word, or a short phrase, so precise and venomous it cuts the soul itself.
Choose one creature within short range and make an Intellect attack against its level.
On a success, the target takes 5 points of lethal Intellect damage (ignores Armor) as a verbal attack and is stunned for one round, losing its next action.
If the target survives, it becomes terrified of you for one minute; all actions it takes against you are hindered by one step.
Your voice becomes the blade, leaving only silence and fear in its wake.
Mason Beck Fiction 
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