Skills

Bujo
You have learned the true art of the well-planned swindle. The bujo involves convincing people to freely give you their money and valuables so that you can aid them in "cleansing their souls" or "removing their bad luck." It is the mark of a true artist to be able to pull off a successful bujo.

This Skill involves establishing some sort of fortune-telling business and then tricking clients into giving large sums of money to your character. (An example of this is given in Chapter two.) Cha}acters with this Skill can raise a sum of money equal to $5,000 times the number of suc- cesses on a Wits + Bujo roll against the target's Wits + 4. The character must spend at least one week per $5,000 desired priming his mark for the swindle.

A botch indicates the character's swindle has been discovered by the mark. The results of a botch vary from the mark's leaving in a huff with all his money to being raided by the police while the character is in the middle of making the final switch.

* Novice: Can get change for the subway.
** Practiced: Telemarketer
*** Competent: Sweet little old ladies are just dying to give you their money.
**** Expert: Televangelists give money to you.
***** Master: Could convince an M.D. that the cure for cancer involves giving you all his worldly goods.

Diversion
You have learned the art of directing the attention of others where you wish it to be. Some- times all eyes are drawn to you by even your subtlest gesture, while at other times your glance causes those around you to look elsewhere. You find that when you control the attention of those around you, all sorts of opportunities present them- selves to you and your companions.

This Skill enables a character to direct the attention of those around her. This Skill is similar to Sleight of Hand, except on a far greate? scale. This Skill is most often used by one Rom to draw attention to herself while her partner takes ad- vantage of a mark's sudden inattention to her merchandise. It is also invaluable to those who wish to leave an awkward scene without attract- ing attention to themselves. The character's Diversion number of dice should be added to any Manipulation rolls made involving distracting others.

* Novice: Look! It's Godzilla!
**Practiced: Can move through crowds unnoticed.
***Competent: Proficient at three-card monte.
****Expert: Can manipulate the attention of whole crowds.
*****Master: People see what you want them to see.

Fortune-Telling
When it comes to gazing into crystal balls, making tables rise and rolling your eyes back in your head, you know your stuff. The gaje eat this junk up, even though it doesn't have a thing to do with real magic or the Sight. But it's a good way to get information and money out of the gullible, and anyone who falls for these tricks needs to be taught a lesson!

This Skill is simply the ability to convince others that your character knows how to tell fortunes, read palms, etc. Characters with this Skill can set up a fortune-telling business and make some money at it. Additionally, characters can add their Fortune-Telling dice to their Manipulation rating when attempting to gain information from one of their clients.

* Novice: You can make your way around a tarot deck.
** Practiced: You look convincing muttering into a crystal ball and have the "tall, dark stranger" bit down pat.
*** Competent: You are very familiar with all the major fortune-telling devices and how to employ them.
**** Expert: You are able to use many different fortune-telling devices, and are practiced at telling people what they want to hear.
***** Master: You could convince the Uncanny Danny that you're the real thing.

Story Telling
You are able to weave a web of language that can keep your audience entertained for hours on end. You have whiled away many an evening spinning your tales and sagas to others of your kind as well as the gaje. You are held in high esteem by your fellow Rom for your clever tongue and keen wit.

Characters with this ability are able to tell interesting and entertaining tales. This Skill is highly prized among the Rom, and any Gypsy who can tell a good story will most certainly find herself plied with warm food, cold drink and a comfortable place to sleep.

* Novice: Can tell a short joke.
** Practiced: Know how to deliver a punchline.
*** Competent: Invited to many parties.
**** Expert: Can keep an audience awake all night.
***** Master: Qualified to run Vampire.

The Talith
You have learned how to use the Romany weapon known as the talith. The talith is a heavy scarf, or diklo, of some 5-6' in length, with weighted hooks and barbs along each end. You can use the talith to disarm your opponents, or you can attack them, slashing with the barbed hooks. The advantage of reach combined with its concealability make this weapon one of your favorite forms of attack.

A character must be skilled in melee in order to learn this specialized form of combat. The úk talith is a difficult weapon to master. It requires good coordination and a lot of practice. Although it does not do much damage compared to a firearm, the talith is practically impossible to detect as a weapon, and it can be used to blind or disarm opponents. The greater the character's Skill with the Talith, the more varied the special maneuvers and attacks of which the character is capable.

* Novice: Can blind opponent, giving her a + 1 target modifier.
** Practiced: Can use talith as an actual melee weapon.
*** Competent: Can use talith to disarm opponents. Opponent must then make a Strength roll (difficulty 6). If the Rom rolls more successes on a Dexterity + Talith roll (difficulty 6) than her adversary she successfully disarms him.
**** Expert: Can use the talith as a second weapon in melee (two attacks per action). However, all difficulty numbers are raised by + 1.
**** Master: Can entangle opponent with talith. Opponent must make a Dexterity roll (difficulty 6) to avoid entanglement. If the Rom has more successes she successfully entangles her opponent, causing him to lose his next action.

New Knowledge

Roman Lore
You are knowledgeable in the lore of your people, the Rom. You have listened with care to all the old tales, and can recount the history and legends of your people.

This skill reflects the character's knowledge of the position Gypsies hold in the world, of the Seeds of Knowledge, and of their role as wildcards in the upcoming Convergence. The higher the character's rating, the greater her Knowledge of such secrets.

* Novice: You've sat through a few of grandma's stories.
** Practiced: You know the mundane history of the Rom.
*** Competent: Have heard of the Seeds of Knowledge and Daenna.
**** Expert: Know of the true power of the Blood of the Rom.
***** Master: Have heard all the tales and understand the Rom's role in history.