Damocles

Damocles [Minor] by Iczer

'Can't do that bro...I got this monkey on my back'

The character can tag another with a bolt of energy that hags around the target untill triggered in some way.

Range: 70 feet plus 25 feet per level

Duration: Instant. Uses up one action to perform. The effect hangs around for 1 hour pe rlevel or until triggered.

Damage: 2d4 plus 1d4 per level of experience. The damage type is determined when the character is fist created.

Bonus to attack: +2 with an aimed shot. No bonuses to wild shots.

Damocles effect: Once a target has been hit, the character chooses what causes the target to suffer damage.

• Contact: The attack just does damage there on the spot.
• Duration: The damage goes off at a specific time chosen by the character
• Condition: If the target suffers some other condition (gets drunk, falls asleep suffers damage of a certain type, catches a cold etc) then the effect goes off

Of course the character can simply will it to go off at any point. likewise the character can just cancel the effect.

While the power hangs around a target, the target is followed by a glowing ball of energy, (easy to spot) and can be used as a light source ina pinch, though is an impediment for stealth.

When the damage discharges, the 'ball' of energy makes a strike roll at +12. If the target dodges or the attack misses, it follows the target, making a new strike roll twice per melee round at +8, then +6, then Plus 4 then plus 2 then plus zero.

Escaping the effect: All is not lost though. the target has a few, very few, options to disengage the attack.

Teleportation: Teleporting over any distance has a flat 20% chance of shaking the thing loose. moving through portals does not count, as the energy is attached to the character and will follow.

Diving underwater is also a good trick, the attack may be diffused in water, although the character will have to be underwater when the effect triggers. simply diving underwtater does not dislodge the effect.

Body armour: putting on layers of body armour will not dislodge the attack, but gives the character time to mitigate it. If the target has access to extraordinary protective measures ( a mag who can cast protection from energy, or a mutant friend who can create force fileds for instance) then he may be set. otherwise he can strap on regular body armour and hope the triggered attack strikes it rather than him.

Other notes: The character can use this power on other ranged attacks he posesses rather than the , lower damage version that accompanies this power. as long as the attack is inborn, composed of energy (force can apply, but not materiels of matter) then it's damage and range may be substituted.