Bastion

Shick had been called the Weasel for as long as anybody could remember. There was a time it bothered him, but not any more. Weasels were crafty, resourceful, and had a gift for surviving any situation. They also could find their way into anything… take anything.
His crew spread out into the darkened room. Their Reacher, Tavram, had a gift for Reaching small groups and short destinations. Now to get what they came for.
No piles of treasure greeted Shick’s searching eyes. They weren’t in a vault, but rather a bedroom. He quickly spotted the thing of most value: A sleeping child. Shick stalked to her and grabbed her directly from the bed. She began to struggle immediately and let out a scream before Shick had his hand over her mouth.
“A kid?” Tavram asked, distaste clear in her tone. The rest of his crew muttered agreement. Shick smiled. “A kid. Lord Muldron would pay anything to make sure his only child doesn’t get dumped into some Splinter nobody will ever find. Let’s go.”
“Not yet. I’m afraid I cannot let you have her.”
A man stood in the doorway. He wore heavy plate, although no helmet guarded his bald head. His dark skin was a stark contrast from the almost shining armor he wore. Shick didn’t say anything, simply looked at a couple of his companions and they surged forward.
He wasn’t quite sure what he did see at that point, but there was a gleam of light as the man drew his sword, and something. Both of Shick’s companions lay bleeding on the floor. His first thought on seeing their bodies was a quick calculation of how much everybody’s share just went up. His second...
“Use the faded Reach, burn you! We’ve got the girl. Get us out of here!”
Tavram fiddled with the device hanging on a chain around her neck. A soft hum began to emanate from it. A pale light began to shine only to fade. The humming stopped. The Bastion held forth a closed fist in front of him. The light flowed across the air into it.
“I told you. This family is my charge. And you will not take her.”
Shick didn’t even notice as the girl darted from his unresisting arms and ran to the man wearing the plate armor. He looked to the bodies of his fallen associates and reminded himself. This wasn’t the end. Weasels can get out of anything; survive any situation.
He was still thinking this when the Bastion reached him, raised blade coming down.

Bastions are the key combat type of Altan’ruhl. Bastions aren’t the exclusive warriors of the world, but they certainly stand out when compared to the others. A Bastion has purpose. And it's this purpose that sets them apart from all the rotting masses of people who have given up on the world. Their purpose drives them to something bigger and greater. It makes them heroes… and villains. Just as a Bastion for a noble purpose can ensure the purity of a group’s mission so too can the Bastion of an evil cause be relentless in pursuing something that can unmake what little remains of the world.
Bastion abilities are a combination of learning techniques, sudden inspiration, and relentless force of will. Their abilities are a manifestation of their resolve, and are often called Resolves. They are decisive and driven, unflinching as they tackle whatever obstacles stand between them and their chosen purpose.
Put simply, a Bastion holds the line. They have committed themselves to some greater purpose and trained their bodies to make sure they never waver; never falter. They will endure pain, suffering, humiliation, whatever it takes to complete their charge.

Playing a Bastion

A Bastion typically serves two functions in a group: First, the Bastion tends to be the front-line fighter. High Might and numerous ways to avoid damage makes the Bastion at their strongest when pressed. The second function is often the moral compass and driving force of the party. Note that the moral compass doesn’t have to point north. However, whatever the Bastion believes is likely going to be pulling the party in that direction.

Bastion Origins

While most Bastions ultimately become combatants of some kind, they don’t always begin that way. Many Bastions actually led somewhat normal lives before purpose found them, and the rigorous physical training was simply a means to an end. Below are some sample general backgrounds that can help fuel ideas.

Failure	You didn’t start out life as a pillar of resolve. At one point, you may have been a simple mercenary, or even just a lazy noble concerned only with yourself. Then things changed. This could have been the Splintering, or it could have been one of the many conflicts that came about after the Splintering. Regardless of the catalyst, you completely failed in some real or imagined responsibility, and that has lit a fire inside you. It’s possible your goal is to minimize the losses. It’s also possible your purpose is now one of vengeance.
Adopted	Your purpose was given to you by somebody that you trust and obey absolutely. It’s possible you embraced this purpose right away, but it’s also possible it is something you struggled with for a long time. You never wanted to be charged with keeping House McKavin from falling to ruin, but after your brother died, the task fell to you. For years, you avoided taking it seriously, but when you received a notice that your family’s creditors were coming to collect your sisters, you realized there was no one else.
Assigned	You don’t have any personal investment in your purpose. Instead, your loyalty is to an organization, such as a military or a secret faction. To the outside world, you may appear like any other Bastion. Relentless and driven. However, internally you may only be fulfilling your purpose because your code of honor requires that you must. You may even genuinely regret having to fulfill it. You don’t want to hunt down and eradicate all Sons of the Red Marsh, but orders are orders, and without obedience, we are nothing more than animals. This background creates an interested dynamic for Bastions since you may even be conflicted about your purpose. This kind of self-doubt can create all sorts of interesting play options.

Bastion Connections

Roll a d20 to select a connection option below, choose one directly, or make your own.

1	You were recruited by a Pael worshipping cult years ago, and although you’ve left them behind, some of their rhetoric remains with you.	11	You were part of a military force completely decimated by the Pael during the Splintering. You were the only survivor.
2	The Splintering not only destroyed your town, but it actually cut directly through the house where you lived.	12	Your best friend was heavy into gambling and got too far behind. Only one fate waits for those who can’t pay their debts.
3	You were part of the personal guard of what used to be a great kingdom that has dissolved since the Splintering.	13	As a child, your most treasured possession was a book about the Citadel and the noble work being done by its ruling family.
4	You are the latest inheritor of a charge that your family has been pursuing for over 100 years.	14	Your entire life, you were compared to your older brother who seemed to do everything right.
5	Your birth order dictated you join your kingdom’s clergy where you were trained to be a priest.	15	Your town would have been destroyed during the fighting after the Splintering, but one of the Paragons came and restored order.
6	Your mentor died in a horrible way, and on his deathbed left you a last request.	16	The Sorcerer touched your arm as a child, just before the Splintering and told you it would be up to everybody to save the world.
7	You were drunk the night your parents were killed.	17	You killed a rival over an affair of honor, and realized you had killed the wrong person.
8	You found a strange book with a list of tasks in it.	18	You swore oaths of purpose with a good friend. That friend has since abandoned their oaths.
9	You are in a betrothal, but there are intense requirements to prove your worthiness to wed.	19	Your first purpose involved protecting a royal family. You nearly gave your life to save the King, and they’ll always remember you for it.
10	One morning, you awoke to a voice in your head, guiding you towards salvation.	20	You spent ten years as a trained assassin and were the best. Nobody stays in that game forever though. Now you protect others from assassins.

Bastion Player Intrusions

As a Bastion, you may spend 1 XP to use one of the following player intrusions, provided the situation is appropriate and the GM agrees.
Stronger Together - When fighting along-side a specific ally against the same target, all attacks for both you and the ally are eased until that target has been neutralized.
Unyielding - When you receive damage that would move you down one or more states on the damage track, you may act as though you are one level higher on the damage track until the end of combat. If you die, you must make a Might 4 check per turn to remain upright.
Never Let Go - Select an ally or NPC. For the duration of the encounter, all actions designed to support or protect that character gain Edge 1.

Bastion Stat Pools

Stat	Pool Starting Value
Might	10
Speed	8
Intellect	10

The Bastion gains 6 additional points to distribute among the starting pools.

Bastion Tiers

The Bastion is a modified Warrior type from the Cypher System Rulebook and includes mainly abilities from that type with a few others for appropriate flavor. If you do not see the ability in the list below, it is not applicable for the Bastion Type.

First Tier Bastion

First-tier Bastions gain the following abilities:
Effort: You have 1 Effort.
Constant as Steel: You have Edge 1 in both Might and Intellect, and a 0 for Speed.
Cyphers: You may possess up to 2 Cyphers.
Weapons: You may use all weapons as practiced, regardless of weapon size.
Starting Equipment: Appropriate clothing and two weapons of your choice, plus one expensive item, two moderately priced items, and up to four inexpensive items.
Closed Mind: You are trained in Intellect defense and have +2 Armor against damage that selectively targets your Intellect Pool.
Special Abilities: Bastions may select from the Bastion Abilities chart below, drawn mainly from the warrior list but with alternate types and flavors. References are noted below.

First-Tier (Choose two)	Second-Tier (Choose two)	Third-Tier (Choose three)
Bash (112) Combat Prowess (120) Control the Field (121) Overwatch (168) Physical Skills (170) Practiced in Armor (171) Endurance (134) Surging Confidence (188) Rally to Me (174) Tracker (193) Make Judgement (160)	Crushing Blow  Hemorrhage (149) Skill with Attacks (183) Skill with Defense (183) Successive Attack (187) Stand Watch (186) Wreck (200) Mind for Might (162) Quarry (173) Resist the Elements (176)	TBD
Fourth-Tier (Choose two)	Fifth-Tier (Choose three)	Sixth-Tier (Choose two)
tbd	tbd	tbd