Scenes

Under Shadow of Night plays out in Scenes. A scene is the combination of a location, the events unfolding, and the time the players spend there. The Storyteller sets up the scene by describing the environment the characters are in, what challenges are present. The players act their characters accordingly, taking actions in response to the scene. When the scene has been resolved, the Storyteller moves the group to the next scene, and the game moves on.

Distance

While acting in a scene or encounter, the distance between a character and their target matters. Such as granting penalty when the target is too far away, or bonuses when within a short distance. Distance in scenes and encounters is described as following.

Immediate. A radius of up to 3 metres / 9 feet around you.

Short. A radius of up to 15 metres / 50 feet around you.

Medium. A radius of up to 50 metres / 165 feet around you.

Long. A radius of up to 100 metres / 330 feet around you.

Far. A radius of up to 1 kilometre / 0.5 miles around you.

Encounters

During Scenes there are many times the players will be faced with dangers, challenges and adversaries that hinder their path forwards. These are categorised into Challenges, which is built around your skills, while Conflict which is built around your intent.

Challenges

When you are faced with a time restraint, possible danger or an action that requires skill, you enter a Skill Challenge where you must roll Force + Skill to achieve the action.

Examples of Actions used to overcome challenges

Attributes / Skills	Wits	Finesse	Endurance
Conceal	Deceit	Sneaking / Stealing	Remain Still / Hold Breath
Cognise	Understand Foreign Concepts	Investigate	Resist Mythical forces
Empathy	Social Skills	Body Language	Clarity of Mind
Expression	Poetry / Thought / Speech	Dance / Song	Craftsmanship
Senses	Study	Take a stock of surroundings	Separate Senses
Survival	Track, Forage	Traversal	Persevere

Environmental Harm

Exhaustion, Cold, Heat, falling, drowning, crushing are examples of possible harm one can suffer while in a Scene or a Challenge. These harms take on the form of Trauma or Burdens suffered. The Burdens may be temporary, or more persistent.

Conflict

When you are faced with an adversary who stands in your way or otherwise hinders you on your quest you enter a Conflict encounter where you aim to defeat them by words, wits or violence.

Examples of Actions used to end conflict

Attributes / Intent	Wits	Finesse	Endurance
Subdue	Persuade, Intimidate	Disarm,	Grapple
Deflect	Deny, Resist	Parry, Counter	Block, Brace
Escalate	Curse, Manipulate	Strike	Knock Back / Down

Vital Harm

Curse words, bruises, scrapes and strain are examples of possible harm one can suffer while in a Conflict Encounter. These harms mainly take on the form of Stress, but may at times manifest as direct trauma or burdens as well.

The Oncoming Death

When your character reaches their maximum Trauma, they enter the path to death. By the end of the Scene you must choose which path you take to fulfil your death.

Death of Flesh

You perish, performing one last legendary fight, forever remembered.

You braved the impossible storm even while it tore skin from your very bones, you braved it well and placed the lost orb of the gods upon the alter before letting the cold embrace of earth take you.

Death of Spirit

You survive, but fade away, unable to ever heed the call again.

In the village there now sits an old man, not old in flesh but in old spirit, they tell tales of old, but shudder at the darkest moments and pull back to their own hovel to mind over the trauma of their journey.

Death of Ego

You survive, but loose all that is you, your names , legend and legacy are consumed, forgotten you start anew.

Was your legend consumed by otherworldly creatures, or were you sent away in dishonour, stripped of all your deeds?