Wyrd of the Week: Skulking Secondary Lineage

This time on Wyrd of the Week, I present to you something a bit more complicated than I normally write for The Hero's Journey, Second Edition - a Secondary Lineage. This is literally a second character Lineage that is selected at character creation that works in addition to all of the abilities of a character's primary Lineage (except when noted otherwise). This is written wtih the assumption that a character selects a Secondary Lineage at character creation and with Narrator permission. In this instance, the Secondary Lineage is called the Skulking and would be noted on a character sheet as a "Skulking Elf," Skulking Human," or similarly for other Lineages.

SKULKING (Secondary Lineage)

Not all heroes stand as paragons of virtue and heroism. Nor are they all simple, stouthearted folk standing to defend the ordinary joys of the world. Some are broken, corrupted creatures desparate to overcoming the evil that has set itself in their heart, driven them to the edge of madness, and left their physical form twisted and ill to look upon. They are the Skulking, found among all the Goodly Folk of the Mortal Realm. Desperate and wretched, they cling to a single mote of hope that their last deeds before the darkness takes them may make some difference in the world. Through their companions they might find some path to a redemptive act, a final deed worthy of admiration, a last reconcilation for the evil that has buried itself in their soul.

Table: Skulking Attributes

Attribute	Dice Pool
Might	Per Primary Lineage
Finesse	Per Primary Lineage
Resolve	2d6+1
Insight	Per Primary Lineage
Bearing	1d6+2
Weal	1d6+2

Skulking Lineage Abilities

Darkness Can Be Set in All Souls: In addition to the abilities provided by the Skulking Secondary Lineage, a player character also receives all of the benefits of their primary Lineage selected at character creation - except for any beneficial Lineage abilities that affect a character's Despair Saving Throw. A Skulking character has barely a whisp of hope left in their heart and Despair takes hold of their psyche far too quickly. When determining a Skulking character's starting attributes, use the Skulking Attribues table, noting where the Skulking Secondary Lineage provides an alternate dice pool for generating specific attribute totals. In these cases, the Skulking Secondary Linage takes precident and may restrict Archetype choices that would otherwise be available based on a character's primary Lineage.. 

From the Light I Shall Flee: All Skulking characters can advance to 10th level as Burglars, regardless of their primary Lineage restriction. In addition, they recieve Advantage on all Thievery checks. Skulking characters of any other Archetypes recieve and advance in the Thievery skill as if they were a Burglar of equivalent level.

Curse'd and Twisted: When encountering creatures sworn to the service of the forces of evil or when an Insight of the Wise spell is cast, the Skulking character is regarded as being a servant of evil. This means that while monsters are more likely to ignore the Skulking character or even regard them as an ally, most heroic characters will see them as a threat. 

Damned Not to Die: Skulking characters also Advantage on all Saving Throws to avoid suffering a Grievous Wound.

A Shadow Has Taken Hold: Skulking characters suffer Disadvantage on all Despair Saving Throws and all attempts to Relax Around the Campfire.