[FOCI]

Interprets the Law

Cypher System Rulebook 1e

You know the law as well as the back of your hand. Broad mandates, narrow rulings, well-meaning overreaches, regulatory considerations, and outright loopholes in the law are all the tools you need to twist outcomes to suit your desire. Knowledge is power, which is why many people who have crossed you now fear you. It's your decision whether you put your prowess toward noble causes or use it for your own aggrandizement.

You wear nice suits and designer sunglasses, carry a briefcase, and walk around in shoes that cost more than many people earn in a month.

Spinners and Interprets the Law go together like congressional delegates and unregulated PAC spending.

Connection

If this is your starting focus, choose one of the following connections.

1. Pick one other PC. That character seriously hurt someone in an altercation, but you got her off with no charges. She may feel grateful or ashamed.
2. Pick one other PC. He borrowed your copy of The Prince by Niccol˜ Machiavelli and still hasn't returned it.
3. Pick one other PC. You once defended him in a court of law but suffered one of your very few defeats because of the case or perhaps your own failing-you're not sure which.
4. Pick one other PC. That character has confided in you that she hates "bloodsucking lawyers" and is glad you're not one. You haven't decided yet if you're going to reveal your profession to her.

Equipment

Suit, sunglasses, briefcase, extra pens, light handgun, leather wallet or purse, nice shoes, and $500.

Minor Effect Suggestion

The target is confused, causing it to stumble and drop whatever it's holding.

Major Effect Suggestion

The target can't believe what you just said and is dazed and unable to take actions for a round as it tries to reconcile your statement with reality.

Tier 1

Opening Statement Enabler

You're trained in tasks related to persuasion, deception, and detecting the falsehoods of others.

Knowledge of the Law Enabler

You're trained in the law of the land. If you don't know the answer to a question of law, you know where and how to research it (a university's law library is a good place to start, but you've also got online sources).

Tier 2

Debate (3 Intellect points) Action

In any gathering of two or more people trying to establish the truth or come to a decision, you can sway the verdict with masterful rhetoric. If you are given one minute or more to argue your point, either the decision goes your way or, if someone else effectively argues a competing point, the difficulty of any associated persuasion or deception task is decreased by two steps. One minute to initiate.

Tier 3

Able Assistance Enabler

When you help someone with a task related to research or codified knowledge, you always reduce the difficulty of the task by one step regardless of your own skill at that task.

Keen Mind Enabler

You gain +1 to your Intellect Edge.

Tier 4

Objection (3 Intellect points) Action

Your vociferous, booming objection to a target's intended action prevents it from taking any action (including attacking or defending itself from an attack) for one round. Each additional time you attempt this ability against the same target, you must apply one additional level of Effort than you applied on the previous attempt.

Tier 5

No One Knows Better Enabler

You are trained in two of the following skills: persuasion, deception, intimidation, research, knowledge in one area, or seeing through deception. If you choose a skill in which you're already trained, you become specialized in that skill instead.

Tier 6

Master Barrister Enabler

You add 5 points to your Intellect Pool.

Legal Intern Enabler

You gain a level 4 follower who is mostly interested in helping with your law-related tasks, but who might also help you in other areas.