# Introduction The six stages of Decline are as follows: - Exhaustion - requires all physical rolls to be made at disadvantage. - Distress - requires all mental rolls to be made at disadvantage. - Despair - requires all cathectic rolls to be made at disadvantage. - Debilitation - incurs a lasting disability on the character. - Death Flag - an understanding the character is fated to die in the next major encounter. If activated during a major encounter; this is death. - Imminent Death - unavoidable death, no matter what sort of encounter is laid out. Every time one reaches 0 [[Hitpoints and Willpower|Hitpoints]] or 0 [[Hitpoints and Willpower|Willpower]], you take on another stage of decline. Stages of decline are only removed by [[Hitpoints and Willpower|Recovery]]. Only one stage of decline may be removed at a time. Furthermore, certain events may apply one or multiple points of either Exhaustion, Distress, and Despair. These effect of these points do not stack, although each require one full rest to remove. Your maximum Exhaustion stack is equal to your Constitution, your maximum Distress stack is equal to your Wisdom, and your maximum Despair stack is equal to 3. Once you maximize one, you move on to the next one. E.g., someone with three points of Exhaustion, two points of Distress, and one point of Despair will be cured of their Despair after the first recovery, but require a second and third recovery before being cured of Distress, and then a fourth, fifth, and sixth recovery to recover from exhaustion. Debilitation and Death may be avoided for a character if the acting player agrees to retire the character from the adventure at the earliest narrative convenience. Discuss with your fellow players and your [[Main Glossary|Narrator]]. # Death ## Call of the Valkyrie Call of the Valkyrie is a combat mechanic. After the death of a Player Character, all remaining Player Characters are filled with righteous despair and anger at the death of a loss of their companion. All living PCs are filled to maximum health, shake off all [[Afflictions]], and take one free round of combat. Unconscious Player Characters are roused to open their eyes, and can see any comrades still standing and the death of their friend. Supernatural strength fills their being and allows them to rise.