Conceal Object

Step

 * Rank + DEX

Action

 * Standard

Strain

 * 1

Skill Use

 * Yes (Journeyman)

Description

 * Illusion. The adept hides one or more objects on his body, using illusion magic to help mask them. He must make a reasonable attempt to conceal the object, but any obvious shortcomings (a hilt sticking out of a pocket, a bump in his coat) are hidden by illusion.
 * This talent is often used to conceal weapons, so its effects are measured by weapon Size (p. 403), but other objects can be hidden just as easily, with the gamemaster assigning an appropriate Size to them. No object to be concealed can be greater in Size than the adept’s one-handed Size limit. He can conceal objects up to a combined Size equal to his Conceal Object rank.
 * The adept makes a Conceal Object test, the result being the Detection Difficulty for attempts made to find the item. Items of Size 1 (Size 2 for trolls and obsidimen, or items equivalent to Size 1 for windlings) are hidden from all kinds of searches; larger items are only hidden from visual inspections.
 * As long as an item is concealed, the adept gains the benefit of Surprise when producing it for a fitting purpose, such as drawing a weapon to attack. Adepts may use this talent to regain Surprise when using the Surprise Strike talent. The target of a concealed weapon attack is entitled to a Perception test to avoid being Surprised (p. 390), with a +2 bonus for each additional attempt made to conceal a weapon for this purpose in the same encounter.
 * Skill Use: The non-magical version of this skill does not enhance the concealment with illusion magic, and therefore is limited to items that can be reasonably concealed without that enhancement. Reduce the size limit of items that can be concealed by one.