RPGADay 2026: Day 7
Prompt of The Day: Mercy
Errand Of Mercy
Not many characters in tabletop roleplaying games are designed to be merciful. Tabletop games tend to be designed around massive combat.
Mercy is practically anathema to many players, who are used to being experts in killing and slaughter. Characters spend their Experience Points, or Experience Rolls in the case of Mythras, honing their weapons aptitudes / Combat Styles; and social skills like Diplomat, Liaison, Persuade, Influence, Insight, and practical skills such as First Aid, Medicine, Healing and so on tend to get neglected.
Which is a pity, because even the most violent games can be enlivened with scenarios where the normally-violent characters are tasked with saving lives instead.
Indeed, there are three entire creeds of Hunter: The Reckoning which are called “The Mercy Creeds” for their primary Virtue of Mercy, which guides and informs their outlook on the Hunt - Innocents, who see the Hidden (supernatural beings) as human enough to be reminded of what they were, Martyrs who step into the breach to stop those Hidden who are too far gone to care about who they sued to be, and Redeemers who try to help alleviate suffering among those who are afflicted, whether they be human or not.
Daily Character: Judith Lachey
Setting: Hunter: The Reckoning
Notes: I imbued Judith as a Redeemer, and gave her the highest Mercy score of everybody in the group: the highest score she could have and stay sane. This allowed her to learn her signature edge of Respire, which heals at a touch. I also gave her the Defender Rejuvenate edge to help her and others recover from physical injuries, and let her develop an active Hunter sign which healed remotely, drawing a point of Conviction from her whenever it was invoked, in the manner of the Martyrdom gift Take Of Me And Live.
Daily Prompt List
1 Discipline
2 Stature
3 Poise
4 Charm
5 Burden
6 Reach
7 Mercy
8 Resolve
9 Privilege
10 Secret
11 Tact
12 Loss
13 Strain
14 Regard
15 Endurance
16 Composure
17 Intensity
18 Directness
19 Desire
20 Promise
21 Charity
22 Grit
23 Fortune
24 Distance
25 Familiarity
26 Regret
27 Hunger
28 Devotion
29 Labour
30 Pride
31 Edge