Mastermind

Required	Spider Discipline 5
Range	Self
Target Area	Self
Duration	Instant
Action	Fast
Cost	1 Story Point
Effect	You may invoke Mastermind to retroactively describe a contingency plan, contact, deception, planted item, or manipulated variable that prevents or reshapes the current crisis. This is handled through a flashback scene, where you narrate how your preparation unfolded: Describe how you prepared for this moment (e.g., bribed a guard, switched an item, laid false information, placed a backup escape rope, etc.) Roll Deception, Sense Motive, or Gather Information + Spider Discipline against a flat difficulty or opposed roll, depending on the target or obstacle. On a success, your plan takes effect immediately, reshaping the outcome (e.g., avoid capture, frame another, gain unexpected help, reverse a lie, etc.) On failure, your plan was almost perfect, you still gain a +2 bonus to your next roll in this scene as part of your fallback effort. This effect should never create impossible or magical outcomes; it must be plausible given your capabilities and influence. Examples: “Before the meeting, I planted a forged letter in the ambassador’s papers, discrediting them in front of the council.” “I knew they’d search the east wing first, so I left the decoy bag there and used my cover identity to slip out the kitchen.” “My contact in the city guard is loyal. He replaced the gate rotation this morning. That’s why the gate opens now.”