Backlash
Also called: Bleed Backlash, The Bite
Definition: The penalty for rolling 1s on Bleed Dice (or Cursed Dice from Desperation). One 1 is The Flicker; two 1s is The Tear; three 1s is The Breach. Each escalates from Strain to Erosion to immediate Memory burn.
Backlash is the immediate consequence of pushing past your limits. When you add Bleed Dice to a roll (or trigger Cursed Dice through Desperation), each 1 that appears on those special dice contributes to the Backlash count. Only Bleed and Cursed Dice can cause Backlash: 1s on your regular pool are simply low rolls.
| Bleed 1s | Effect | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| One 1 | The Flicker: Take 1 Strain. The GM gains +1 die to the Tension Pool. Reality shudders: lights flicker, temperatures shift. | Minor |
| Two 1s | The Tear: Take 1 Erosion. The Current has reached deeper than you intended. | Moderate |
| Three 1s | The Breach: Burn 1 Memory immediately. The Talent succeeds with maximum effect (treat Margin as 12+ regardless), but you’ll never remember why. | Severe |
The probability is real but manageable: with 3 Bleed Dice, the chance of at least one 1 is ~33%, two 1s is ~4.4%, and three 1s is under 0.2%.
Fumble Backlash is a separate but related effect: when a Channeling roll Fumbles (Margin −6 or worse), the GM describes a discipline-flavored catastrophe (Psy-Slinger bullet curves wild, Mindweaver illusion turns real, etc.) in addition to the standard Fumble effects.
Every Backlash also adds to the Tension Pool: The Current notices the tear you’ve made and presses against the wound.