When you take up a defensive stance or jump in to protect others, roll +CON: on a 10+, hold 3 Readiness (or 4 if you bear a shield); on a 7-9, hold 1 Readiness (or 2 with a shield). You can spend Readiness 1-for-1 to:
- Suffer an attack’s damage/effects instead of your ward
- Halve an attack’s effect or damage
- Draw all attention from your ward to yourself
- Strike back at an attacker (deal your damage, with Disadvantage)
When you go on the offense, cease to focus on defense, or the threat passes, lose any Readiness that you hold.
(For more information, see Player Moves.)