Your character grows through Life Lessons. These are in-universe hardships you've learned from. You might have defeated a powerful enemy in fatal combat, made it through a treacherous mission alive, or reached that city you've been traveling towards for ages.
Every time you receive a Life Lesson, you write down briefly what happened and what your character has learned. Then, you receive the following:
Get all of:
Add 1 to your Base Focus.
See your learned Powers for potential extra options.
Pick one:
Add 1 Power Die.
Add 1 Competence Dice.
Add 1 to your Endurance Limit.
Add 1 to your Base Focus.
See your learned Powers for potential extra options.
A Breakthrough denotes a period of reflection, as your character looks back on their Life Lessons and realize what they've learned. You get a Breakthrough every 3rd Life Lesson. You will receive the following in addition to your Life Lesson:
Get all of:
Pick one:
Learn 1 additional Power.
Choose 1 additional Skill to be competent in.
See your learned Powers for potential extra options.
Generally speaking, your Conductor decides when you or your party receives a Life Lesson, but feel free to ask for one if you think an experience or plot beat was significantly formative for your character. Do respect your Conductor's decision if they decline, however.
Your Conductor might award Life Lessons individually because of characters' personal achievements or story advancement, or collectively as a party to keep everyone similarly influential in the story you share together.