Post by Amanojyaku on Aug 9, 2018 10:26:04 GMT -6
There is a taint in your flesh, alien and unclean. Perhaps you were born with this warped physiology, your bloodline infected with an alien presence long ago. Perhaps you encountered an alien being that took up residence in your innards, providing power for a meal ticket and a place to stay. Perhaps you're the product of mad science gone horribly wrong - or horribly right. No matter the circumstances, you are now forever set apart from your mortal brethren... but you are not alone. There is a presence within you, slippery and just within your perception. And yet, as time goes on, you become closer than siblings or lovers. And sometimes you cannot help but feel you are losing yourself to this... thing... inside of you. Or maybe you grow together into something new and singular.
Those who have become a Symbiote may see it as a blessing, a curse, or a mixed bag, depending on their resulting self-image and relationship with their tenant. More important is how they are seen by the world around them. Many an unfortunate soul has attempted to confide in their loved ones about their true nature, often met with fear and disgust, sometimes morbid fascination, and sometimes with scalpels and cold exam tables. The life of a Symbiote can be a lonely one, and soon enough they turn to the creature within them for companionship and acceptance. And the deeper the bond grows, the further they slip away.
Nonetheless, though you hear whispers from something Other, your mind is your own. You are Changed, and the question remains... what are you going to do now?
Tell: As a Symbiote spends Synch, their flesh becomes more warped. The taint becomes apparent in shape, coloration, scent, and presence. Eyes may appear sightless or alien. Their voice may gain a flanging quality. As more Synch is spent, the Symbiote's posture and mannerisms become more alien. Jaws and teeth may become an all-devouring maw. Skin may toughen into a leathery hide.
Powers
Dual Minds: You have your skills, the tenant has its own, as well as its own brain power, which can meld with yours. By spending 1 Synch, gain +1k1 to any test using mental characteristics.
Living Weapon: By spending 1 Synch as a half action, the Symbiote manifests their tenant as a living weapon. This lasts for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution + Integration + Level. The character now has natural weapons (2k1 R or I; Melee; Brawling); choose the damage type each time you use this ability, and change it as though Readying a weapon. The tenant also increases the character's AP by their Integration on all locations. If you are already wearing armor, it breaks off as the Tenant twists and flows over your skin and you take damage equal to that armor's AP. The armor cannot be used again until it is repaired.
Unsettling: As the host and tenant join together, they become more and more alien and frightening to other people in general. Take -2k1 on social tests except for Intimidation. Gain +2k1 on Intimidation tests.
Strange Anatomy: As the symbiotic bond between Host and Tenant grows, the Symbiote's physiology becomes warped and more resilient. Increase your hit points by 2 + Integration. However, due to the blasphemous deviation from your species' baseline anatomy, all Medicae tests to help you take a -2k2 penalty. If you would die from critical damage that isn't E, X, or magical in nature, you instead enter a comatose state as your Symbiote focuses all of its efforts to mend your broken body. This comatose state lasts for 8 hours, during which you are vulnerable to being fairly easily killed. Upon awakening, you are ravenously hungry.
Power Stat: Integration: Integration represents how closely the Host and Tenant have fused with one another. Higher Integration leads to a stranger appearance and a warped sense of "self."
Resource Stat: Synch: A Symbiote regains Synch equal to their Integration at the end of each sleep cycle. You may also consume a fallen creature as a Half Action to gain Synch equal to half its Size. This can be performed as part of a killing melee attack by spending 1 Synch. A Symbiote may have Synch equal to their Willpower + Composure + Integration.
*Regeneration: A Symbiote may spend Synch to recover Hit Points in combat as a free action, except for wounds caused by E, X, or magical sources.
**Delicious Brains: If the Head of the consumed creature has not taken critical damage, for the remainder of the scene you can spend 1 Synch to use the consumed creature's skill ranks or specializations in place of your own for a single skill test.
***Malleable: By inflicting one wound to yourself as a free action, you may increase one of your physical characteristics by 2 until the end of the scene or you use this ability again. This cannot cause critical damage or be healed by Regeneration.
****Spawn: Once per scene as a full action, you may spawn a group of minions by inflicting wounds to yourself equal to the number of minions to be summoned. These Minions have a Threat Rating equal to one-half your Integration (rounded up) and a Damage Rating of 1. These minions may pass through nooks and crannies inaccessible to you and obey your commands as a free action. The wounds taken for this ability cannot cause critical damage or be healed by Regeneration, but the HP may be recovered as a full action by reassimilating any surviving minions created by this ability.
*****Abomination: Once per day, you and your tenant can become One. This behaves as Living Weapon. Your natural weapons gain +1k1 damage. Gain Stuff of Nightmares and Fear (3). You now have additional limbs and may take an additional half action per round. Gain +3 Size, Strength, and Constitution. This lasts for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution + Integration + Willpower.
Symbiote Vector Assets
Blood Vector
Blood represents the heat of passion and the wonder of emotion. Tenants with this vector show a stronger rapport with their hosts and with other humanoids. You do not gain the normal benefits or penalties of Unsettling. Instead, for every two rolled dice you add to a social test by spending Synch, gain an additional kept die as your Tenant adjusts your features and pheromones in just the right way to be enticing.
Breath Vector
Breath is an unceasing tide, drawing in from the world and flowing out to meet it... it calls the storm and sets it free. The tenant borne upon its host's breaths has a strange affinity for magic. When you use Living Weapon, you gain Aura equal to your Integration. In addition, you can spend 1 Synch to have your natural weapons gain the Orgone Array special quality and treat them as magic for the remainder of the scene.
Flesh Vector
Flesh represents lust, hunger and thirst, madness and rage... it's the core of identity and the vector of change. The tenant housed within his host's flesh sings in ecstasy as you rip and tear and gouge at your foes. When you use Living Weapon, your natural weapons gain Penetration equal to your Integration, and you can spend 1 Synch to give your natural weapons the Razor Sharp and Balanced (R only); Two Hands mod, Volatile and Unbalanced (I only); or Reach and Flexible special qualities for the remainder of the scene.
Marrow Vector
Marrow represents secrets buried deep within the flesh, the power of dark and hidden places. The tenant secreted deep within his host's bones wants little more than to be left in peace, and offers his help by protecting his host. Gain +1 Resilience, and double the Armor gained while manifesting your Living Weapon.
Soil Vector
Soil resonates with the seminal urge, the lure of life and the power of decay, the hungry whispers that wait on the threshold between life and death. Your tenant pays attention to these whispers, translating their portent for you. Gain one rank of the Divination magical power. You may purchase this power as if it was part of any class you belong to. Get +1k1 on Focus Power tests to cast Divination spells.
