Heartless
Oct 31, 2023 13:15:37 GMT -6
Post by Lestat on Oct 31, 2023 13:15:37 GMT -6
Heartless
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Cast down by the Exalted God of Blood and Skulls, Khorne, the Heartless wander the Great Wheel sharing their misery with those who cross their path. Before the fall, they were Chosen. Before that is a hazy memory, stained by years of murder. They kill, sacrifice, and pile skulls before their Lord. Most seek power, or the longevity to steal one more day of life. Some seek approval, or belonging. The enlightened seek nothing. The Heartless, seek more than any other. Reach further than any other. Fall further than any other.
While each acolyte of the Blood God is alike, every Heartless is reviled in their own distinct way. Some ignored the warnings of Khorne and bowed to the winds of magic. Others heralded the banners of false gods. The worst fell to cowardice, abandoning the field of battle. No matter their sin, the punishment is the same. Their life is forfeit, impaled upon gargantuan nails jutting from the earth within the Blood God’s domain. By cruelty or mercy: death has no meaning in this place. Should one escape from perdition they are forever Heartless, marauders of blood stripped of purpose, thirsting for souls.
Tell: Heartless bleed profusely from their chest the more and more they spend Blood, drenching cloth, staining metal, and trickling through gaps in armor.
Powers:
Hemostasis: A Heartless loses one Blood every round of Blood Loss in place of rolling a die to resist death, and Healing Surges end Blood Loss.
Heart Taker: A Heartless must consume still-beating hearts won in combat in order to extend their wretched life. After any successful Brawl or Weaponry test, if the foe subsequently has lost all their hit points the Heartless may rip out their heart and consume it in front of them, restoring 5 Blood. In the event a power allows the Heartless to substitute their Brawl or Weaponry, they consider the original skill.
Hollow: Attacks that would strike a Heartless’ gizzards miss entirely, and social attacks appealing to kindness, morality, and mercy always fail.
Heartless: A wide hole in the center of the chest brands all Heartless. They may never benefit from a Bionic Heart, and they passively lose 1 Blood every day. Once all Blood has been drained the Heartless falls into a coma over 24 hours which can only be broken by offering them a mortal’s heart, which provides no Blood, but rouses them temporarily for the next 24 hours while they hunt.
Power Stat: Bloodshed
Heartless derive their power directly from the consumed hearts of those they slay. Only hearts won in combat confer extended life, and boons of Bloodshed. Power over blood allows a Heartless to cause the smallest wound to become fatal while surviving grievous injuries themselves. Unlike Kindred, Vampires of Khaine, Heartless hold no greater power to tap into, and as a result find themselves easily repelled by undeath and automated combatants. In this manner their taste in combat follows that of Khorne himself.
Resource Stat: Blood. A Heartless can hold an amount of Blood equal to five times their Bloodshed.
Bloodshed | Power Gained |
★ | Bloodied - The Heartless can sense the pulse of all below half their max hit points in a scene. The Heartless may inflict Blood Loss when wounding such a foe, or bringing a foe below half HP. |
★★ | Bloodletting - Blood Loss inflicted by the Heartless causes a wound on results other than 1, and actions resulting in movement also trigger the die roll. |
★★★ | Blood Surge - The Heartless may gain or repeat a Half Action when consuming a beating heart. |
★★★★ | Blood Throne - When the Heartless passes a test to resist an effect they may force a target with Blood Loss within 10m to also test against that effect. If they fail they are affected instead. |
★★★★★ | Bloodthirster - Whenever the Heartless gains or loses Blood their next damage roll within one round gains +1k0 for each Blood lost and gained. |
Heartless Blood Assets
Blood Flame
When you inflict Blood Loss you also set the target on fire.
Blood Hunter
You may spend one Blood to Shift towards a foe suffering Blood Loss. If they have no hit points you may then rip out and consume their heart.
Blood Knight
When you would only make one melee attack against a target suffering Blood Loss you may spend one Blood to make an additional attack.
Blood Lightning
When a target rolls to survive your Blood Loss they also test against Shocking.
Blood Mage
When you would only affect a single target with a single spell, or spell in a combo you may spend one Blood to have it also target a second target suffering Blood Loss.