Dragon |
The Rebellious Beast
Alternate
Names: The Dread Beast, the Rebel, the
Dragon,
the Fury,
the Witch
of War, the
Avenging Angel,
the God of War,
the Hero of the People
The Rebellious Beast exemplifies the sin of wrath. He rages at
broken social order and seeks vengeance against those who wronged
him. Others often look to him as a hero, but he destroys not out of
enlightened ideal, or with the intent to replace what he breaks with
something better, but out of selfish desire to lash out and express
his primal power and rage.
Prerequisites
As with all paths, following the Path of the Rebellious Beast requires an
additional -5% pact modifier “Disciplines of Faith (Ritualism)”,
representing how the character must spend every moment of his life
carefully engaging in the symbolism of the Rebellious Beast.
Furthermore, the Rebellious Beast must have a minimum of -10 points
worth of the following disadvantages: Bad Temper, Berserk, Bloodlust
or Intolerance for a specific faction
Symbols
- Color: Red
- Regalia: A cape, a face-mask or a helmet that dehumanizes the wearer, tattoos or piercings.
- Tools:
a
force sword; a
flag for a fallen cause; a
signature battle-cry or battle-song.
- Locations: In the ghettos of societies dispossessed and wronged; on the slaughter-fields of an unsanctioned war; expanses of untamed wilderness filled with dangerous animals (jungles, wild forests, dangerous swamps), in a lone star fighter.
- Opposing Path: Righteous Crusader (Ego Communion): The knight of order always slays the beast of chaos.
Milestones
- While the Rebellious Beast is surrounded with oppression, he is unmoved by it until the forces of oppression irrecoverably takes something or someone precious from him, and makes him a victim, like those around him.
- While under the control of/enslaved by an oppressive force, the Rebellious Beast defies an order. When the Forces of Oppression attempt to punish or subdue him, he lashes out and destroys them, and in so doing, frees himself and others. Those freed and/or the remaining oppressed sing songs of hope to him.
- In the pursuit of vengeance and freedom from oppression, the Rebellious Beast unintentionally (usually via collateral damage) destroys a close ally or friend, one symbolic of justice or the rightful order. The Rebellious Beast hardens his resolve.
- The Rebellious Beast is betrayed by a close friend and ally, and because of that betrayal, finds himself in the hands of his greatest enemies.
- The Rebellious Beast confronts the one who wronged him personally, and violently destroys him. This does nothing to restore proper order and makes things (temporarily) worse for the oppressed.
Associated Talents
Tough Guy:
[5/level] (Lesser Primordial
Expertise). Found in GURPS Power-Ups 3: Talents, on page 16
(and GURPS Mysteries).
Natural
Athlete: [10/level]
(Greater
Primordial Expertise). Found in GURPS Power-Ups 3: Talents, on page
13.
Associated Powers
Mayhem
Reaction Required: NeutralLearned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 6, Legendary Reputation (The Rebellious Beast) 1
Learned Prayer Cost: 5 points
Things can always get worse around the Rebellious Beast, and he always seems to profit from it. After making this prayer, something terribly destructive always shortly happens, usually an expansion of the damage the Rebellious Beast has already caused. The rule of thumb for this miracle is that it can only make things worse, except for the Rebellious Beast, who freely profits from it.
Statistics:
Serendipity (Wishing +100%,
Divine, Path -25%, Aspect “Only wishes that directly result in
greater mayhem or collateral damage” -20%)
[24]
Untameable Id
Reaction Required: Good
Learned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 7, Legendary Reputation (The Rebellious Beast) 2
Learned Prayer Cost: 7 points
The Rebellious Beast cannot be controlled, tamed or manipulated. He is a force of nature when he begins, and only physical force or careful reasoning (if he agrees to listen to it) can stop him. For details on how this works, see Self-Mastery from Powers: the Weird, page 34. As a general or specific miracle, it lasts for one hour, or until it has protected the Rebellious Beast once, whichever takes longer.
Statistics: Immunity to External Influences (Divine, path -25%) [34].
Untameable Id
Learned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 7, Legendary Reputation (The Rebellious Beast) 2
Learned Prayer Cost: 7 points
The Rebellious Beast cannot be controlled, tamed or manipulated. He is a force of nature when he begins, and only physical force or careful reasoning (if he agrees to listen to it) can stop him. For details on how this works, see Self-Mastery from Powers: the Weird, page 34. As a general or specific miracle, it lasts for one hour, or until it has protected the Rebellious Beast once, whichever takes longer.
Statistics: Immunity to External Influences (Divine, path -25%) [34].
Dark
Glory
Reaction Required: GoodLearned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 8, Legendary Reputation (The Rebellious Beast) 2
Learned Prayer Cost: 8 points
As Dark Glory (Pyramid #3-36, page 11) but with the additional Path modifier and a -2 to fright checks..
Statistics: Terror 2 (Divine, Path -25%) [38]
Power of the Id
Reaction Required: GoodLearned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 8, Legendary Reputation (The Rebellious Beast) 2
Learned Prayer Cost: 9 points
As Power of the Abyss (Enhanced) (Pyramid #3-36, page 11) but with the additional Path modifier and without DR 1. This reflects the Rebellious Beasts enormous physical potential.
Statistics: Blessed 6 (Heroic Feats; Divine, Path -25%) [45]
Avatar Templates
Lesser
Avatar of the Rebellious Beast
Additional Point Cost: 0
pointsThe psion retains his own personality, but gains channels the skills associated with the Rebellious Beast. He becomes profoundly primal and physical, gains a deep understanding of the street, becomes very resistant to external influences, and gains some of the raw, primal charisma of the beast within..
Statistics: In addition to the standard Lesser Avatar Template abilities, add the following traits: Appearance (Beautiful, Glamour, Will-2 -20%, Impressive +0%) [10], +3 Tough Guy (Divine -0%) [15] and Optional Rule: Talent may exceed +4 [1], +3 Natural Athlete (Divine -0%) [30] and Optional Rule: Talent may exceed +4 [1], Resistant to External Control +8 (Divine -0%) [23].
Greater
Avatar of the Rebellious Beast
Additional Point Cost: 54
points
The psion becomes the incarnation of
the Rebellious Beast. In addition to the typical, overwhelming power
of any Communal Avatar, his aura and features blur into a terrifying,
monstrously-beautiful visage, he gains even greater physical prowess
(+1d ST and +1d DX for the duration of the avatar-state), but he
becomes a berserk rager, losing himself in the heat of the Wrath of
the Rebellious Beast.
Statistics: In addition to the standard Greater Avatar Template abilities, add the following traits: Appearance (Transcendent; Divine -0%, Universal +25%, Impressive, Glamour Will-5 -5%) [24], Blessed 2 (Heroic Feats, extended duration, 1 hour, +100%) [40], Terror (Divine -0%) [30], Berserk (9 or less) [-15].
Succubus |
The Beautiful Fool
Alternate
Names: The Fortunate Son, the
Dream Girl/Boy, the Lover, the Temptress, the Succubus/Incubus, the
God of Wine, The Goddess of Love, the Ecstatic, the Devourer
The Beautiful Fool exemplifies the sin of lust. She hungers for
physical things, for food, for sex, for fun, for adventure. She
seeks to fill her desires without a care for the consequences that
follow, wandering through life in a drunken haze, trusting in her
luck, in Dark Communion, to get her through life, or perhaps not even
thinking that far ahead at all. She undermines those who try to limit her with her corrosive lack of morals, tempting those around her to join her in her self-indulgence.
A Note On
Gender: I have chosen to use
the female pronoun for the Beautiful Fool for her connection with
succubi, and to parallel the Bound Princess from the Communion Paths.
No Archetype is truly gendered,
least of all the Beautiful Fool. One inspiration for the Beautiful
Fool was the idea of “anima” or “animus,” the idealized image
men have of women, but also the idealized image women have of men.
The Beautiful Fool can definitely be of either gender.
Prerequisites
As with all paths, following the Path of the Beautiful Fool requires an
additional -5% pact modifier “Disciplines of Faith (Ritualism)”,
representing how the character must spend every moment of her life
carefully engaging in the symbolism of the Beautiful Fool.
Furthermore, the Beautiful Fool must have a minimum of -10 points
worth of the following disadvantages: Addiction, Alcoholism,
Compulsive Carousing, Compulsive Gambling, Gluttony, Laziness, Lecherousness or Trickster.
The Gentle Fool may not be androgynous. The Beautiful Fool is typical the epitome of their gender (as seen by the other gender): a male Beautiful Fool is very masculine, as women see masculinity, and a female Beautiful Fool is very feminine, as men see femininity. Naturally, there is a lot of room for interpretation as to what traits really count for this and which violate it. The rule of thumb is that nobody should mistake a Beautiful Fool for the wrong gender, and they may not take the Androgynous modifier to their appearance.
Symbols
- Color: Orange
- Regalia: Immodest (skin-showing) outfits. High fashion.
- Tools:
drugs,
alcohol, or other ecstatic paraphernalia; dice,
cards or other randomizers.
- Locations: parties; the pleasure districts of highly urbanized areas; clubs with loud music; opium dens;
- Opposing Path: Bound Princess (Ego Communion): The Beautiful Fool cannot tempt the perfectly temperate, nor can she defeat someone who willingly sacrifices herself. Finally, the Beautiful Fool must be free, and the symbolism of bondage destroys her.
Milestones
- An ally, or moral authority, warns the Beautiful Fool that her violations of their morals will cost her. She ignores the warning. When she has finished her vice, she is surrounded by the absurd relics of her vice, no memory of the events that led her to his moment, and she has lost something vital and precious. To regain it, she must recreate the memories of the night before.
- In the midst of her vice, the Beautiful Fool lies, making an absurd boast about the state of the world, and her own capabilities. Someone symbolically associated with moral authority rejects her boast, while at least one person symbolically accepts the lie. However, events conspire to make the lie a truth, in some symbolic fashion, creating a crisis that the Moral Authority, humbled, now believes only the Beautiful Fool can deal with. The Beautiful Fool either deals with the problem, or tricks the Moral Authority into believing she has and then flees with the reward. Either way, the Moral Authority is undermined by this.
- In the midst of crisis, rather than face responsibility, the Beautiful Fool instead indulges in her vice. Moral authority uncovers her rejection of authority and condemns her, but when she has returned, circumstances have fundamentally changed: a new crisis has replaced the old crisis, which was solved/changed by events seemingly outside of the Beautiful Fool's control, proving the Beautiful Fool's neglect correct.
- The world, or the moral authority of the world, poses a symbolically impossible challenge (“the riddle”). The Beautiful Fool turns herself into an appropriate contradiction through guile or accident, and overcomes the challenge. The moral authority is forced to submit to her, but she rejects the authority, and requests (and receives) something that the moral authority perceives as having substantially less value (ie "I don't want to be your queen, I just want a piece of pie. Mmmm. Pie."). The Moral authority is undermined by this.
- The Beautiful Fool meets the Distressed Prince, someone symbolically associated with moral authority but does not wish to be. She metaphorically or literally seduces the Distressed Prince with her vice, and thereby severs him from his unwanted tie to moral authority. Because Id cannot forge true social connections, events will conspire to separate the two, but they will retain a symbolic link: She will see him again.
Associated Talents
Allure:
[5/level] (Lesser Primordial
Expertise). Found in GURPS Power-Ups 3: Talents, on page 6
(and GURPS Fantasy).
Skills: Carousing, Connoisseur
(any food, drug, alcohol or club), Current Affairs (Pop-Culture),
Gambling, Games, Savoir-Faire, Streetwise
Reaction Modifier: People
looking for a good time
Alternate Bonus: Bonus to HT rolls to recover from the effects
of a party or a game (drug use, hangover, eating too much, physical
exhaustion, lack of sleep, etc)
Associated Powers
Object
of Desire
Reaction Required: NeutralLearned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 4, Legendary Reputation (The Beautiful Fool) 1
Learned Prayer Cost: 3 points
Drawing on the power of anima or animus, the psion becomes precisely what the other gender finds exceedingly desirable about the Beatiful Fool's gender
Statistics: Appearance (Trascendent, Glamour Will-5%, Divine, Path -25%) [14];
Interesting
Times
Reaction Required: NeutralLearned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 6, Legendary Reputation (The Beautiful Fool) 1
Learned Prayer Cost: 5 points
Things can always get crazier around the Beautiful Fool, and she always seems to thrive on the chaos she generates. After making this prayer, something absurd, hilarious or exciting shortly happens. The rule of thumb for this miracle is that it can only make things more interesting or more fun, and that the Beautiful Fool may profit from it.
Statistics: Serendipity (Wishing +100%, Divine, Path -25%, Aspect “Only wishes that directly result in greater hilarity, excitement or chaos”) [24]
Endless
Appetite
Reaction Required: GoodLearned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 7, Legendary Reputation (The Beautiful Fool) 2
Learned Prayer Cost: 6 points
The Beautiful Fool can consume endless quantities of anything without suffering any negative consequences. This only applies to food or food-like items (drugs, alcohol, etc), and she may enjoy any “entertaining” effects, but she'll never suffer negative consequences from drugs or poison (though she may benefit from "Drunken Fighting" perks, or something similar), and she may eat whatever food she wishes, and as much food as she wishes. She gains no additional nutrition, and one meal still counts as one meal, but she will gain no additional weight and she has no limit on consumption. As a general or specific miracle, this lasts for one feast, party or meal.
Statistics: Immune to Poison (Divine Path -25%, Cosmic, can choose to enjoy benefits without suffering consequences +50%) [19] + (Universal Digestion, Cosmic can eat as much as desired +50%, Divine Path -25%) [7] for [26]
Kiss
of Rapture
Reaction Required: Very
GoodLearned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 10, Legendary Reputation (The Beautiful Fool) 3
Learned Prayer Cost: 12 points
The touch of the Beautiful Fool brings its own ecstasy and addiction. To use this miracle, the Beautiful Fool must make physical, skin-to-skin contact. Her target must resist with Will-5. Failure to do so inflicts Euphoria for a number of minutes equal to his margin of failure. Failure by 5 or more creates a psychological dependency on the Beautiful Fool: treat this as an addiction worth -10 points, based on social or intimate contact with the Beautiful Fool. This addiction is “permanent” in the sense that the character must use normal means for overcoming an additiction to “get over” the Beautiful Fool.
Statistics: Affliction 5 (Euphoria +30%, Divine Path -25%, Melee Attack -30%, Contact Agent -30%, Secondary Permanent Addiction to social/intimate contact with psion, +32%, No Signature +20%, Based on Will +20%) [59]
Avatar Templates
Lesser
Avatar of the Beautiful Fool
Additional Point Cost: 0
pointsThe psion retains his own personality, but gains channels the skills associated with the Beautiful Fool. She becomes exceedingly beautiful and desirable, gains perfect understanding of how to have a good time, and gains boundless appetite and endurance for that which she consumes.
Statistics: In addition to the standard Lesser Avatar Template abilities, add the following traits: Appearance (Transcendent, Glamour, Will-5 -5%) [19], +3 Allure (Divine -0%) [15] and Optional Rule: Talent may exceed +4 [1], +3 Party Animal [15] and Optional Rule: Talent may exceed +4 [1], Immune to Poison (Cosmic, can choose to enjoy benefits without suffering consequences +50%) [23], Universal Digestion (Cosmic can eat as much as desired +50%) [8].
Greater
Avatar of the Beautiful Fool
Additional Point Cost: 48
points
The psion becomes the incarnation of
the Beautiful Fool. In addition to the typical, overwhelming power
of any Communal Avatar, his aura and features crystalize as the
perfect incarnation of man or woman, and those who see her feel the
need to worship at her feet. In this state, her every touch is
dangerously addictive: anytime she has skin-on-skin contact with
another, that person must make a Will-2 roll or suffer Euphoria for a
number of minutes equal to his margin of failure, and failure by 5 or
more gives him a permanent psychological dependency on
social/intimate contact with the Beautiful Fool (Addiction (Social or
Intimate contact with the Beautiful Fool) [-10]).
The Mystic Tyrant
Alternate
Names: The Dark
Sorcerer, the Treacherous
Councilor, the Witch-Queen,
the Emperor, the God-King,
the Mad Scientist, the God of Knowledge, the Devil, the Visionary,
the Futurist.
The Mystic Tyrant exemplifies the sin of hubris. Condemned for his
pursuit of forbidden power and forbidden knowledge, he casts aside
society's constraints and pursues what he knows only he can. His
quest rewards him with ultimate power, which he uses to reshape
society to fit his personal view of what it should be.
Prerequisites
As with all paths, following the Path of the Mystic Tyrant requires
an additional -5% pact modifier “Disciplines of Faith (Ritualism)”,
representing how the character must spend every moment of his life
carefully engaging in the symbolism of the Mystic Tyrant.
Furthermore, the Mystic Tyrant must have a minimum of -10 points
worth of the following disadvantages: Curious, Megalomania, Obsession
(usually something long-term that's either knowledge or power-based,
such as “To rule the Galaxy” or “To learn the secret of
immortality” or “I'll show them, I'LL SHOW THEM ALL!”),
Overconfidence, Selfishness
Symbols
- Color: Gold or yellow.
- Regalia: A badge of office; robes marked with arcane text; a crown
- Tools: A throne; a circle of power; a book full of secrets;
incantations in ancient languages.
- Locations: A citadel that expresses physical power (a dreadnought warship is also acceptable); libraries; laboratories.
- Opposing Path: Exiled Master (Ego Communion): The Mystic Tyrant needs knowledge, but the Exiled Master trades in truth; The Mystic Tyrant needs power, but the Exiled Master has transcended power.
Milestones
- A friend warns the Mystic Tyrant of the danger of the pursuit of forbidden knowledge. During his quest, the friend will fall into the trap of this danger, and the Mystic Tyrant will be forced to choose between the life of his friend and his desire for this knowledge. By choosing the knowledge and sacrificing his friend, he gains great power.
- The Mystic Tyrant's pursuit of forbidden secrets are revealed to the “servants of God,” the moral authorities of his community. He is punished (wounded, humiliated) by them, but they are unable to physically stop his pursuit. He vows to make them pay.
- Using the secret knowledge he has acquired, the Mystic Tyrant is able to metaphorically or literally strip the humanity from someone important and symbolically linked to the status quo of the moral authority of his community (this might be the Mystic Tyrant himself), and then transforms them into something symbolically antagonistic to that order, but also more powerful than they were before. This new creature will eventually become a hated enemy of the Mystic Tyrant (though it may serve him for a time).
- The Mystic Tyrant, triumphant, has found the “throne of God,” the ultimate source of current moral authority. He metaphorically or literally topples this authority and builds his own, new moral authority atop its ruined heap.
- The Mystic Tyrant encounters a beautiful youth who represents the virtue of the community's morals. The Mystic Tyrant chooses this youth as his “consort”, and if he symbolically or literally marries her, she gives him the progeny necessary to cement his legacy. If she successfully rejects marriage, his legacy is doomed.
Associated Talents
Occultist:
[10/level] (Lesser Primordial
Expertise). Found in GURPS Power-Ups 3: Talents, on page 14
(and GURPS Horror). Replace Exorcism with Mental Strength, Ritual Magic with Meditation and Thaumatology with Philosophy. Ignore Alchemy.
Intuitive
Statesmen: [10/level]
(Greater
Primordial Expertise). Found in GURPS Power-Ups 3: Talents, on page
11.
Associated Powers
Blindness of Id
Reaction Required: NeutralLearned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 5, Legendary Reputation (The Mystic Tyrant) 1
Learned Prayer Cost: 4 points
The Mystic Tyrant knows no fear. He is immune to all fright checks, even cosmic fright checks.
Statistics:
Unfazeable (Cosmic +50%, Divine Path -25%) [19]
Curse
Reaction Required: GoodLearned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 7, Legendary Reputation (The Mystic Tyrant) 2
Learned Prayer Cost: 6 points
Upon completion of this prayer, during which he visualizes/describes the failure of the target, the Mystic Tyrant rolls IQ-based Meditation. Success applies a penalty to the target's actions as long as they more-or-less resemble the moment he described.
Statistics: Visualize (Divine, Path -25%, Curse +100%, Reduced Time 1d6 seconds +80% [26]
Dark
Glory
Reaction Required: GoodLearned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 7, Legendary Reputation (The Righteous Crusader) 2
Learned Prayer Cost: 6 points
Upon completion of this prayer, everyone who sees or interacts with the Mystic Tyrant, regardless of their culture or language, will know that the Mystic Tyrant should be their king. He gains +5 to all Reaction rolls, leadership rolls or influence rolls to persuade people to allow him to rule them.
Statistics: Charisma 5 (Divine Path -25%, Aspected, only for Leadership/Political Control -20%, Cosmic, erase penalties for cultural differences, language comprehension or negative modifiers +50%) [27]
Dark
Power of the Id
Reaction Required: Very
GoodLearned Prayer Prerequisite: Dark Communion 11, Legendary Reputation (The Righteous Crusader) 3
Learned Prayer Cost: 8 points
The Power of the Id flows through the Mystic Tyrant, granting him access to any psychic ability! As a general or specific miracle, it grants the Mystic Tyrant any psychic ability the GM sees fit and the skill to use, and it lasts for the duration of one particular task (that can be one roll, or one series of interrelated rolls at the GM's discretion). As a general rule, the point-cost of the new ability should be no higher than about ¼ the point-value of the Mystic Tyrant's Dark Communion (about 20 points at Dark Communion 11, or 50 points at Dark Communion 16, etc). As a learned prayer, once per day, the Mystic Tyrant may substitute a psychic power worth up to ¼ the value of his Dark Communion for his Dark Communion, and may use that power at IQ.
Statistics: Wild Talent (Aspect, Psionic only -20%, Divine, path -15%) [13], as alternative ability, and Unusual Background (May use Dark Communion as basis for Psychic Wildcard Power) [5], as a static trait.
Avatar Templates
Lesser
Avatar of the Mystic Tyrant
Additional Point Cost: 0
pointsThe psion retains his own personality, but gains channels the skills associated with the Mystic Tyrant. He becomes exceedingly wise and charismatic, gaining a deep understanding of ancient things, or the nature of statecraft, and becomes exceedingly persuasive when attempting to gain a position of leadership and dominion.
Statistics: In addition to the standard Lesser Avatar Template abilities, add the following traits: +3 Occultist (Divine -0%) [30] and Optional Rule: Talent may exceed +4 [1], +3 Intuitive Statesmen (Divine -0%) [30] and Optional Rule: Talent may exceed +4 [1], Charisma 3 (Divine Path -25%, Aspected, only for Leadership/Political Control -20%, Cosmic, erase penalties for cultural differences, language comprehension or negative modifiers +50%) [16].
Greater
Avatar of the Mystic Tyrant
Additional Point Cost: 51
points
The psion becomes the incarnation of
the Mystic Tyrant. In addition to the typical, overwhelming power of
any Communal Avatar, his aura and features blur into a terrifying,
monstrously-beautiful visage, and he gains the ability to level a
curse against a target once per turn (this can even work in combat,
but only apply 1/3 the value!), but he gains overwhelming confidence
in his abilities (Overconfidence, for a being of this magnitude of
power...) and loses his ability to connect, emotionally, with others,
becoming cruel in his power.
Statistics: In addition to the standard Greater Avatar Template abilities, add the following traits: Appearance (Transcendent; Divine -0%, Universal +25%, Impressive, Glamour Will-5 -5%), Terror (Divine -0%) [30], Visualize (Curse +100%, Reduced Time Instantaneous +140% [34], Overconfidence (9 or less) [-7], Callous [-5].
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