Whispers and other exalts

[cyl]

Hi,


I'm creating another game, and a player asked me if he could play a solar with the Background Whispers...


I looked at the description of Whispers to see if this was even possible (remembering the Green Lady had been poisoned by it too)... and yes it is.


At the only condition that the exalt has been exposed to the Labyrinth long enough for the Neverborn to breach his mind and start filling his head with their whispers.


According to his background it could be good, but... I wonder what good could it do him in the long run... I mean for deathknights it is an edge, but for others... it's more like a curse.


Would you allow it ?


What would be the maximum rating you would allow it at chargen ?

 

[Persell]

That is hard to judge without knowing the rest of your game premise. A background like this can easily change the focus of a game. If you already planned on a lot of neverborn action then it will be great. If your game is about the realm and the fair folk then it is an unnecessary dilution of the theme.

 

[cyl]

Nope I was thinking about making something up with a Deathlord and the Haltanis (I like the contrast nature/death and the possibilities).


I was going for something close to Mononoke Hime, death essence corrupting forests first, then go for soul thieves (RoGD) and some other stuff, I haven't planned all the first season yet...


So it could be very cool... but could endanger the position of the player at times.

 

[Cthulhu_Wakes]

Let that extra risk be there then. He knows (or perhaps doesn't) what he's in for. Let him have it.

 

[Arthur]

I think it'd be pretty cool, if he really wants it. I just suggest you make sure he is completely aware of the implications of the backgrouns, including the negative ones.


I'd allow only 2-3 at chargen.

 

[Persell]

I think it'd be pretty cool, if he really wants it. I just suggest you make sure he is completely aware of the implications of the backgrouns, including the negative ones.
I'd allow only 2-3 at chargen.

I second that.


With that as a premise of your game you can't do much wrong with whispers.

 

[nero1]

In our campaign one of the PCs, the King of the North, destined as it could be implied by his name to be ruling a whole region of Creation, has the Whispers background, since his sister turned Abyssal after a complicated story arc involving the destruction of a Deathlord (Mansemat)


So i would say it makes a very good story hook and role playing fun. go for a grab!

 

[cyl]

I think I'm gonna allow it.


But I sense that he will quickly take the hungry ghost style, which, when you have the form charm, allows you to raise Whispers without the necessity of spending time in the labyrinth.

 

[Chaka]

If he wants high whispers that badly, let him take it. He's handing you the spiky raping stick with a nice ribbon. His call.

 

[cyl]

I think I'm going to do as usual... let him do what he wants, and then let the consequences play out.


It's an interesting story arc, can lead to a black exaltation (or several ^^) and other cool stuff.


Here's another question:


What would be your guess for curing the Whispers ? (let's say the group by roleplaying convince him to get rid of it)


I'm thinking a blessing from a Zenith Priest, with significant prayers and offering to the sun (as a first step in the search of Deathknight redemption, it could be cool)... but I'm not sure the exalts had/have the power to remove Primordial influence that easily.

 

[Persell]

When you hear dead primodials in your head, turn to the power of the third circle.


Demon or Magic. You decide.

 

[cyl]

Well, considering one of the option for redemption takes a Zenith priest and a twilight sorcerer, it would seem reasonable.


Another question:


Considering, Whispers aren't natural for the other exalts... would there be any kind of drawbacks, mainly mental ones ?


I remember the flaw nightmares, and I'm thinking something like "every time the Whispers are used (by a non abyssal character), the character's mind is poisoned for the rest of the day, preventing him from channeling virtue or/and regaining willpower (with the conviction roll the next morning) for the rest of the day"


How does that sound ?

 

[Arthur]

I'm more fond of making people insane. You could rule that everytime he uses Whispers, he must roll Integrity+Essence with a difficulty of, say, 3. Every 5 fails result in one point of mental mutations that the ST may accumulate to use. Those are pretty permanent, but he cannot have more points of mutations than points of Whispers, maybe.

 

[cyl]

Well, I was thinking about making him go insane and the effect will be that he's cut off from what makes him an "lightside" guy, virtues and willpower.

 

[Persell]

You could simply make him pay a limit point every time he uses the whispers.

 

[cyl]

Yeah... :lol:

 

[Cthulhu_Wakes]

That and the glossalia flaw. He starts speaking in tongues or murmurs in the words of the dead primordials in his sleep. Or during vital events where it would be...not so great to do.

 

[Persell]

But don't forget that he spent background points to get it. If you offset it by such hefty negative reactions you will have to give him MASSIVE benefits when he uses the whispers. Otherwise you are sending your players the signal that "whenever you do something interesting I am going to needlessly screw you" and you probably don't want to do that.

 

[Cthulhu_Wakes]

Eh, my character's usually enjoy the negative bits too. Depends if you make it interesting as well. A Night I ran for had a shit ton of negative drawbacks and its probably now one of his favorite characters.

 

[Persell]

Eh' date=' my character's usually enjoy the negative bits too. Depends if you make it interesting as well. A Night I ran for had a shit ton of negative drawbacks and its probably now one of his favorite characters.[/quote']
Just saying. There are players around who want benefits when they spend points. It is nothing inherently wrong with either way to play I just wanted to point out what might happen. After all when you combine everything in this thread or even only the last couple of posts you will have a background which was bought with good points (that could easily buy you an artifact) that will fuck you harder than the great curse + a couple of permanent limit ever would. That might not be to everyones' taste.

 

[Cthulhu_Wakes]

Indeed, I work with most people on what they want and don't want. But if they take things like say, oh, Known Anathema and can't be talked out of it, I unleash Hell upon them.

 

[cyl]

No no I agree, I'm currently discussing it with the french community (yeah we have a forum too ), and I know the player has to gain benefits from it.


And he will, reflexive uses of Whispers (triggered by the ST) will come often and add to the background of the game.


Maybe 1 limit point per use of Whispers is a bit harsh... after all, knowledge can be obtained from the dead without being directly corrupt by the dreams of the Neverborn.


However I think that using Hungry Ghost form would on the other hand make you automatically gain a limit break point (turning into a creature of darkness... not cool).