Wraiths

[wordman]

A random idea I'm playing with. Not nearly finished, but I'd like feedback on the general idea, suggestions on implementation, etc. The idea is to come up with a way of doing "dark dragon-blooded" that doesn't suck as much as the Avengers. Why do this? One reason is to build a class of Underworld-based opposition that fills a gap between various types of undead monstrosities and the abyssal exalted. This allows abyssals, IMO, to become less like fodder and more like uber-bosses and, therefore, more rare and cooler.


Basic idea: Souls of dead dragon-blooded are prized by the Deathlords because, in life, they knew how to manipulate both essence and elemental forces. Recently, they have uncovered a way to use dragon-blooded souls to animate constructs of necromantic energy and the elemental forces of the underworld. The process to bind the soul into the construct is difficult but, if successful, results in a formidable being known as a wraith. Unlike most forces of the Underworld, wraiths are neither dead nor undead, but neither are they entirely alive. (Mechanically, they work more like constructs, but still use Virtues.) Wraiths come in two different varieties: vimwraiths and bloodwraiths. The two types are similar in power, but not in style.


Vimwraiths are formed by binding the captive soul of the ghost of a terrestrial exalt into the construct. While they can (and usually do) become solid, they favor the insubstantial. They tend to be more focussed on essence flow, overt elemental manipulation, insubstantial undead, interactions with ghosts and spirits, and using their ability to flicker between worlds to their advantage.


Bloodwraiths are formed by sacrificing a living terrestrial exalt, and binding both its blood and soul into the construct. They are more physically powerful and more at home in creation. They can, with difficulty, become insubstantial, but generally remain materialized. They tend to be more focussed on physical power, subtle elemental manipulation, corporeal undead (zombies and the like), interaction with mortals, and warfare.


In building the body of a wraith, the designer is limited to a single underworld element. The soul used to inhabit it must be one of a terrestrial aspect correlated with that underworld element:

• Blood ~ Water (most blood aspected wraiths are bloodwraiths)
  
• Bone ~ Wood
  
• Ghost Flame ~ Fire
  
• Jade ~ Earth
  
• Prayer ~ Air (most prayer aspected wraiths are vimwraiths)

All wraiths have the following abilities:

• Can learn Shadowlands Circle Necromancy, but no sorcery
  
• Use dragon-blooded charms, with the following variations:Charms based on elemental effects are adapted to their new underworld element.
  
• Charms that improve mortals are altered to either improve ghosts and zombies, or to corrupt mortals instead.
  
• Charms that heal either don't work or hurt instead (tbd).
  
• Synergistic charms only work with wraiths of the same element. (This is intended to a) imply a more "selfish" nature, b) deny them full access to a characteristically terrestrial trick.)

[*]Can use up to celestial martial arts, but require special gateway charms (tbd).


[*]A vulnerability to one of the elements of creation (tbd).


[*]Treated as automaton, except for effects that involve Virtues (this turns out not to matter much, but does effect a couple of charms). Also, they are specifically not considered undead (so charms like Invocation of the Storm-Following Silence have no effect on them).


[*]Can be generated as PCs similarly to dragon-blooded (tbd).


[*]Cannot use the Breeding background. Can use Liege and Whispers.


[*]Possibly able to learn Arcanoi (?tbd).


Vimwraiths have the following abilities:

• Aspect anima ability focussed on the "spiritual" side of their element (tbd).
  
• Easy access to materialize and dematerialize (tbd).
  
• Some kind of (fairly weak) spirit based "soul-sucking" ability (tbd).
  
• Essence regen and bonuses/penalties favoring shadowlands and the underworld over Creation (tbd).
  
• Some form of innate ghost command (tbd).
  
• Some kind of benefit from having a spiritually based elemental body (tbd).

Bloodwraiths have the following abilities:

• Aspect anima ability focussed on the "physical" side of their element (tbd).
  
• Costly access to dematerialize (tbd).
  
• Some kind of (fairly strong) phsyically-based "soul-sucking" ability (tbd).
  
• Essence regen and bonuses/penalties favoring Creation over shadowlands and the underworld over (tbd).
  
• Some form of innate zombie command (tbd).
  
• Some kind of benefit from having a physically based elemental body (tbd).

As far as power level goes, I'd expect them to be slightly stronger than terrestrials. Since they can use terrestrial charms and also have additional abilities, that makes them stronger, but lack of Breeding makes their pools smaller. Lack of full synergy and the elemental vulnerability also hurts them slightly. Depends on how their extra abilities actually work, of course.

 

[Jukashi]

Sounds pretty cool! Somehow the vimwraiths remind me of Raziel from the Legacy of Kain series. The idea in general also reminds me of a concept I myself was working on; superpowered Terrestrial ghosts called Revenants that were created when a DB died in the grip of the Great Curse, and which were essentially a blend of ghost and elemental. I never developed that idea much, though, while you've got a lot done already.


One of a few things I wonder about are the "gateway" Charms you mention for Celestial MA. For DBs, their initiation Charms are based around enlightenment and increasing their awareness of the world around them; but you'd assume, as ghosts, that these wraiths are already open to the spiritual world. What do they lack that the theoretical gateway Charms would give them?

 

[Sherwood]

I have been a long time fan of Dragon-Blooded living and working in the Underworld for the Deathlords.

 

[Cthulhu_Wakes]

I'm all for this evil idea.

 

[Quchu]

How are they not undead? I can see it working for Bloodwraiths, but Vimwraiths, by the virtue of being attuned to the Underworld geomancy, should count as undead, I think.

 

[wordman]

How are they not undead? I can see it working for Bloodwraiths' date=' but Vimwraiths, by the virtue of being attuned to the Underworld geomancy, should count as undead, I think.[/quote']
The idea here is more of a mechanical one, even if the justification is flimsy. Wraiths are certainly just as much "creatures of darkness" as abyssals are (with the corresponding vulnerability to holy effects), but I wanted to make sure that, also like abyssals, they were not vulnerable to a few charms that are fairly devastating to undead and ghosts (such  as the one mentioned). These, after all, are supposed to be "dark dragon-blooded", so shouldn't be so easily dispatched. There is probably a better way to do this without calling them "not undead". Suggestions welcome.


Maybe just "for purpose of charm effects, wraiths are treated like abyssal exalted".

 

[Jakk Bey]

"Constructs of Darkness"


"Pawns of the Neverborn"


"Void's bitches..."


"Dupes, pawns, and tools..."

 

[Flagg]

Maybe just "for purpose of charm effects, wraiths are treated like abyssal exalted".

Wasn't there something called Abyssal Aegis in 1E? Perhaps they could have that as an automatic effect.

 

[wordman]

Wasn't there something called Abyssal Aegis in 1E? Perhaps they could have that as an automatic effect.

A Void Circle spell effect would be overkill. I actually do want wraith to be vulnerable to "creatures of darkness" effects, just not "disintegrate every zombie in the room" or "make a ghost your bitch" effects.

 

[cyl]

Well, I like the concept, and the mechanics but hmmm, what about death-aspected dragon blooded ? (B&WT)


Death essence has already tainted some of the chosen of the dragons.


I mean, in this case, those rare DB would have a place here too, and their own "element" which surely would become Void or something like that, and since they mastered necromancy while living, maybe considering they could reach the Labyrinth Circle wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[wordman]

Some more pointed questions for you all:

• What do you think of the names "vimwraith" and "bloodwraith"?
  
• What kind of mechanical effects would the underworld elements have? Say, when used with Dragon-Graced Weapon, as an example.
  
• Likewise, I'd kind of like their anima effects to be pretty intense. I also think that vimwraiths should have stronger anima effects, but essentially be unable to turn them off. What sorts of anima effects would be appropriate, given the basis on the underworld elements?
  
• Similarly, what are the benefits of an elemental body?
  
• What do you think of the "vulnerability to a Creation based element" idea, and how would such a vulnerability manifest mechanically?
  
• I'm leaning pretty heavily against having them be able to learn Arcanoi (unless it turns out that Abyssals can in 2E). Good or bad?
  
• How should the soul suck abilities work?
  
• Which deathlord is the most likely to have figured out how to do this. I'm kind of leaning toward the Dowager, but I'm not sure why.

 

[Flagg]

• What do you think of the names "vimwraith" and "bloodwraith"?

I think they sound cool, but I can't guess the etymology of "vimwraith".

 

[cyl]

   * What do you think of the names "vimwraith" and "bloodwraith"?

Me thinks there is only one wraith type, the vim one, the other has to take another name as it is more material than the other.

  * What kind of mechanical effects would the underworld elements have? Say, when used with Dragon-Graced Weapon, as an example.

Quite the same I guess, blood wets drowns or poisons, bone raises as spikes,  Pyre Flame burns, Jade is very very solid... as for Prayer, that I really don't have any idea...

 * Likewise, I'd kind of like their anima effects to be pretty intense. I also think that vimwraiths should have stronger anima effects, but essentially be unable to turn them off. What sorts of anima effects would be appropriate, given the basis on the underworld elements?

Well as I stated, I think the vim and blood wraiths should be two different entities/concepts, so I guess they would have different concepts for their animas powers, the vims could be more mystical and have "spiritual powers" over others (maybe something like internal, or mind effects), and the bloods would have more directly physical powers.

Similarly, what are the benefits of an elemental body?

Do...not...understand... question...

What do you think of the "vulnerability to a Creation based element" idea, and how would such a vulnerability manifest mechanically?

Pointless, the only weakness they should have is the holy tag. Elements are corrupted in the underworld by the Neverborn taint, so it is they who should have power over the elements of Creation not the other way aroud... I guess.

 * I'm leaning pretty heavily against having them be able to learn Arcanoi (unless it turns out that Abyssals can in 2E). Good or bad?

Well I think the vims should have access to it, as they are more ghosts than the bloods.

  * How should the soul suck abilities work?

The usual I guess, drain motes/health levels/willpower. Though I'd go for Vims sucking motes (from spiritual beings) and willpower from mortals, and Bloods sucking health levels. When one's been dried from his life source, his "soul/essence" is taken by the wraith.

Which deathlord is the most likely to have figured out how to do this. I'm kind of leaning toward the Dowager, but I'm not sure why.

Until recently I would have agreed with you, or choose Mask of Winters, but since I read RoGD, and saw the Soul Thieves (wood spirits corrupted by death essence), I think the most probable candidate would be Walker in the Darkness.

 

[cyl]

• What do you think of the names "vimwraith" and "bloodwraith"?

I think they sound cool, but I can't guess the etymology of "vimwraith".

Vim is derived from vis(latin): power; force; energy; spirit; activity; vigor.

 

[Torak]

Well, I like the concept, and the mechanics but hmmm, what about death-aspected dragon blooded ? (B&WT)

I was looking for that one! Could you give me the page ref?

 

[Torak]

Do the wraiths abandon their names to the void during the "corruption ritual", thus getting titles instead?

 

[cyl]

Well, I like the concept, and the mechanics but hmmm, what about death-aspected dragon blooded ? (B&WT)

I was looking for that one! Could you give me the page ref?

Black Treaty p.17 "dragons of a different color".
I think that wordman took the concept of his aspects from it.


As for the name, I dunno, I kinda like the concept, but it would seem that those transformations into wraiths are forced onto the terrestrials, so I guess the Deathlord who made them would give then new names.

 

[magnificentmomo]

I think the only Abyssals that can learn arcanoi are Moonshadow.

 

[wordman]

Do the wraiths abandon their names to the void during the "corruption ritual", thus getting titles instead?

Dunno. The thing about abyssals is that they aren't really dead, and wraiths are. It's more like the soul is just coerced and stuffed into a construct of an underworld element. There isn't much will involved on the part of the soul.

Black Treatise p.17 "dragons of a different color".
I think that wordman took the concept of his aspects from it.

Forgot all about that actually, except thinking the idea was a bit lame when I first read it. I'll reread it tonight.

 

[cyl]

Well, I thought your inspiration for the death aspect element came from this chapter because the description of the anima banner of the death aspected dragon blooded is the exact match to your aspects prayer-blood-bone-ghost flame-jade.


My bad.


There is nothing really interesting about them, they are just Dragon Blooded who somehow, through strange experiences or weird sexual intercourses, developped a death "taint". They can't use sorcery, but they can use Necromancy instead (regular DB cannot learn necromancy)... and that's it... it's also said that there is 1/1000 Death aspected DB, and that their animas reflect this "taint".


Could be a good basis for your project though , a deathlord experiencing on some of those poor guys could have learned the secret to maintain the "elemental aspect" of the soul, and corrupt it to make it a wraith.

 

[wordman]

Well, I thought your inspiration for the death aspect element came from this chapter because the description of the anima banner of the death aspected dragon blooded is the exact match to your aspects prayer-blood-bone-ghost flame-jade.

Ah. The official relation of those elements goes back a ways, I think to the 1E Abyssals book (something in how the caste associations mapped? I don't remember). I actually used a wiki page for the reference. It doesn't list the exact source, but I assumed it to be correct.

 

[wordman]

Looks like they changed the Underworld elements a bit in the 2E Abyssal book. No more Prayer, Ghost Flame and Jade. Say hello to Ash, Pyre Flame and Void.

 

[Sherwood]

Hello Ash, Pyre Flame, and Void.  Nice to meet you. 8)

 

[wordman]

Although, looking closer, the castes still list associations with the old "corpse-elements". Exalted's crack editors strike again.

 

[cyl]

It bears the mark of the Ebon Writer, trying to escape his prison of Mwhitewolfas.