Monday, July 16, 2012

Lychanid

Corpses tainted by the reserves of arcane energy might rise again as undead abominations known as Lychanids. Lychanid's were almost unanimously fallen adventurers, and are only encountered in the most depraved and isolated depths. Some dungeons are so damned, so infested by malevolent will, that a demon might attempt to claim not simply a mortal's soul, but his body too.


Magic-users can offer their bodies to a demonic patron in exchange for avoiding the afterlife. Only the most desperate souls would be willing to ask such a price, because it incurs an eternity as an incorporeal ghost. The magic user must beg for mercy in his final breath at which point his soul is ejected from his body. The soul must be bound to whatever place, person, object, or entity means most to the dying character in their moment of death -- the body being the only exception. 

The dying and soulless body is then immediately rejuvenated by dark magics and occupied by the demonic patron. A rapid process of evolution occurs at which point the magic-user's sold body transforms to fit the visage of the patron. To clarify, the soul of the magic-user is a ghost, so when I refer to "Lychanid" I am referring to the magic-user's sold body now occupied by the demon. 

The ejected magic-user can still cast spells as in life, but cannot level, nor can he easily control or communicate with whatever he is bound to. To adult mortals the magic-user ghost is entirely invisible and silent. Only in the most exceptional circumstances (burning stats as in DCC) can the magic-user exert enough will to communicate (either telepathically or in a wraith like wail). This is the only physical action a ghost magic user may take. 

The ghost magic user never gains back spent attributes. Once a stat is brought to zero the ghost dissipates to whatever incalculable fate awaits. Only through an external excommunication cast on his captive body can a magic-user hope to re-enter his body. Worse yet -- if the demon possessed body is slain, the magic-user's ghost is bound bodiless for eternity. 

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