#Lore24 Spirits and Rights of Ownership #Creature24 Dark Vessels

 The body and mind are never full.  Together they form a vessel that contains the energy that you call a soul.  For some that vessel is narrow and shaped in proportion to soul it is intended to contain.  For others that vessel can be too small, too constraining, and for a very few that vessel is vast and nearly immeasurable. It is for these that We fear. For these beings that can carry not only their own self but that of another and often a terrible other.  One who makes bargains, or worse, one that won't.

--Zacharian Ryder, Exorcist Priestess of the Lady of Ravens (We,us)

Goya "The Exorcism"

 

Ghosts, spirits and demons are all capable of co-opting the will and physical form of mortal creatures.  Existing inside the creature in order to control its actions, the possessing spirit attempts to bend its host to its will.  The host, or vessel, at best strikes a bargain with the spirit. Such bargains gain allow the vessel the chance to wield the possessing spirits abilities and powers, but always at a cost to the vessel. 

The Bargain between spirit and vessel is always in one of four positions:

1.  Dormant, the spirit is hidden and the vessel is unaware of its presence.

2. Haunted, the spirit is aware and manipulating the vessel, the spirit takes control while the vessel is unconscious. The vessel is missing time and memories of certain events.

3. Bargained, the spirit and the vessel have reached a mutual agreement, the vessel can use one of spirits ability scores as its own and one of its powers a number of times equal to the spirits.

4. Subsumed, the spirit is in complete control, able to use all of its abilities in place of the vessel.  The mind of the vessel is lost within and can only emerge with the aid of others and a test of wills.

Armor stage 1 and 2 as per vessel, stage 3 as bargained, and 4 as per spirit.

HD. Stage 1 and 2 +2hd.  Stage 3 as bargained. Stage 4 as spirit

Int Stage 1 and 2 as normal, Stage 3 as bargained, Stage 4 as spirit.

Move Stage 1 and 2 as normal, Stage 3 as bargained, Stage 4 as spirit.

ToHit Stage 1 normal, Stage 2 +2, Stage 3 as per bargain, Stage 4 as spirit.

Atx Stage 1 normal, Stage 2 +2, Stage 3 as per bargain, Stage 4 as spirit.

Random Bargain Costs

1. Eating habits, the creature demands a certain food source, ie. demons demand raw flesh.

2. Rot, the creatures presence slowly rots the body of the vessel, only when it gets its way doe the vessel heal.

3. Siphon, the vessel slowly drains life from the world around it to feed the spirits power. plants wither over time. people gain little or no rest from sleep near the vessel.

4. Acts of Suffering, the creature demands that the vessel commit acts that further its cause.