The Art of Transformation
From Summoner
Contents |
My Hands (O)
The Art of Transformation, unlike even the other Trump Arts, is mroe instinctual than practiced. The first step towards mastery of the Art is to allow a certain quicksilver quality to the flesh. Flesh submits to Ego, and the Ego gives the Alter Self form. The first truth of Transformation is that the self is mutable. Matter flows into the Alter Self, while numinous Corpus replaces what is lost. Through this, the Summoner changes. He may sprout claws, perhaps darken his skin to attain a better camoflague, any reasonable advantage from the shape of his Alter Self. Unarmed attacks can made to do lethal damage, or can gain a +1 bonus to rolls, but not both. Any change should not create a bonus larger than the Alter Self's relevant Trait or the Summoner's dots in Transformation, whichever is lower.
Cost: 1 Id
Dice Pool: None
Action: Reflexive
Iron Masque (OO)
Flesh fades to Corpus, Corpus becomes flesh. Human flesh is not so tough a substance, and may be cut by blades, pierced by bullets, burned by flames. A demon's form and substance are often of hardier stuff, raw Ego given form. By becoming a being of Ego over flesh, one denies harm by sheer gravity of being. This power is rather obvious to an attentive observer, as anything from hard plates to an ephemeral wrap around the Summoner's skin...or replace it completely. Even almost-mundane Alter Selves surrender parts of their being, leaving sleeves of vastly different clothing on a Summoner's warddrobe, or a steel breastplate in the case of a knight of the Emperor arcanum. The final description is between the player and the Storyteller to decide, and need not always be the same.
The Summoner gains a point of Armor per success on the roll, but may gain no more Armor than their dots in Transformation. As part of their flesh and moving with them, it confers no penalties, but does not stack with any other sources of Armor.
Cost: 1 Id
Dice Pool: Stamina + Survival + Ego
Action: Instant
Roll Results
Dramatic Failure: The power fails, and the Summoner inflicts a level of bashing damage on themselves.
Failure: The Summoner fails to harden their flesh against attack.
Success: Flesh molds into hardier stuff of Ego, granting a point of all-purpose armor per success.
Exceptional Succcess: As with a normal success, except the armor qualifies with a BP rating equal to the Summoner's Ego.
Becoming the Beast (OOO)
The signature expression of Transformation, Becoming the Beast allows for a Summoner to shape his own flesh into the material form for his Alter Self. By shapeshifting in this manner, it becomes far less of an immediate drain to maintain the Self's presence in the World, as they are simply one being. The transformation can be as seamless as a flash of light, or as gruesome as the reworking and ripping of flesh and bone...there are theories that one's manner of transformation indicates a great deal about a Summoner's nature and mental health.
While so transformed, the Summoner acts entirely as an Alter Self, though he may substitute his Skills for a second Attribute in certain rolls, but must use the appropriate Attribute from his Alter Self. (i.e. Power + Brawl to bite, instead of Power + Finesse. Finesse + Brawl would not be valid.) He may also spend Id as a demon does to enhance rolls, heal, or power Numina, within the normal limits of his Ego.
This transformation lasts a number of rounds equal to the Summoner's unmodified Stamina + Ego. This can be extended by a single turn with a successful Stamina + Ego roll, but inflicts a single level of bashing damage. The number of rounds the Summoner may remain transformed refreshes each scene. The change can also be performed or maintained without a roll, reflexively, at the cost of one point of Id.
Cost: None or 1 Id
Dice Pool: Stamina + Survival + Ego
Action: Instant or Reflexive
Roll Results
Dramatic Failure: The transformation fails abruptly and painfully. Bones break or flesh tears. The Summoner suffers a level of lethal damage.
Failure: The transformation fails, but no other negative effect.
Success: The Summoner succeeds, ceding his own flesh into the form of his Alter Self.
Exceptional Success: As with a normal success, but the change is reflexive.
OOOO - Devour and Purify
Allows a Summoner to harvert Id from the lost Corpus of demons, or even from mortal wounds. This can be spent, above limits, to extend the duration of Becoming the Beast.
OOOOO - Gestalt
Become a hybrid being, added various boons to the combined form. It lasts for a scene.
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