"I saw Count Fud. His soul seems fractured and unstabe. This is probably since I slew him just minutes before me own death. His jagged soul rushed toward mine but I could not move. When his soul collided with mine, I felt his hatred flow into my spirit. His twisted ways. His bloodthrist. They are a part of me now. Sometimes when my wish falls, I can feel his rage controlling me."
When a player dies, his spirit roams around his corpse until it returns to it's body or is claimed by an immortal power. During this time, it is unstable and is prone to the suggestion of other roaming spirits causing a deathcurse. Sometimes these roaming soul partially merge with his own and their minds link with his. When injured, there is a chance the death curse triggers and his mind becomes influenced.
Deathcurse powers is an interestering way to make death matter more than just finicially. Deathcurse powers are double-edged: They are powerful utility powers but they restrict your actions.
Obtianing and removing a Deathcurse:
When a character returns from death, they obtain a level 5 deathcurse. If the charcter's corpse is under the effects of the Gentle Repose ritual upon ressurection, they obtain a level 1 deathcurse instead. A deathcurse can be removed with the Remove Affliction ritual.
DMs can instead use deathcurses as plot items or add them as powers on existing monsters
Triggering a Deathcurse power:
When a character is first bloodied, they must make a saving throw using the deathcurse's level as a penalty. Failing this check, triggers the deathcurse power. An ally as an immediate interupt may grant the character a +2 bonus to the saving throw. A character may trigger the deathcurse power manually as a free action if he chooses to.
The deathcurse's level increases by 1 each time it is triggered manually or the character fails its saving throw to the deathcurse. The deathcurse's level decreases by 1 each time, the character makes its saving throw to the deathcurse. A deathcurse's level can never drop under 1.
Sample Deathcurses
Deathcurse of Battlerage: Grants Painful Vigor of Rage Deathcurse power
Painful Vigor of Rage
"The spirit of an ancient beserker has merged with yours. His suicidal rage is now yours."
Encounter
Free action
Trigger: When deathcurse is triggered
Effect: Until the end of encounter, whenever you are hit by an attack. you gain temporary hit points equal to your Battlerage deathcurse level. You take ongoning psychic damage equal to half your Battlerage deathcurse level.
Deathcurse of Slayer's Revenge: grants Vengeful Warning Deathcurse
Vengeful Screams
"A former foe begs you for more death to add to volume to his chorus of painful howls."
Encounter
Free action
Trigger: When deathcurse is triggered
Effect: Until the end of enencounter, whenever an enemy you can see is dropped to 0 or fewer HP or you attack a nonbloodied enemy, you are dealt thunder damage equal to your Revenge deathcurse level. You gain a bonus to damage rolls equal to your Revenge deathcurse level against bloodied enemies.
Dreadful Paranoia Deathcurse: grants Betrayer's Watch power
Betrayer's Watch
"The whispers of a betrayed soul sow distrust deep in your heart."
Encounter
Free action
Trigger: When deathcurse is triggered
Effect: Until the end of encounter, you gain a bonus to attack rolls equal to your Paranoia deathcurse level against enemies at least 3 squares away from you. If you start your turn adjancent to a creature, you cannot attack that creature until the start of your next turn.
Deathcurse of Zombification: grants Undead Toughness power
Undead Toughness
"You turned him undead. He now wishes you the same feeling"
Encounter
Free action
Trigger: When deathcurse is triggered
Effect: Until the end of encounter, you are slowed, cannot speak, and gain resist equal to your Zombification deathcurse level.
Effects of Deathcurses.
Parties and players will be in conflict over using deathcurses to their advantage and removing them when they become dangerous. Deathcurses can also be reflavored as vampirismm, lycantrophy, and other powerful curses. You might even cheapen rituals to encourage their use.
When a player dies, his spirit roams around his corpse until it returns to it's body or is claimed by an immortal power. During this time, it is unstable and is prone to the suggestion of other roaming spirits causing a deathcurse. Sometimes these roaming soul partially merge with his own and their minds link with his. When injured, there is a chance the death curse triggers and his mind becomes influenced.
Deathcurse powers is an interestering way to make death matter more than just finicially. Deathcurse powers are double-edged: They are powerful utility powers but they restrict your actions.
Obtianing and removing a Deathcurse:
When a character returns from death, they obtain a level 5 deathcurse. If the charcter's corpse is under the effects of the Gentle Repose ritual upon ressurection, they obtain a level 1 deathcurse instead. A deathcurse can be removed with the Remove Affliction ritual.
DMs can instead use deathcurses as plot items or add them as powers on existing monsters
Triggering a Deathcurse power:
When a character is first bloodied, they must make a saving throw using the deathcurse's level as a penalty. Failing this check, triggers the deathcurse power. An ally as an immediate interupt may grant the character a +2 bonus to the saving throw. A character may trigger the deathcurse power manually as a free action if he chooses to.
The deathcurse's level increases by 1 each time it is triggered manually or the character fails its saving throw to the deathcurse. The deathcurse's level decreases by 1 each time, the character makes its saving throw to the deathcurse. A deathcurse's level can never drop under 1.
Ending a Deathcurse power:
Deathcurse power tend to last until the end of an encounter. As a standard action, a character may prematurely end a deathcurse power with a saving throw using the deathcurse's level as a penalty.Sample Deathcurses
Deathcurse of Battlerage: Grants Painful Vigor of Rage Deathcurse power
Painful Vigor of Rage
"The spirit of an ancient beserker has merged with yours. His suicidal rage is now yours."
Encounter
Free action
Trigger: When deathcurse is triggered
Effect: Until the end of encounter, whenever you are hit by an attack. you gain temporary hit points equal to your Battlerage deathcurse level. You take ongoning psychic damage equal to half your Battlerage deathcurse level.
Deathcurse of Slayer's Revenge: grants Vengeful Warning Deathcurse
Vengeful Screams
"A former foe begs you for more death to add to volume to his chorus of painful howls."
Encounter
Free action
Trigger: When deathcurse is triggered
Effect: Until the end of enencounter, whenever an enemy you can see is dropped to 0 or fewer HP or you attack a nonbloodied enemy, you are dealt thunder damage equal to your Revenge deathcurse level. You gain a bonus to damage rolls equal to your Revenge deathcurse level against bloodied enemies.
Dreadful Paranoia Deathcurse: grants Betrayer's Watch power
Betrayer's Watch
"The whispers of a betrayed soul sow distrust deep in your heart."
Encounter
Free action
Trigger: When deathcurse is triggered
Effect: Until the end of encounter, you gain a bonus to attack rolls equal to your Paranoia deathcurse level against enemies at least 3 squares away from you. If you start your turn adjancent to a creature, you cannot attack that creature until the start of your next turn.
Deathcurse of Zombification: grants Undead Toughness power
Undead Toughness
"You turned him undead. He now wishes you the same feeling"
Encounter
Free action
Trigger: When deathcurse is triggered
Effect: Until the end of encounter, you are slowed, cannot speak, and gain resist equal to your Zombification deathcurse level.
Effects of Deathcurses.
Parties and players will be in conflict over using deathcurses to their advantage and removing them when they become dangerous. Deathcurses can also be reflavored as vampirismm, lycantrophy, and other powerful curses. You might even cheapen rituals to encourage their use.
