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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Davies" data-source="post: 8629599" data-attributes="member: 30538">Barovaci<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-wwsg7WN/1/228ea1c9/M/Fleshwarp_Grothlut-M.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />It is said that if you offer a human sociopath five dollars now or ten dollars later, they will always choose the former. Of course, if the sociopath realizes what you are testing for, the already limited usefulness of this particular diagnostic tool becomes nonexistent. If you were to offer a member of the Barovaci species of the Crimson Imperium a small value now or a slightly larger one later, they will inevitably choose the slightly larger one. But you would be a fool to imagine that this tells you anything about the limitations of Barovaci empathy, because they will have already read your mind and know whether you have that money available to you. And if you should not have it, then the Barovaci will demonstrate that they are also patient when it comes to violence against those who would try to cheat them.The swampy home world of the Barovacies was one of the last major discoveries of the pre-Imperium era. It was discovered simultaneously by a group of Augrah explorers seeking more resources for their Manguai patrons, and by a multi-species group of mystics following the Nightmare Path whose dark visions had led them here. Both sides fully expected to fight the other in order to claim this world; neither could possibly have expected what would happen instead.The native sapient species of the planet was pre-technological, but highly intelligent, organized and psychic. Able to use their powers to dominate all other life on their planet, they had never needed to develop a tool-using culture. However, the mystics were unable to intimidate the Barovacies into teaching them the secrets of their telepathy, and the Augrah were unable to "persuade" them to turn over the rights to the resources of their planet in exchange for anything. They patiently explained to their visitors that everything on their planet, and they themselves, were the property of the Deep Master ... and that, as things that were on their planet, their visitors had also become the property of the Deep Master.Inevitably, the Deep Master arose from the depths where it dwelled and attempted to assert its ownership. Augrah and mystics fought together as allies -- the only occasion in all of galactic history where this happened -- against this immensely powerful entity, and somehow triumphed over it, though both groups suffered terrible losses. In the aftermath, the mystics recognized their foe as one of the Xothi, and now wanted nothing to do with the planet where the creature had first rested and then fallen. That left the Augrah in possession of the planet and its residents, with the Barovacies shattered by the death of their owner. The Augrah generously offered to take its place.Centuries later, that is still the relationship that exists between the Augrah and their most successful client species. Barovaci work within Augrah-run organizations, with some of the most famous of them working in the entertainment/propaganda industry as producers and directors. Others take middle-management positions within less legitimate businesses. While there have been examples of Barovaci betraying or supplanting individual Augrah, they have only ever done so at the behest of other Augrah. As such, while the Augrah do not trust them, they are considered the most reliable of their clients. The Augrah believe that they have fully instilled their own desire for profit above all else within the Barovacies, and thus think that they fully understand them.They are wrong. All of their apparent dedication to that goal would change in an instant if the Barovacies were ever to somehow learn of the existence of a certain pale blue dot and what can be found in the depths of one of its oceans. Because the Augrah do not understand that every Barovaci telepathically imbues their spawn with the wish to find a new Deep Master to replace that which they lost, so long ago ...Barovaci Overseer - PL9Abilities:STR 3 | STA 4 | AGL -2 | DEX 0 | FGT -2 | INT 6 | AWE 3 | PRE 2Powers:Claws: Strength-based Damage 2, Improved Critical - 3 pointsMassive: Strength-based Damage 4, Limited to Slam Attacks; Protection 5 - 7 pointsShielded Mind: Immunity 20 (mental powers), Limited to half effect - 10 pointsSluggish Movement: Movement 1 (slithering) - 2 pointsSpecies-Specific Telepathy: Mental Communication 3 (regional), Limited to Barovaci - 12 pointsTelepathic Abilities: Array (28 points) <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Blast Mind: Perception Range Damage 6, Alternate Resistance (Will), Subtle - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Implant Imagery: Illusion 9 (all senses), Limited to One Subject, Resistable by Will - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Invade Thought: Cumulative Mind-Reading 9 - 28 points</li> </ul>Advantages:Assessment, Eidetic Memory, Speed of Thought, Well-informed.Skills:Close Combat: Unarmed 9 (+7), Deception 5 (+7), Expertise: Business 6 (+12) or Expertise: Criminal 6 (+12) or both at 3 (+9), Expertise: Galactic 4 (+10), Insight 8 (+11), Intimidation 6 (+8), Persuasion 6 (+8).Offense:Initiative +6Unarmed +7 (Close Damage 3)Slam +7 (Close Damage 7)Blast Mind -- (Perception Range Damage 6)Defense:Dodge 2, Parry 4, Fortitude 9, Toughness 9, Will 7.Totals:Abilities 28 + Powers 64 + Advantages 4 + Skills 22 + Defenses 19 = 137 pointsOffensive PL: 9Defensive PL: 7Resistance PL: 8Skill PL: 7 or 6Complications:Profit--Motivation. Dark Secret. Miserly. Slow-Moving (permanently hindered, becomes immobile when hindered.) Others As Needed.Note: While many Barovacies have large amounts of money, they hoard it rather than spending it. As such, the Benefit (wealth) advantage is not really appropriate.</blockquote>

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