Horror: New Meta-Traits

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New Meta-Traits

In addition to the other meta-traits, some new trait combinations come in handy when creating horrific races or characters. To save space, list these on character sheets as you would advantages.

Corporeal Undead Meta-Traits

Corporeal undead are the material remains of the dead reanimated by some means, usually supernatural. Most have either Unhealing (Partial) or Unhealing (Total); choose one for the racial template. Enhanced ST and HP are common racial traits as well. Many corporeal undead also have Disturbing Voice or Mute. The meta-trait to use depends on the body's condition:

Intact Undead:

This recently dead body hasn't decayed significantly. Doesn't Breathe [20]; High Pain Threshold [10]; Immunity to Metabolic Hazards [30]; Injury Tolerance (No Blood, Unliving) [25]; Supernatural Features (No Body Heat, No Pulse, Pallor) [-20]; Temperature Tolerance 10 [10]; and Unaging [15]. Features: Sterile. Some intact corpses have the feature "Will become a rotting corpse"; others are mystically preserved. 90 points.

Mummified Undead:

Whether by artificial preservation or exposure to a dry natural environment, this body dried out instead of rotting. Its desiccated tissues catch fire easily – the major vulnerability of mummified undead. Appearance (Monstrous; Universal, +25%) [-25]; Doesn't Breathe [20]; Doesn't Eat or Drink [10]; Fragile (Combustible) [-5]; High Pain Threshold [10]; Immunity to Metabolic Hazards [30]; Injury Tolerance (No Blood, No Brain, No Vitals, Unliving) [35]; Social Stigma (Dead) [-20]; Temperature Tolerance 10 [10]; and Unaging [15]. Features: Sterile. 80 points.

Rotting Undead:

This corpse had time to decay before revival – or perhaps it decayed after revival. Appearance (Monstrous; Universal, +25%) [-25]; Bad Smell [-10]; Doesn't Breathe [20]; Doesn't Eat or Drink [10]; High Pain Threshold [10]; Immunity to Metabolic Hazards [30]; Injury Tolerance (No Blood, Unliving) [25]; No Sense of Smell/Taste [-5]; Sexless [-1]; Social Stigma (Dead) [-20]; Temperature Tolerance 10 [10]; and Unaging [15]. Features: Will become a skeleton. 59 points.

Skeletal Undead:

The dead person's flesh has mostly or entirely rotted away; only the bones and teeth remain, held together by scraps of dried tendons or unseen magic. He's light and fast-moving, but somewhat breakable. Basic Speed+1 [20]; Appearance (Monstrous; Universal, +25%) [-25]; Cannot Float [-1]; Doesn't Breathe [20]; Doesn't Eat or Drink [10]; DR 2 [10]; Fragile (Brittle) [-15]; High Pain Threshold [10]; Immunity to Metabolic Hazards [30]; Injury Tolerance (No Blood, No Brain, No Eyes, No Vitals, Unliving) [40]; No Sense of Smell/Taste [-5]; Sexless [-1]; Skinny [-5]; Social Stigma (Dead) [-20]; Temperature Tolerance 10 [10]; Unaging [15]; Vacuum Support [5]; and Vulnerability (Crushing ×2) [-30]. Features: Skull has only DR 2 total. 68 points.

Spirit Meta-Traits

The Spirit and Astral Entity meta-traits are but two of many possibilities for spirits:

Haunt:

A spirit that can neither materialize nor become visible, but that can affect the material world. Start with Astral Entity, but Insubstantiality (Always On, -50%) [40] becomes Insubstantiality (Affect Substantial, +100%; Always On, -50%) [120], for 80 points. 251 points.

Outsider:

A spirit that doesn’t belong in this reality, like most demons in fiction. It can only affect this reality when summoned here, and it can only maintain itself under specialized conditions or with great effort (1 FP/second to materialize or become visible; 2 FP/second for both!). Start with Astral Entity, but Insubstantiality (Always On, -50%) [40] becomes Insubstantiality (Affect Substantial (Only if Summoned, -40%), +60%; Always On, -50%; Always On becomes Usually On (Only if Summoned, -40%), +6%) [93], for 53 points, and Invisibility (Substantial Only, -10%) [36] becomes Invisibility (Substantial Only, -10%; Usually On (Only if Summoned, -40%), +3%) [38], for 2 points. 226 points.

Specter:

A specter (from the Latin specere, "to look") can become visible effortlessly. It materializes with some difficulty (1 FP/minute), but more easily than normal spirits. Start with Spirit, but Insubstantiality (Affect Substantial, +100%; Usually On, -40%) [128] becomes Insubstantiality (Affect Substantial, +100%; Difficult Materialization, -20%) [144], for 16 points, and Invisibility (Substantial Only, -10%; Usually On, +5%) [38] becomes Invisibility (Substantial Only, -10%; Switchable, +10%) [40], for 2 points. 279 points.

Threshold Entity:

Like most demons in folklore, a threshold entity is either invisible and immaterial, or visible and material. It has no trouble switching between these states. Doesn't Breathe [20], Doesn't Eat or Drink [10], Doesn't Sleep [20], Immunity to Metabolic Hazards [30]; Insubstantiality (Link, +10%) [88]; Invisibility (Link, +10%; Substantial Only, -10%; Switchable, +10%) [44]; and Unaging [15]. 227 points.