Viceborn
Called into the world as the culmination of vile rituals, drawing on the lingering power of a depraved soul, a dark counterpart to exemplars of virtue, the Viceborn are created as the manifestation of uncontrollled desires. Brought into existence to perform some unspeakable task, once released from this compulsion the being is freed into the world at large, where most (but not all) will continue to indulge their given nature.
A Lingering Soul
When a mortal dies, their souls will generally fade back into the magical energy that infuses the world, dispersing and scattering like fog in the morning sun. When a mortal has lived a life with an excessive indulgence in Vice or deep opposition to The Virtues, instead of fading away that soul may instead angrily hang on to a semblance of existence. It exists as a small mote of concentrated magic, flowing with the invisible waves of energy that infuse the world. There, it is held in stasis, memories gone but the emotions that drove it in life holding it together.Dark Ritual
There are always those who live in opposition to virtue. Whether out of selfishnesh, a desire to rebel against the order of society, or disdain for "lesser beings", there is no end of people who live a live full of vice. While for the most part these people are not evil and instead simply indulging their desires, there are the occasional who actively devote a significant part of their existence to imposing their will upon others. In doing so, these individuals often seek out sources of power with which to enable further such excesses. Much as the Order of The Virtues teaches magic to many of its members, there are dark magics that as passed in dark whispers among the Cult of the Vices. A loose organization of the powerful moving through Lasair's underworld (in a metaphorical sense, not the literal underworld), members of the Cult will sometimes come together with the intent of executing some deep and despicable plot. One of the dark rituals that can be called upon for such designs involves the summoning of a creature of pure vice. Through the careful application of will, energy, and sacrifice (again, usually metaphorical) cult priests cause the appearance of a Viceborn.Paragon of Power
With a flash of smoke and light and an echoing scream, the Viceborn is pulled into existence. The being comes into the world fully formed, armed as needed according to the working of the ritual, and filled with a compulsion to complete a single task. Appearing as a humanoid with stark white skin and deep red eyes (Scholars of The Virtues theorize that this appearance is due to them being "drained of all virtue"), the newly-created being will understand all that is needed to complete that task, but very little else. The Viceborn will be focused entirely upon the revolting task for which they were created. Whether an assassination, theft, or in particularly weird instance seventy years ago a vandalization, they will strive towards completion and will stop at nothing short of death. They will use strength, stealth, and cunning, with a particular tilt towards whatever vice or vices the soul they were created from most indulged in in life. Upon completion of that task, however, the being is released from their compulsion. Suddenly void of motivation, left loose in the world, most viceborn simply dive into the deep end and seek out the extremes of their desires - which may sometimes include looking for revenge against those who brought them into the world. Some small number, whether left exhausted at the end of their task or imbued with a less fanatical soul, will simply retreat into the world at large. For the most part, these virtueborn end up wandering. Some end up as adventurers, seeking out their fortune, indulging their nature in small ways. Others of an exceptionally rare number even reject their nature entirely, seeking out a life of peace or even Virtue.Appearance
Viceborn appear drained of color except for unsettling red eyes. Many will often accent this appearance by dressing in white, granting them a sinister and ghostlike appearance. Others will cloak themselves in shadows to hide their nature; others prefer reds. Their physical form will usuall be marked with other signs of their otherworldly nature, such as small horns, extra-large and pointy teeth, or talon-like fingers.Who Knows This?
An Intelligence (Religion) skill check will bring to mind the following depending on the character's roll:- DC 5 (Common knowledge):
Folk tales will occasionally whisper of ghostly figures in the night, taking revenge on those who wronged them. Children get told to respect their parents or they'll be stolen away by the ghosts. - DC 10 (Could hear it from travelers):
Odd rumors will trickle into taverns here and there about secret assassins who commit a murder and are never heard from again. - DC 15 (Education covered it):
When speaking with a particularly bitter or cynical or troubled person, priests of The Virtues will warn of losing one's spirit to vice. - DC 20 (Learned Historian):
Senior members of the Order of the Virtues know of the Viceborn - of their appearance and how they are summoned - though they can only theorize of the specifics of what they are created from. - DC 25 (Subject Matter Expert):
Viceborn themselves rarely share the details of their experiences, but sometimes those extremely rare examples that give up their impulses will speak of the pain of coming into the world and the feeling of absolute need to perform a task. - DC 30 (Directly Acquired Knowledge):
One knows (or knows someone that knows) the ritual to summon a Viceborn. Generally must be passed down between members of the Cult of the Vices.
Comments