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Published: 2017-11-16 15:10:49 +0000 UTC; Views: 777; Favourites: 63; Downloads: 0
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The Ashen Slaves are an order of militant pseudo-monks in service to the Reaper, separate from the rest of the Seven’s clergy. Their name fits them well, as ashes are present in nearly every aspect of their uniform and daily life and ritual. Each one takes an oath of enslavement to the Reaper; the more of their own freedom is sacrificed, the more otherworldly power is thus gained, the better to be a perfect extension of the Reaper’s will. As they advance in rank their physiology and biology changes as well, to the extent that at the highest rank they are an eldritch creature which is only Human in the vaguest sense. Even the lowest ranking member is an extremely fanatical proponent of the Reaper’s ideals of justice and summary execution, and this zealotry remains their foremost tool and weapon no matter the rank of the Slave. Well-trained in martial arts, survival, sabotage, assassination, dealing with locals, and religious doctrine, they live a hermit’s life in their chosen hovel (a shack in the Red Elven jungles being a popular choice). When they are called upon to do their duty, they cease only when dead or the task has been finished.
“Dancers in the Storm” are the equivalent of initiates or neophytes within the Ashen Slaves. Even after a full year’s enslavement (which is essentially the prep course they must take to judge whether they are serious or not), their body’s physiology has not changed much, save for grayer flesh, darker hair, sharper teeth and fingernails with a metallic sheen, and black irises. This tends to give the Ashen Slaves predominantly Underhaven membership a fearsome appearance, although then again most races look a little creepier once these changes take effect.
There is one other, often less obvious change to a Dancer in the Storm’s anatomy: the need for air is rendered nil, and they are immune to poison, biological weapons, and disease. Many Dancers take full advantage of this by carrying chemical censers full of noxious gases, opening the slats covering the holes when in combat to surround themselves with billowing sheets of lethal smoke. Anthrax is a heavily-used “tool” as well, either for covering the blade of a weapon, dusting the Slave’s clothing, or as a weapon in its own right.
Standard gear for a Dancer is simple, although variation is not only permitted but encouraged. They will always have a short-handled scythe, cloth facemask, leather jacket, short sword, dress slacks, dress shoes, fingerless white opera gloves, and a silk shirt, however.
Dancers are telepathic, although only in regards to receiving and sending simple messages.
The step up to the title of Eye Looking Inward requires a voluntary commitment, which not all undertake, as well as a minimum four years membership as a Dancer. The physical by-products are no need for food or sleep, sunken and glossed-over eyes, taught skin, tooth and nail made of steel, traces of iron reinforcing the skeletal system (and rendering a thrown punch or elbow that much more fatal) and an extremely thin, androgynous frame; quite literally too, since an Eye has withered, useless genitalia after the radiation-based initiation rite.
Eyes are the first rank capable of using the ancient spellcasting of “ocular” magic even if they are not a Mage, or gaining the same unique Ashen ocular spells if they happen to know this extremely obscure school already. Cast via covering one eye and making a gesture with the free hand, ocular magic is interesting because it tends to work its way through anti-magic wards. Eye-rank ocular spells are Mantle of Misery, Renew/Fall Apart, Symbol of Reality Unraveled, Terrifying Beckon, and Symbol of Malice.
“Transcendents” are barely even genetically Human anymore, with bones made entirely of tool steel and flesh which is immune to aging or radiation as well as all but the most freakish extremes in temperature. Their telepathy has evolved to the point that they can use their telepathy to send harmful thoughts in an invasive fashion, and they can even generate mental feedback in some cases that causes nervous system overload in the same way that losing a limb can generate enough shock to kill the rest of the person as well. The Glutton’s Wings they can manifest or shatter every ten minutes are actual wings made of filed-down, sharpened cutlery. These are incapable of flight but can be used as a melee offense/defense, and the Transcendent is immune to the shrapnel generated if the wings are attacked or shattered voluntarily. Four powerful ocular magics are learned at this rank, Antimatter Control, Star’s Heart, Mass Field Inversion, and Radiation Scourge.
Awakened are every bit as much an eldritch being as any denizen of the Dreamless Sleep, having evolved into something by now absolutely inhuman, for better or for worse. Physical symptoms include a skeletal system which can break and reform to allow seemingly impossible mobility and contortion, “teeth” which are more like steel fangs, and scalpel-nails which can retract or extend at will, to a length of 7.1 centimeters. Their telepathy is proficient enough to allow them to implant thoughts and memories which most people will assume to be their own.
The Eye of Man Made God floats behind their head, outlining it like a halo; this glowing, occultic eye of Horus set within a pyramid generates a constant field of antimatter which can be contained and released via a particle whip at will. They can also walk across great distances in an instant via the “folding” of space; this can be done once every hour, and they can even take another creature with them as they do this, provided physical contact is made. Their Glutton’s Wings are now able to assist with running jumps and allow a measure of controlled descent when falling. Ocular magic now includes Hypnotizing Shadows, Randomized Curse, Greater Rejuvenation, Tides of Woe, and Slashing Darkness.