Some ideas for Degenerations

Inspired by some things I've read in 5e, and the mailing list, I've got some ideas for simplifying and standardizing the Degenerations in 3e. These are tentative...

All Immortals have three lines of Degenerations on the character sheet, and may only have three at a time. Each magical race has a different set:

  • For Nephilim, these are Khaiba, Narcosis, and Shouit.
  • For Selenim, these are Ahasuerus, Malediction, and Narcosis.
  • For Ar-Kaïm, these are Instability, Khaiba, and Narcosis.

Each Degeneration has its own symptoms. These symptoms may be persistent, or these may be latent until the Immortals suffers a seizure with magical consequences. Degenerations are measured with adjectives and adverbs like Characteristics and Difficulties.

  • Khaiba represents a Nephilim's or Ar-Kaïm's elemental nature becoming unstable, going berserk and taking control at the expense of their human side. A Nephilim in such a terrible state is known as a Khaiban or Mahrimè (Romani for “unclean”). It is opposed to Shouit. This is measured with the Inchoated adjective.
  • Narcosis represents an Immortal's soul becoming progressively detached from their body, typically as a result of too much astral projection or the Nephilim's Paredrus being disembodied for too long. This is measured with the Narcotized adjective.
  • Shouit represents a psychological dissociation between a Nephilim's human and elemental natures, the former rejecting the latter. A Nephilim in this state is known as a Shouite. It is opposed to Khaiba. This is measured with the Overshadowed adjective.
  • Ahasuerus represents a Selenim's despair over their Immortal condition, causing them to become emotionally unstable and enter fugues for years at a time. This is measured with the Abyssal adjective.
  • Malediction represents unique magical maladies that afflict Selenim under various circumstances, such as physical deterioration from Entropy, Orichalc poisoning or addiction to the Tenebrae. This is measured with the Corrupted adjective.
  • Instability represents a unique magical malady that afflicts Ar-Kaïm as a result of their Heart's inherently unstable nature. This is measured with the Unstable adjective.

Additionally, there are secondary Degenerations that can displace those above or are more specific forms thereof.

  • Nephilim may suffer from Lunar Entropy that displaces their Khaiba and slowly forces them to transform into Selenim or worse. This is measured with the Cursed adjective, the level of which cannot exceed the character's Initiated (Moon-Ka) level. Thus, Nephilim are more vulnerable the greater their Moon-Ka. The Black Khaiban form caused by this haunting is known as the Sapmulo (Romani for “ghost snake”, consisting of the noun sap “snake” and the adjective mulo “deceased”). The Ar-Kaïm of Serpentarius may become Sapmulo too when they suffer Khaiba seizures. 
  • Sekhat represents the development of a malignant past life persona that attempts to possess the Immortal and pursue unfulfilled vendettas. Any Immortal who can access past life experiences from their Stasis object may suffer it. It displaces Shouit for Nephilim, Ahasuerus for Selenim, or Narcosis(?) for Ar-Kaïm. This is measured with the Abominable adjective.

At or after character creation, characters may have Downfalls rated from 1-3. These may have effects similar to Degenerations or modify existing Degenerations, but don't progress the same way.

Additionally, there are some Degenerations that are NPC-only. 

  • Mortals may develop Lunar Entropy as a result of being contaminated by the Black Moon, either accidentally as a result of a Selenim "overfilling" while Assuaging... or deliberately by a Corruption Rite. This is measured with the Cursed adjective.
  • The Deceased have a Torment Degeneration. It indicates how tormented the Deceased is by their death. This is measured by the Tormented adjective. 
  • The Deceased may develop Lunar Entropy, but only as a result of a deliberate Animation Rite cast by a Necromancer. This is measured with the Cursed adjective.

And that's my ideas so far. I still need to develop it further...

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