Numinous Corpus

Sometimes it's better not to make a new Numinous Corpus. For example, thistle can be replicated with Flowers, Leaves, and Thorns.
== Ablative Skin ==
Affinity: Technology // Secret Song known only to Jean and Vapula
This thin ceramic coating can be treated as a variation of Bark.
== Antennae ==
Affinity: Animals
This can be treated as a variation of Eyes.
== Armored Plates ==
Affinity: Technology // Secret Song known only to Vapula
This song can be treated as a variation of Rock. However, magnets will have +1 Strength against the performer.
== Automaton ==
Secret Song known only to Beleth and Vapula
It causes the performer to become a creature of gears, cams, and hydraulics. The performer’s unarmed attacks gain +2 Power (which jumps to +4 at level 5), and incoming attacks rolls are penalized by the song’s level. However, while in effect, none of the performer’s skill TNs (including attack TNs) can exceed their Precision + their level in this Song.
== Bark ==
Affinity: Flowers
This creates an outer layer of wood can break away and cause poorly aimed attacks to slough off without effect. Attack rolls against the performer are penalized by 1 for every 2 levels (round up). In addition, at level 4 this song grants Protection 1.
== Beak ==
Affinity: Animals
This can be treated as a variation of Fangs.
== Biomonitor ==
Affinity: Technology // Secret Song known only to Jean and Vapula
This causes a small, transdermal computer to assemble itself in the performer’s flesh. The readouts reveal factual information about the health of the performer’s vessel. It increases the TN of any Medicine rolls made to heal the performer.
== The Black Cavalry of the Apocalypse ==
Vine only teaches this Numinous Corpus variant to those under her command. It transforms the singer into a black steed with the face of a man, the hair of a woman, the teeth of a lion, the wings of a locust, and the tail of a scorpion. The singer gains the benefits of Numinous Corpus: Teeth, Feet, Legs, Tail, and Wings but loses the use of their hands. Returning a vessel to mortal form will end the Song until it has been sung again.
== Bluetooth ==
Affinity: Technology // Secret Song known only to Jean, Valefore, and Vapula
This causes a ½” knob of plastic and circuitry to emerge near one of the performer’s ears. It allows the performer to connect with any unprotected digital device (all artifacts are protected, as is any device with a password) within 10 yards. Each level increases the radius by 10 yard and the size of the knob by ½”.
== Brain Rack ==
Affinity: Technology // Secret Song known only to Beleth and Vapula
This allows the performer to open their skull and place a brain inside, remembering things from that brain as if it were their own. Intelligence rolls based on information in the inserted brain have their CD capped at the level of this song.
Note: no one is quite sure where the performer’s own brain is located while this Song is in effect.
== Breasts ==
Each level allows the performer to either grow their breasts or create one additional pair. It also comes with the ability to lactate. When used in this manner it creates enough milk to breastfeed a number of people equal to the Check Digit times the Essence Spent.
== Chameleon ==
Affinity: Animals
This allows the performer’s exposed skin to blend in with their surroundings. While nude the performer may add the level to their Move Silently skill. The benefit does not apply while running.
== Decorative Feathers ==
Affinity: Animals, Splendour
This causes the performer to grow long, gaudy feathers from their head, arms, and tail. The effect is too over the top for most dinner parties but fits in well at burlesque halls or Carneval. The level may be added to attempts to entrance or distract (usually with Dance, but other skills can be used). This can add their level to Seduction when used with an appropriate animal vessel.
== Doll ==
The performer may assume the form of a doll. While in this form, the performer may not move, walk or talk unless the doll would be capable of doing so normally (needless to say, the modern age has made this Song somewhat more useful): however, the performer may still hear and see. Size and mass may be altered, but at a cost to maximum body hits:
* 1x to 1/4 mass: No change
* 1/4 to 1/16 mass: Half body hits
* 1/16 to 1/64 mass: Quarter body hits
...and so on. Note that reducing a 150lb vessel to a 2-1/2-pound doll will require a division of mass/weight by 64: using this Song to turn the same vessel into a 1/2-pound toy plastic robot will divide mass by about 256, and Body Hits by 8.
== Ears ==
This lengthens the point of the performer’s ears by ½” and grants +1 Perception for auditory rolls every level. It also gives the performer improve situational awareness, adding ½ level (round down) to Initiative.
At the GMs discretion, loud noises like those made by the Songs of Cacophony or Thunder can temporarily negate these bonuses.
== Excremental ==
Secret/Forgotten Song known by Beelzebub, Belphegor, Kobal, and Makatiel
This Song causes the performer’s body to shift into an ambulatory pile of fecal matter. Anyone who makes physical contact with the performer must succeed on a Strength roll or be infected with a fecal-oral path disease like cholera, dysentery, or tapeworms. The Strength and Speed of the disease each start at 2, but the performer may increase one of the two (their choice at the time of singing) for each level. At GM discretion, disinfecting with Precision/Medicine (and relevant supplies) may allow a 2nd Strength roll to resist the disease.
== Exoskeleton ==
Affinity: Animals
This can be treated as a variation of Plates.
== Faceless ==
This blanks out the performer’s face making their identity and expressions harder to read. Decrease the TN of Perception skill rolls that target the performer by the level. The performer suffers the same penalty to their own use of the Emote skill.
== Feathers ==
Affinity: Animals
This causes overlapping feathers to grow along the whole of the performer’s body. It increases the TN of all temperature-based Survival rolls by the level.
== Fingers ==
This causes the performer’s fingers to split and branch. While singing, the performer must decide if they are optimizing for computer use, electronics, engineering, lock picking, or a specific musical instrument. While active, all TNs and CDs with the chosen skill are increased by the song’s level but the performer will be considered equally Twitchy when making any other use of their hands
== Flowers ==
Affinity: Flowers
This can be treated as a variation of Fruit, but only for creatures that feed on pollen and nectar (mostly insects, birds, and bats). Animal Handling for such animals can be considered to have a +1 TN bonus while this effect is active.
== Fruit ==
Affinity: Flowers
This causes fresh fruit to grow from the performer’s hair. Each hour it can produce enough fruit to feed one person for a day. Once picked, the fruit will last for a number of days equal to the Essence spent.
== Fur ==
Affinity: Animals
This increases the TN of all Survival rolls made in the cold (regardless of purpose). It also grants its level in Protection against cold-based attacks.
== Gonads ==
The performer can move and transform their gonads, allowing them to control their periods and fertility, produce eggs and/or sperm, adjust their mood, or even make permanent changes to their secondary sex characteristics (with protracted use).
While celestials can learn this song, the Song of Fruition would still be required to have a child and the changes to their body are usually accomplished more easily by acquiring a new vessel.
== Gorgon ==
Affinity: Animals // Secret Song known only to Beleth and Saminga
This causes the performer’s hair to reveal itself as a nest of living, venomous snakes. They may be used for a +4 Accuracy -1 Power attack at point blank range. The accuracy goes down every levels, but the power goes up every other level, and if any damage makes it past the defender’s Protection the venom does an additional d6 Body Hits the next turn which bypasses all reductions.
== Gun Arm ==
Affinity: Technology // Secret Song known only to Ba'al, Jean, Michael, and Vapula
This allows one of the performer’s limbs (not always the arm) to fold away, revealing that it was really a gun all along. Treat this as a variation of Barbs.
Servitors of Ba'al and Michael may have figured out how to configure their Gun Arms for automatic fire. Any attack made in automatic adds +4 Accuracy but reduces the duration by 30 minutes.
== Hair ==
This lets the performer freely grow and control their hair. Savoir-Faire TNs are at a permanent +1 and the performer may gain other bonuses depending on how their hair is styled:
* Bun ~ the performer may freely release their hair into any other style.
* Dreads ~ the performer’s hair is good for reaching and grabbing (+level/2 Strength for grappling)
* Fishtail ~ the performer’s hair may be swung like a flail (-1 Accuracy +level/2 Power)
* Loose ~ the performer’s hair obscures their movements adding level/2 to Dodge
* Pigtails ~ the performer’s hair may be snapped like a whip (+level/2 Accuracy, -1 Power)
* Short ~ the performer must grow their hair out for a round before using any other ability
* Tangled ~ the performer’s hair may snare other objects (+level/2 Strength for grappling)
== Heads ==
This allows the performer to grow one extra head per level. These heads are mostly cosmetic. However, the performer may spend 1 Essence to take an additional action with one of the supplemental heads.
No two heads can sing a Song from the same domain. However, one can sing a Corporeal Song while another sings an Ethereal and a third sings a Celestial.
If the performer needs to resist a sleep effect (or something similar) the CD of a failed roll indicates how many heads succumb.
== Horns ==
Affinity: Animals
The Performer may add their Running skill to the Power of their attack when charging an opponent. At level 4 the performer may chose straight horns, ram horns, or antlers.
At GM discretion the level of Numinous Corpus: Horns may act as a tie breaker when infernals are trying to determine who has the greater status.
== Horse Tail ==
Affinity: Animals
This is not a song in its own right, just Numinous Corpus: Tail limited to the level 1 or level 2 manifestation.
== Ice ==
Forgotten Song possibly known by some obscure ethereals
As Numinous Corpus: Stone
== Jewel ==
Secret Song known to Marc and Mammon
This mostly ornamental Song will transform the performer’s skin into a treasure of silver, gold, platinum, and gemstones. This duplicates the effects of all three Songs of Opening when dealing with someone who is Greedy (or who is appropriately obsessed or covetous). An intervention may result in someone wanting to own or possess the singer.
== Leaves ==
Affinity: Flowers
While the performer’s foliage is fully exposed they gain the following reusable Rite: Sunbathe for 3 hours (clothes and shade may increase the duration at GM discretion). The performer may add their level to the CD.
A variation creates lichen, instead of leaves.
== Lightning ==
Affinity: Lightning // Secret Song known to Jean
The performer of this Song takes on the form of living electricity. This form allows the singer to make one use of the Ofan of Lightning attunement. Once the singer exits from their conductor they will return to their normal form.
== Living Flames ==
Affinity: Fire // Secret Song known only to Belial, Gabriel, and Jordi
This Song is a somewhat more powerful (albeit riskier) variant of Numinous Corpus: Flame. The body of the performer turns to flame. Clothing and possessions are not affected, and indeed are in serious danger of combustion. In combat, this will add 3 Power to hand to hand attacks for every two levels of the Song: however, the performer will be vulnerable to water-based attacks. A regular garden hose will do 1d6 damage in Body Hits per turn, a fire extinguisher will do 2d6 damage and a fire hose will do 3d6. Also, the performer will require a steady oxygen supply or else suffer 1d6 damage per turn.
At level/3 and above, the performer may choose to instead turn part of their body into flame (only attacks using the body part get the bonus to combat). This is actually fairly popular: it's easier to control the side effects this way and obviates the need to disrobe before using the Song.
Kuriotates and shedim with this Song may choose to "possess" an existing fire, maintaining it for the duration of the Song. Doing so will require an additional 1 Essence per level of the Song: thus, creating a level/6 fire "vessel" requires 7 Essence.
Obviously, this Song was originally known to servitors of Divine and Infernal Fire only. However, Jordi was able to independently reproduce the effect. Indeed, he was able to improve on it: one of his servitors worked out the partial transformation and celebrated it by burning down Nero's Rome in 64 e.v. Apparently, the Roman custom of celebrating one holiday by taking foxes and setting their tails afire rankled in certain quarters . . .
== Mandibles ==
Affinity: Animals
This variation of Fangs has 1 less Accuracy, but allows bite attacks to initiate grapples.
== Mechanical Eye ==
Affinity: Technology // Secret Song known only to Jean, Nybbas, and Vapula
This reveals one of the performer’s eyes as a mechanical contraption. When each level of this song is learned, the performer may pick one of the following functions to add to their eye:
* Camera: record stills or videos, out loads to film, disk, or USB.
* Celestial Vision: +2 to Perception TNs to spot someone in celestial form
* Ethereal Vision: +2 to Detect Lies TNs, reveals realm of sleeper’s dreamscape.
* Flare Protection: immune to dazzling effects (e.g. flash bang grenade or Celestial Song of Light)
* Low Light: reduce darkness penalties by 2
* Microscope: +2 to relevant skill roll and characteristic TNs
* Telescope: reduce distance penalties by 2
== Mouth ==
Secret Song known only to Andrealphus, Beleth, Haagenti, and Kobal
== Neck ==
This song allows the performer to swivel their head 360 degrees (granting +1 Perception to detect anything outside their normal field of vision). Each level past the first also allows it to stretch up to one yard.
This can allow other Numinous Corpus (such as Fangs or Horns) to be used at range, and I would be shocked if your players cannot find other practical uses.
== Neck Frill ==
Affinity: Animals
This allows the performer to create a frill capable of flaring up in times of danger and aggression. Add the level to the TN of Emote roles made to intimidate. At level 5 the frill changes from fleshy to bony, increasing the TN of incoming attacks by 1 and providing level Protection against melee head shots. This can add their level to Seduction when used with an appropriate animal vessel.
== Neurotoxin ==
Affinity: Animals // Secret Song known only to Fleurity, Jordi, and Saminga
This renders the performer’s skin toxic to the touch. Anyone who makes skin-to-skin contact with the performer (including landing an unarmed attack) will automatically take mind hits equal to the level of this song less their Protection.
It does not do extra damage when the performer attacks unless they grab their opponent, in which case it will do damage every round as described above.
Warning Signs: At GM discretion, Numinous Corpus: Neurotoxin can bypass Protection, but must be accompanied by an equivalent level of Discolored while active.
== Nose ==
This causes the demons nose to flare and grow to prodigious size. Each level grants +1 to Tracking and other sent based Perception rolls. It also grants ½ its level (round up) to Chemistry and Cooking rolls.
== Numinous Piscis ==
Affinity: the Waters, the Oceans
Apparently, Oannes had a sense of humor. Judging from the below, it was both a fairly low and fairly inappropriate sense of humor. More than one archangel swore when these specialized Numinous Corpus resurfaced: for one thing, you can perform them on somebody else (the "victim" gets to roll against Will every ten minutes to resist). For another, they're really, really blatant. A good third reason is that anyone using a Numinous Piscis will flop around like, well, a fish out of water if knocked unconscious.
In fact, these Songs would have probably stayed lost forever, if it wasn't for Halibut (Jordi often refers to his Wordbound as just the species that they watch over) . . .
=== Fins ===
A big hit with servitors of Dark Humor, this almost purely cosmetic Song allows the performer to grow a big fin on his or her back. This will rip clothing (level/3 and above will wreck armor), make it impossible to sit normally, scare swimmers . . .
=== Fish-head ===
No, not cosmetic (although the performer may choose to make it so): the blank, staring eyes are hypnotic. By spending an additional 2 Essence, the user may force one person within line of sight to make a Will Roll +2 (minus the level of the Song) or else immediately fall unconsciousness. Celestials will wake up after 5 minutes: humans will sleep with the fishes for about two hours.
Duration on this Song is 10 minutes.
=== Gills ===
The performer grows large gills, allowing him or her to breathe water. Unfortunately, the performer also loses the ability to breathe properly on land: -2 to all Strength and Agility rolls from the lack of oxygen. Add ten minutes duration for every level of the Song.
=== Hammerhead ===
The performer gets a really neat head, just like the guy in that mortal movie everyone was watching a few decades ago. Each level adds +3 Power to Fighting attacks, provided that the person can actually perform a head butt: it also provides a +1 per level for Perception Rolls for activities going on to either side. Unfortunately, each level also gives a -1 to Perception Rolls for activities going on right in front of you. The eyes, you understand.
=== Mermaid ===
Essentially, you lose your legs and get a tail, instead. This adds 2 to your Swimming skill per level, but your top land speed gets cut down to about (Agility/2) yards per second. You also happen to temporarily lose your clothing: seashells optional for female performers.
Please also note that the tail starts from about the waist down: the mere threat of performing this Song is enough to break some servitors of Lust.
== Ovipositor ==
More than any other Song on this list, Numinous Corpus: Ovipositor calls up themes of rape, unwanted pregnancy, and violations of bodily autonomy. DO NOT include this song without checking in with all your players first to make sure they’re okay with these themes.
Secret Song restricted to Andrealphus, Beleth & Beelzebub
Gabriel and Jordi might know the song but they would never teach it
This creates a specialized appendage or modifies an existing one so that a pregnant character can embed their unborn child into a host parent. The level of this Song acts as a direct penalty to any attempt to identify or locate the true parent from the child. The host must typically be willing or immobilized.
Celestials may embed a Force instead of an embryo.
=== Embedded Forces ===
A demon must sacrifice one of their own Forces to use this ability, so the rewards are usually quite significant (worth ~10 CP). The specific results will depend on the target:
* Corporeal Target: Gain a Soldier servant or (if the host dies) a demonling servant. (Resisted by Strength)
* Ethereal Target: Gain an ethereal servant bound to your service by a mnemonic cretin. (Resisted by Intelligence)
* Celestial Target: Impose 3 ranks of discord. (Resisted by Will)
== Phallus ==
Consent Matters. Not everyone is comfortable with assault by penis. If anyone in your play group objects, remove that section of the mechanics.
Secret Song known to Andrealphus, Beleth, Eli, Jordi, and Kobal
This allows the performer to grow a functional penis (up to 6 inches flaccid or 8 inches erect). Every level adds 4 inches to the maximum length. While the performer is aroused they gain +1 CD with certain Song groups and the penis may be used for point-blank unarmed attacks (Accuracy -2, Power [level-2]).
=== Songs enhanced (by level) ===
# Songs of Attraction
# Songs of Ecstasy
# Songs of Artifacts
# Songs of Enslavement
# Songs of Charm
# Songs of Fruition
If any of these Songs are not in your game, there is no bonus at that level.
== Pincer ==
Affinity: Animals
This variation of Claw has 1 less Power, 1 less Accuracy, and grants a +2 Strength bonus during grapples.
== Pneumatic Legs/Tank Treads ==
Affinity: Technology // Secret Song known only to Vapula
The performer’s legs become mechanized, allowing for faster travel speed and more carrying capacity. It can be treated as a variation on Legs.
GM decides if Legs and Pneumatic Legs can stack.
== Proboscis ==
Affinity: Animals
This can be treated as a variation of Tongue.
== Receiver ==
Affinity: Technology // Secret Song known only to Alaemon, Jean, Nybbas, and Vapula
This causes a parabolic antenna to grow from the performer’s head or neck. The performer may listen to local radio transmissions originating from within 5 mi/level.
Starting at level 3 the performer may spend a second point of Essence when singing in order to transmit as well as receive.
== Scales ==
Affinity: Animals
This causes the performer to take on a more reptilian nature. Increase the TN of Climb, Dodge, Running, and Swimming rolls by +1 at 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius), for each additional 10 degrees increase the bonus by 1 (to a maximum of this song’s level). While active, the performer may also attempt to “dodge” heat-based damage.
== Second Skin ==
Secret Song known only to Andrealphus and Vapula
This causes a rubber-like substance to coat the performer’s skin. It repels acid, water, and contact poisons ~ providing level Protection against damage from such sources. It starts repelling fire at level 3 and can be hermetically sealed at level 5 (completely negating any chance of natural infection).
== Shadow ==
Secret Song known only to Alaemon and Beleth
This Song transforms the performer into the stuff of shadows, granting them a TN bonus equal to the song’s level on both Dodge and Move Silently rolls and allowing them to pass freely through any barrier that is not well lit on either side. While in effect the performer will also have Vulnerability: Light at an equal level.
== Skin ==
This makes the performers skin hypersensitive. The song increases tactile Precision & Perception TNs by the level. At level 5 the performer may also taste through their skin like a spider (allowing the performer to do things like test for poison by handling a piece of food). Any damage suffered from fire, acid, or Precision attacks will negate the bonuses and cause a Pain 1 effect until the end of the following round.
== Snakeskin ==
Affinity: Animals
This allows the performer to shed their skin on a moment’s notice. Add half its level (rounding up) to Escape skill TNs and half its level (rounding down) to Strength rolls to escape a grapple. Also good for removing cosmetics.
== Snake Tail ==
Affinity: Animals
This causes the performer’s legs to fuse into a powerful tail. It can be treated as a variation of Tentacles. It cannot be combined with Feet or Legs but can be combined with Tail.
== Spines ==
Affinity: Flowers
A variation creates thorns instead of spines.
== Steam ==
Secret Song known only to Janus and Vapula
This Song transforms the performer into a cloud of steam, granting them a TN bonus equal to the song’s level on both Dodge and Move Silently rolls and allowing them to pass freely through any barrier that is not airtight. While in effect the performer will also have Vulnerability: Breeze at an equal level.
== Talon ==
Affinity: Animals
This can be treated as a variation of Claw.
== Tattoos ==
This brings the performer’s tattoos to life and can cause new tattoos to create themselves spontaneously. Add half its level to Emote and relevant Performance TNs (rounded up). When the song ends the performer can chose whether to banish the tattoos or to fix them in place.
If the performer uses their tattoos to pass messages, it will be up to the GM to decide how subtle they’re being.
== Two-Dimensional ==
Called "the Song of Pancakes" by more irreverent celestials; well, actually, most celestials seem to like calling it this. Even Laurence is on the record as using the name.
The performer still exists in three dimensions: he or she just becomes very, very thin (about as thin as the edge of a sheet of paper). While using this Song, the performer has a -5 to Strength (minimum 0), and weight is divided by 10. Body hits remain the same.
Aside from the obvious uses (hiding in cracks, slipping under doors, floating down from great heights), any hand-to-hand attacks will do a straight 1 point of damage per level of the Song, and ignore any normal Protection or armor. On the other hand, the performer also loses any inherent Protection and armor that he might have, as well. In fact, most combat actions will require a Strength roll (as suitably modified above); the only thing that the performer can actually do easily is run right at his target and try to inflict a particularly nasty paper cut . . . .
== Yoni ==
Secret Song known to Andrealphus, Eli, Fleurity, & Laurence
Other Superiors may know the song, but they’re more likely to teach it to a mortal than to a celestial.
This allows the performer to create or expand any bodily orifice and squeeze in or pull out up to 12lbs/level2. It can be used to ease childbirth or to allow for some really deep fisting, but most players will probably want to use it for the extra storage capacity.
=== Pregnancy ===
As a word, yoni can mean either the vulva or the whole of the vagina. This song would normally end well before pregnancy ever even becomes a question. However, if combined with the Song of Fruition it would allow anyone to carry a child, even people who would otherwise not be able to.
=== Mule & Sheath ===
Fleurity & Laurence both teach this Numinous Corpus, but neither one cares about the procreative aspects of the song at all. Fleurity just sees it as another place to stash drugs for smuggling while Lawrence views it as a way to discretely sheathe a sword. Either way, it is worth remembering that that the space created is inside the body of the performer and appropriate precautions should be taken.
== Water ==
Forgotten Song known by Oannes and Vephar
This can be treated as a variation of Plates, but the performer does not need to breathe and can increase their Swimming TNs by ½ the level (round up). The performer cannot simultaneously benefit from this and Numinous Corpus Spikes. Once the performer stops using this Song, they cannot resume: it must be sung again.
Category:Songs