Cambion

in: Races

## Introduction

Cambions are the result of the possession of a human body by a fully demonic entity. It can often be a difficult process for a demon to enter the mortal world directly, and their possession of a human body can be an easier if somewhat compromising loophole for them to exploit. More stable than a simple summoning and more lasting as well, the compromise is that a demon that takes possession of a human body but does not take complete control of that body. The resulting individual is a sort of blending of the souls rather than truly one part or the other. The demonic soul used in this process is one always freshly forged within the Soul Wastes and so no memories are imparted from there.

## The Basics

* **Other Names:** Demon-Touched
* **Appearance:** Humans with demonic traits, horns, claws, tails and similar things, but never wings.
* **Lifespan:** 100 years
* **Height Ranges:** 170 cm (5'7") - 195 cm (6'5")
* **Regions Found:** All human societies.
* **Culture:** Culture of the society in which they live.
* **Common Character Roles:** Cultists, Deceivers, Sorcerers
* **Common Allies:** Cultists, Dark Mages, Demons
* **Common Enemies:** Clerics, Priests, Witch Hunters
* **Architecture:** Dependent on culture.
* **Religion:** Typically worship the darker powers of the Four Demon Princes
* **Views on Magic:** Very positive, Cambions are often sorcerers or at least imbued with the darker magics of the spirit within them and their dark patrons.
* **Abilities:** Manifest Heritage, Spark of the Beyond
* **Quirks:** Demonic influence causes the Cambion to often act in the nature of the demon that possesses them, whether that is a Nilean’s madness or a Sideri’s lust.

## How to Play a Cambion

Cambions have several options to choose from, from those with heavy implications on how your character will be played to more mechanically oriented choices. How to make and play one can be easily broken down step by step.

1.) Decide how your cambion came to be.

Was your character born a cambion as a result of a dark deal with a demon? Was your character once a normal human who became possessed, perhaps against their will? What implications will this choice have for your character?

2.) Choose the type of demon it was that possessed you.

You can refer to the larger pages of those demons for more information on their differences. When you choose, you should also pick one of the abilities that demon has access to for your Manifest Heritage special ability.

3.) Decide the mortal circumstances that your character was born into, or what culture they came from before they were possessed.

Were you raised by witches, treated as a special child and a mark of their covenant with a demon? Were you possessed against your will, and now find yourself unable to return to a society that might now kill you for what you are? The possibilities here are many!

4.) Choose your attachments and what your character will look like.

You can refer to a combination of the appearance section above and also the appearance sections of appropriate demons for inspiration. Last, decide the details. Choose your sphere of magic if any, work out the personality of your character, and decide how life as a cambion has been treating them. Some come to peace with it, others are tormented by their nature for the rest of their lives.

## Appearances

Cambions appear far more human-like than a full demon, and usually have skin tone resembling that of their natural parents. Sometimes they have slight tints to their skin which might indicate what sort of cambion they are. The other traits that Cambions might exhibit are too varied to quantify, though broadly, they can have horns of varying types and also possibly tails as well as strangely colored eyes or even hooves. The particulars of their appearance are often a hint as to what sort of demon they have blended with, though cambions are never known to be winged. A born cambion always has this appearance and grows into it naturally. Those possessed later in life have their bodies twisted and warped into their new forms.

## History & Culture

### Origins

Many cambions come about as a consequence of a demonic deal. One of the most common forms such a deal can take is one between a demon and a woman who plans to bear a child. Such a woman who has the ambition and the ability to contact a demon can make a pact, receiving from that demon a favor which might normally cost her own soul. What she offers instead is to allow a demonic soul to enter the world through her eventual birth, using the body of her child as a vessel. The humanity of such a child is not entirely destroyed, but it is irrevocably changed by the blending of souls that occurs at such an early stage. Anything that child may have become otherwise has been altered, and they take their first breaths as beings of both the world of demons and also that of mortalkind. They grow up this way, and the demonic traits that they develop are as natural to them as eye or hair color. They are able to embrace both sides of their heritage equally though the difficulties of being a cambion are often plenty, depending on individual circumstance. The other way that someone can become a cambion is through force. Certain dark magics and well-laid rituals are able to call the essence of a demon into the world and into an unwilling body prepared to receive it, invading even a potential innocent with a corrupting soul straight from the Soul Wastes. These unions are seldom happy ones, and though an imperfect blending of the two individuals is achieved, what lies within them is a roiling and conflicting nature that turns and fights itself at every opportunity.

### Heritage

The way cambions are made may have a large impact on their identity, but they all share one thing in common. Part of their combined soul is demonic in heritage and that part of their soul will always call them toward sin. The nature of that sin highly depends on just what sort of demon it is that originally possessed them. Cambions whose demon came from Infernum feel a call to violence and battle. They often feel a natural pull to conflict, and may seek work as mercenaries or possibly even join an army if they can either conceal their origins or the particular army they wish to serve in doesn’t care about it. They are often also cursed with a violent temper, and show little restraint before launching into a fight. Those able to resist their more impulsive natures often make excellent officers when given the chance. Those able to resist their more impulsive natures often make excellent officers when given the chance. Those whose demon came from Nysse often feel a great hatred for mortal society, and wish to bring to it nothing but despair. They can be cruel and vindictive, wishing to inflict some of their own turmoil upon society at large. They have pity sometimes for those they feel are cast out from society or have had great harms inflicted upon them by it. They make natural rebels and agitators, though sometimes their hatred can lead them to outright terrorism as well. This inherent cruelty can sometimes be tamed, but it always awaits the chance to show itself once more. Cambions with a connection to Sideri and her realm of greed and lust, Slyth tend to seek excess and debauchery, never satisfied with the arbitrary norms of society and always pushing boundaries. They seek pleasure above all else and often attempt to draw others into that pursuit, and do not take kindly to that pursuit either being refused or interrupted. While they can be pleasurable companions, they can quickly turn toxic and vindictive when they are denied what they want.

Within these unfortunates there is no slow forging of a combined, syncretic identity. Instead, each side competes with the other for influence. Such individuals are torn between the violent urges and desires of their demonic side, while still often trying to hold onto the memories and norms that they have had their whole lives to come to terms with. Some of these might eventually find peace with their new nature, but most instead find themselves either wracked with guilt or driven to terrible stress. An additional method in which Cambions are frequently formed is though a pact with a demon itself. By forming one of these pacts and giving up their soul to the demon, a human can be turned into a cambion and infused with the essence of the demon itself. While this is not quite the same thing, or perhaps forges a newly born demon within the body of the subject. It results in the cambionization of the human that undergoes the pact.

Lastly there are those cambions who are possessed by a demon of Nil though they are by far the rarest sort to be found in the world. This is a strange case, as normally demons of Nil are not created in the same manner as other demons, but are the result of existing demons becoming warped by the void. Since it is always a fresh demon used in the process of possession, this would seem to preclude a demon of Nil as a possibility. However, sometimes during the process of possession something goes wrong, and the immature demon soul is dragged through the ravages of the Void, tainting it from the very start. When it arrives in the host body it has been ruined from the start, and the resulting new blended individual is always irretrievably driven mad by the experience. Even those who are conceived as a cambion do not escape this fate, as they will develop intense mental illness as they mature with no hope of recovery. They do tend to show a strange inclination toward arcane learning, and sometimes their madness gives them insights hidden from others.

## Views on Magic

Cambions make natural magic users, and excel in the use of most spheres of magic. They usually choose a sphere that compliments their heritage well or one that is common in the mortal culture they grow up in. Due to their tainted nature they can never use Nature or Holy magic. Their other views on magic may be affected by what culture and circumstances they come of age in.

## Abilities & Weaknesses

### Spark of the Beyond

Owing to their nature as creatures of both worlds, cambions are able to briefly tap into the energy of the barrier that separates them. They can use this to produce a small ‘flame’, though it isn’t truly fire, and control it aptly. The flame can be any color the cambion chooses and can illuminate a room, cause burns, cauterize wounds, and generally is of useful utility. It cannot spread and catch larger fires as it is not true fire. The use of this ability has more than innocent implications, and many a witch hunter fears what could be done if a cambion were to somehow further master this ability, or too many of them were to make use of it in one place.

**RPR Stats**

* **Target(s):** Self
* **Dice Modifier(s)**: Support Casting
* **Difficulty Class:** Fixed 18
* **Cost(s):** None
* **Effect(s):** The user creates a spark to either attack with, or cauterize a wound.
* **Cooldown:** 4 hours

### Manifest Heritage

Upon creation as a character, the cambion may choose any one demonic ability as one of their racial abilities. This choice is permanent and cannot be later changed, but otherwise functions normally as the ability would for a demon of the appropriate type.

#### *Demonic Heritages*

**Shrouded Form** - The cambion may use its inherent magic to disguise themselves as a human version of their demonic form. Their demonic features are hidden and replaced with human characteristics. They have access to only this extra form, and cannot change its appearance with this ability. If they are downed in combat, the illusion breaks, and they are revealed in their full cambion splendor. Certain abilities and items are capable of seeing through or defeating this illusion. They must change to the human slider range while using this ability.

#### RPR Stats

* Target(s): Self
* Dice Modifier(s): Disguise
* Difficulty Class: Fixed (1)
* Cost(s): None
* Effect(s): The user veils themselves with an illusion to hide their features as a human.
* Cooldown: 30 Minutes

#### Infernum:

##### Hellfire Blade

The demon is able to produce a weapon from thin air, summoned from the armories of Infernum even if they have been completely and thoroughly disarmed. This weapon is fully as capable as anything found in the mortal world, though a highly restrained demon may still have trouble using it as simply summoning a weapon will not undo a set of shackles

#### **RPR Stats**

* **Target(s):** Self
* **Dice Modifier(s)**: Strength+Offensive Casting/2
* **Difficulty Class:** Target rolls Dodge+Magic Resistance/2
* **Cost(s):** 2 mana, 2 stamina
* **Effect(s):** The user brings forth a blade of flame to attack with.
* **Cooldown:** 5 Minutes

##### Mark of Infernum

By summoning up the roiling heat of Infernum’s fires, a demon of wrath and war can render themselves very temporarily immune to magical spells and abilities. They can use this in reaction to a spell being cast, though they must be aware of the spellcaster. This blocks only the next spell being cast, and will not block subsequent spells. This can only be used once every twenty four hours.

### *Nysse:*

#### Virulent Disease

By touching a target with their unclean hands or coughing or sneezing upon them, a demon of Nysse may attempt to infect them with a virulent disease of their choosing. They may choose an itching pox, vomit-inducing nausea, pus-filled buboes, or a sweating sickness. If successfully infected, the victim begins to develop symptoms within a matter of hours and is potentially contagious. This attempt should be accompanied by an emote which adequately gives a clue as to the danger of the touch or fluid ejection. If successful, the demon cannot use this ability to infect another target for twenty four hours. It can still be spread from victim to victim within that time however, and the intensity of this demonic disease means that it will not go away on its own. It can be treated medically, or removed as a curse with magic. This ability may also be used thematically to infect plant and non-human animal life.

#### **RPR Stats**

* **Target(s):** 1 person
* **Dice Modifier(s)**: Support Casting
* **Difficulty Class:** Target rolls Resist Disease
* **Cost(s):** None
* **Effect(s):** The user gives an infectious disease to target.
* **Cooldown:** 24 hours

#### Shadow Manipulation

The demon is able to twist and pull at the existing shadows around them, changing their shape and causing them to deepen and even move. They can use this ability to create shadowy illusions, to enhance their own ability to move unseen, and myriad other applications. However, the shadows cannot be given substance of their own and cannot physically touch or interact.

#### **RPR Stats**

* **Target(s):** Self
* **Dice Modifier(s)**: Support Casting
* **Difficulty Class:** Fixed (1)
* **Cost(s):** None
* **Effect(s):** The user surrounds themselves with the darkness, giving them +5 to stealth.
* **Cooldown:** 4 hours

### *Sideri:*

#### Shatter Inhibitions

With a brief touch and hushed words, the demon may attempt to cause a target to momentarily loosen their restraint and forget society’s inhibitions and instead act upon their strongest impulse or instinct. The effect this has can be difficult to predict, as some may be given to acts of violence, others lust, some greed, and still others seized by mere random impulse to act in a manner likely to embarrass themselves. Typically, the resulting behavior is something that the victim would have enjoyed doing all along but their better judgment stopped them from indulging in.

#### **RPR Stats**

* **Target(s):** 1 person
* **Dice Modifier(s)**: Persuade+Support Casting/2
* **Difficulty Class:** Determination+Magic Resistance/2
* **Cost(s):** None
* **Effect(s):** The user urges the target to act on their desires.
* **Cooldown:** 4 hours

#### Eternal Bliss

Through prolonged contact and appropriate accompanying emotes, the demon may attempt to place a victim in a state of catatonic bliss. This is both a physical and a mental ability, as sensation rages through their body with accompanied imagery in their mind capable of overwhelming their senses and leaving them in a largely unresponsive stupor if it is successful.This leaves them largely unable to resist further action for some time, and so must be accompanied by the explicit (OOC) consent of the victim.

#### **RPR Stats**

* **Target(s):** 1 person
* **Dice Modifier(s)**: Charisma+Support Casting/2
* **Difficulty Class:** Determination+Magic Resistance/2
* **Cost(s):** None
* **Effect(s):** The user applies State of Bliss to target, giving -4 to both Determination and Perception
* **Cooldown:** 2 hours

### *Nil:*

#### Discern Secret

By staring into the eyes of a victim and with an accompanying and appropriate emote, the demon may attempt to force them to divulge a secret that only few know. If successful, the victim is forced to tell the demon a secret, though it may not necessarily be the secret that the demon actually wishes to know, and it may in fact be mostly trivial. However, it could just as easily be something incredibly profound!

#### **RPR Stats**

* **Target(s):** 1 Person
* **Dice Modifier(s)**: Persuade
* **Difficulty Class:** Target rolls Determination
* **Cost(s):** None
* **Effect(s):** The user makes the target speak a secret belonging to them.
* **Cooldown:** 4 Hours

#### Glimpse of the Void

The demon can tear open a tiny window merely the size of a keyhole in reality itself, and for just a few fleeting moments. However, this is enough time for those present to get just the briefest glimpse into the deepest part of the Void on the other side. Through this exposure, the demon can attempt to throw all of those present and facing them within a small radius into a temporary bout of insanity. The results of this are unpredictable even for the Demon, as the effects can range from nothing happening to outright psychosis, mania, or intense hallucination.

**RPR Stats**

* **Target(s):** Any within 5 tiles
* **Dice Modifier(s)**: Support Casting
* **Difficulty Class:** Target(s) rolls Determination
* **Cost(s):** None
* **Effect(s):** The user drains the sanity of all around them
* **Cooldown:** 8 Hours

## Attachment & Kit Items:

The items listed in the kits below are made with the Season 6 modlist. They have been updated as of **14th December 2023**.

*Expand for Cambion Racial Kit*

## Lore Contribution

> *Credit for Lore: Rattenkrieg*
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