Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Cities are murky places, hatching grounds for monsters

 
In these streets everyone is a stranger, and acquaintances dissipate like vapor. Art By: Quique Alcatena

Roiling heads of mist, churning with thoughts and emotions that range from mundane to alien. Cloud children, vapor folk, they are the most outsider of the Fracti in thought and action. They are the Chemi, minds and heads the embodiment of dynamism, beings who wander the city often unattached to others, yet unconcerned about their solitary lives. Thin mist covering minds of thick smoke, looking close enough, one might catch sight of their thoughts and the alien shapes they take on. 

A Chemi. Not completely happy with these. Picture Mangled By: Me

You are just a vapor that appears for a little while then vanishes away. - James 4:14
While dalliances have occurred between the Breksta and other races, they are frowned upon due to the possibility of progeny resulting from such unions. Breksta who do not wish to be abandoned and shamed by their kind, purposely end 'monstrous' pregnancies. Those who are born of taboo unions are called Fracti, and are shunned more so than their parents.

It is impossible to determine what 'kind' of Fracti will come from a particular union of Breksta and other. Race and gender of the Breksta in the union seems to bear no known influence. Of the Fracti the most alien in behavior is the Chemi, beings of smoke, mist, and vapor. No matter the race of the other parent, the Chemi always possess human like bodies with skin coloration that can run the normal gamut of human tones. Like their Breksta parent, the Chemi tend to be larger than normal humans. Chemi heads take the form of thick smoke churning above their collars draped in a thin veil of vapor. Within the veil of vapor, the smoke will move with varying levels of speed depending on the Chemi's emotional state.

Another Chemi. I'm not completely happy with this one either.  Picture Mangled By: Me

The emotions and behaviors of the Chemi can deviate significantly from what might be considered normal among the majority of races. Generally, the Chemi are left to their own devices by the citizens of the City, being considered too peculiar to befriend and too dangerous to antagonize. They are given to strange interests and behaviors, wandering the streets to pursue their own individual interests. Some might be found reading scraps of paper found in trash heaps and gutters, while others might be obsessed with the way water flows down drainpipes. Though these obsessions can be very engrossing for the Chemi they are at least able to keep their wits about them while engaging in said obsessions. Being driven by strange motivations, they see little use for riches outside of the utility it might provide in allowing them to continue living and pursuing their obsessions. Being completely immune to poisons and diseases, they can find comfort even living on the streets of the City.

Physically, the Chemi possess many of the physical characteristics of the other Fracti: they have an average height of 6 feet and 1 inch / 1.85 meters (average human is 5 feet 4 inches / 1.63 meters), they have an average lifespan of 192 years (average human is 64), and they possess heads of inanimate objects. In the case of Chemi, their heads take the form of shifting vapor and smoke that never seems to rise beyond head height or disperse in strong winds. Their immunity to disease and poisons, as well as their innate capabilities in manipulating the chemicals at their basic level can make them a valuable member of any team of risk takers.

OSR / AD&D / LotFP
+ 1 Strength (8 / 18)
+ 1 Dexterity (8 / 18)
+ 1 Constitution (8 / 18)
+/- 0 Intelligence (3 / 18)
+/- 0 Wisdom (7 / 18)
- 4 Charisma (3 / 18)

Chemi tend to be no more or less intelligent than the average human, however, their alien outlook makes social interactions incredibly difficult. Due to being larger than average humans with quick reflexes, they are physically superior to humans in almost all ways.

Chemi possess 360 degree vision and are immune to gaze attacks. They are also completely immune to all diseases and poisons.

After spending at least 10 minutes in physical contact with a substance, they gain complete knowledge of the chemical composition of the substance. The knowledge they gain allows them to state whether or not the substance contains poison or disease, and the names of any poison or disease found.

Chemi require +5% more experience to level up as compared to other races. 

These streets are the sites of many strange wonders. Art By: Arthur Rackham

Additional Abilities

Purifying Influence: This ability allows the Chemi to neutralize chemical and biological processes in a desired substance. Purifying Influence functions as the spell Purify Food & Drink. This ability may be used a number of times per day equal to the Chemi's level. The caster level for this ability is equal to the Chemi's HD/Level. Requires 5% extra experience to level up.

Project Acid Glob: This ability allows the Chemi to fire a glob of acid at a target. This ability may be used once per day, and an additional time per day for every 3 levels after the 1st. The caster level for this ability is equal to the Chemi's HD/Level. Requires 5% extra experience to level up.

Range: 15 ft.
Area of Effect: One target
Duration: Special
Saving Throw: Special
Chemi expels a glob of acid from their 'head' of vapor and smoke. The target may avoid the glob with a successful save versus Breath. The glob does 2-5 points of damage (1D4+1). On the following two rounds at the beginning of the Chemi's turn, the glob does an addition 1D4+1 points of damage. The acid's strength increases by one round's worth of damage for every 3 levels of experience of the Chemi above the 1st.

Slow Chemical Reaction: This ability allows the Chemi to slow the chemical reactions in a person or substance. This ability functions as the Slow Poison spell. This ability may be used once per day, and an additional time per day for every 3 levels after the 1st. The caster level for this ability is equal to the Chemi's HD/Level. Requires 5% extra experience to level up.

Neutralize Chemical Reaction: This ability allows the Chemi to completely neutralize a particular chemical in a person or substance. This ability functions as the Neutralize Poison spell. This ability may be used once per day, and an additional time per day for every 4 levels after the 1st. The caster level for this ability is equal to the Chemi's HD/Level. Requires 10% extra experience to level up.

Neutralize Minor Biological Processes: This ability allows the Chemi to completely neutralize the biological processes of diseases. This ability functions as the Cure Disease spell. This ability may be used once per day, and an additional time per day for every 5 levels after the 1st. The caster level for this ability is equal to the Chemi's HD/Level. Requires 5% extra experience to level up.

Next post is all about mass transit! Art By: Quique Alcatena

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