Anathema
Context
This character is an original creation. We often call these “homemades” or “homebrewed” – think home cooking or craft beer.
Many of these characters were created to take part in tabletop role-playing game sessions. Others were invented as a creative writing exercise, often as part of a community event.
This specific character was part of a RPG campaign run by writeups.org contributor Kal El, set in Barcelona.
Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Marital Status: Widow(er).
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Council of the 10.
- Base Of Operations: Planet Z.
- Height: 4’3” Weight: 100 lbs. Age: 79
- Eyes: Black Hair: None Skin: Green with violet lines.
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Powers and Abilities
Anathema should have died a long time ago, when a meteorite fall over him. But he didn’t die. It had been his last effort to terminate his life : a frontal crash against an asteroid.
He thus established that he was totally and utterly unkillable. And it was painful, as he could be reduced to the skeleton and, while the flesh, muscles and nerves regrew, he STILL followed being alive. The pain turned him a tad crazy.
Besides his avoiding of Morpheus’ sister, Anathema’s arms are covered with pointy edges (in DC Heroes RPG terms, Claws). His legs are pointy, instead of finishing in feet.
To have something to do in the case he should not kill a prey, he uses to carry some nifty invention of Thunderer and the Z’s.
History
After crashing with the asteroid, Anathema was rescued by a spaceship pirate who thought he could be a good circus number. The whole crew died when they were near Planet Z. From the wrecked spaceship exited an again still alive Anathema, only survivor of the ship.
He traveled for some days through the planet, killing some Z’s and some Scorpocrabs (giant hybrids of scorpion and crab). But one of them infected him with a paralyzing venom. He thought his final time had arrived, but was saved by some of the Council members.
He was upset for them having kept him from dying. But knowing of their ideas for a new empire, he thought he would be able to kill lots of creatures and, with luck, be killed in the process. He agreed to join the team and was bound to the Council.
Description
Anathema’s head is ovoid. His eyes are like to oblique pools of darkness, his nose just two holes over the mouth, and his teeth like a steel saw inside the small coverage of a lip-less mouth. His cheeks and chin finish in thorns.
He has a long neck, under which lays an unsleeved version of the Council’s dark grey suit, with 8 spots over the chest, and clawed arms and legs, who finish in points like a compass. He has a small body with a wider chest and a tiny waist.
Personality
If there’s not a better option, Anathema’s way of relating with the world, besides the members of the Council, is killing it. His killing, on the other hand, is rational and voluntary enough to stop with it at the request of a member of the Council (note he has no “Rage” drawback).
He doesn’t have any interest, neither, in killing the feebler than him if there’s not a stronger one who protects them (and thus can have some chance to kill him).
Anathema’s gender, if any, is unknown. The Council adresses Anathema as he/him.
Quotes
“If you can’t disintegrate me properly I’ll get very angry.”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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Anathema
A 1454 Points Character.
| Dex: 11 | Str: 04 | Bod: 08 | Motivation: Nihilist |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 07 | Min: 09 | Occupation: Number 8 |
| Inf: 09 | Aur: 08 | Spi: 06 | Resources {or Wealth}: 10 |
| Init: 025 | HP: 085 |
Powers:
Claws: 12, Invulnerability: 17, Regeneration: 14
Bonuses:
Invulnerability: Counteracts Physical, Mental and Mystical Damage (+2).
Advantages:
Area Knowledge (Planet Z).
Connections:
Council of the 10 (High, Powerful).
Drawbacks:
SIA (Loyalty to the Council of the 10), Strange Appearance, Traumatic Flashbacks [Recovering from quasi-death] (see below).
Equipment:
12 AP C Omni-Gadget.
Recovery Checks
I use the Regeneration (and recovery check’s) houserule of not rolling, making it automatic and recovering just 1 AP every time a recovery check would be rolled.
Traumatic Flashback
The moment of his crash with the asteroid was quite traumatic to whoever was Anathema before it. So, anytime he is reduced to negative current condition (in either BODY, MIND or SPIRIT) and Regeneration takes effect (that is, after having taken into account the Invulnerability), he’ll be subject to the Traumatic Flashback for a number of Phases equal to the time he takes to FULLY recover.
That means: he will fall unconscious, and take some time before he awakens, and then take some more time until he is fully healed. The moment he awakes he begins to suffer the effects of the Flashbacks for a time equal to the total time of healing.
E.g.: Anathema is left at BODY -3 and fumbles the Invulnerability roll (let’s suppose all damage suffered has been in killing combat). Under the Note 1 rules, Anathema would recover 1 point of BODY every 2 Phases, so it’ll take 22 Phasess (roughly 1’15”) to fully recover.
He’d begin suffering the Traumatic Flashback at the 8th Phase, when he’ll recover consciousness, and will suffer it for the next 22 Phases (the time the whole healing takes).
Source of Character: Homemade Character.