WoD: Immortals
In the strange World of Darkness, there are many different kinds of supernatural beings. Of those that claim to be human, there are few. Even mages, with their Awakened Avatars, are not “normal” humans. There are few hedge mages, psychics, and similar “normal” if “enhanced” mortal human beings around. And there are far fewer immortal human beings. They are not undead like vampires, nor do their bodies require periods of dormancy before a rebirth, as with mummies. And in truth, they are not truly immortal. Most can die from old age, and all are susceptible to a violent death. They are called immortals because most are able to rebound from all but the most destructive damage to their bodies.
The few supernatural sages that know of their existence collectively call these scattered, disconnected immortals “Kaelites”. They can be found anywhere at all in the world. Most do not know of each other, but by adolescence the vast majority realize that they’re…different. They find that they’re more resistant to permanent harm, disease, illness, and eventually even the effects of aging. Some seek out guidance from some spiritual guru, whether it just be a priest or a wizard-in-disguise. Rarely do others know what to make of the Kaelite’s claim. The trouble that usually results from sharing their unusual life experiences either debunks the Kaelite’s “claim” by eventually killing the young immortal, or at least drives him away from society’s common grace.
Some work their way back into society, usually far from home. Others remain loners, puzzling through their unusual powers. One thing is for certain: the immortal’s power does not grow by decapitating another immortal. Only by savoring life experiences, by puzzling through the reality of their mystical abilities, do Kaelites grow within their own strange talents.
But even some of the masters of immortality do not understand the reason behind the existence of Kaelites. Why would such creatures exist? No, they are not refugees from some alien world, although the truth is not too distant. In every age, there have been Kaelites, and some have existed now through several ages. What some Kaelites do come to understand at least is that they are embodiments of a certain spirit in their age. They idealize some concept that is vital to their age, whether it be as broad as “war” or narrow as “the sword”, or as broad as “art” or as narrow as “sculpture”. Each Kaelite represents one such thing, and there are no duplicates. In previous ages, there were often very few immortals at all around the world, as there were fewer concepts. In today’s complex world, there are more concepts and wonders than ever before. Some Kaelites have begun to think they should organize at least as a loose, surrogate family, and some motions have been made in that direction.
Regardless of what spirit a Kaelite embodies, the immortal tends to be quite skilled in that field. And while even some unpleasant spirits are known, like war, no Kaelites yet are known to be wicked people. Some just lose themselves in the streams of time, of having lived through so many ages, and lose their sanity with perspective. Luckily, Kaelites are loners, and such madmen rarely survive the other denizens of the World of Darkness. Others succumb to the corrupting manipulations of demons and other evil forces.
To date, no Kaelite with inherently evil tendencies has been born. This trend is based on one thing: what the Kaelites really are. Kaelites are a merger of the Earth and the Divine. They are essentially holy Kami (the “fomori” of Gaia), though very few ever possess True Faith, nor do any exhibit any other spiritual powers or psychic talents. (A very rare few Kaelites develop paths of hedge magic.) Most Kaelites focus anyway on developing their immortal potential to the fullest, realizing that as it develops they become more impervious to harm, illness, and aging. A few wonder if their gift can be passed on genetically, starting families out of both love and curiosity. Most are disappointed: this gift is not genetic. One must be chosen.
Consider “Immortality” to be a Numina limited only to Kaelites. It costs the Current Rating x10 to purchase with experience points. If the Storyteller allows a Kaelite player character, the PC gets one point in Immortality for free and may not raise the Trait higher than 2 with freebie points (where it costs 8 freebies to do so).
Because of the metaphysical quality of Immortality, a Kaelite cannot develop other Psychic Phenomena. Because they are imbued with special celestial spirits, they also cannot be possessed by other sorts of spirits (so no fomori immortals), though can be spiritually and mentally manipulated by supernatural powers (so a Bane cannot use Possession on a Kaelite, but the Corruption Charm works just fine). Furthermore, Kaelites cannot Awaken as true mages or undergo the First Change or Chrysalis to become a shapeshifter or changeling. A Kaelite is immune to the Embrace; if his Immortality score is 3 or more, he recovers from being drained of blood and his body rejects the Kindred vitae (which means he cannot be ghouled or Blood Bonded either). The mummies’ Spell of Life does not work on a Kaelite either.
However, if a Kaelite does die, he can return as a wraith (or even Kuei-jin if Asian in heritage), though this is rare due to the inherently good nature of the Kaelite. Obviously, a wraithly or vampiric Kaelite retains none of his "immortality" benefits. Kaelites can develop True Faith, however, and may also learn paths of hedge magic. In both cases, due to the contrast with their primary and inherent Numina, neither True Faith nor hedge magic may be purchased on the onset of Immortality. Instead they may be purchased with experience points later in the Chronicle (at the usual rates and by the usual guidelines).
Immortality
Level 1: The Kaelite is resistant to harm and illness but still ages normally. He soaks damage normally and can regenerates very slowly (one level of lethal damage per hour). If reduced to beyond Incapacitated in lethal damage, he dies normally. Remember that diseases, infections, and poisons have effects that can be equivocated to damage in Health Levels. Most Kaelites are in this stage during their adolescence (exhibiting none of these qualities during earlier childhood years).
Level 2: The Kaelite grows tougher and longer-lived. Most immortals reach this stage by their young adulthood. The immortal can soak lethal damage now as if it were bashing damage. He regenerates lethal damage faster, too, at the rate of one Health Level per turn (if he rests; otherwise it’s one level per hour). Bashing damage is shrugged off easier: one Health Level per turn regardless. Still, if reduced to beyond Incapacitated in lethal damage, he dies normally. Aging is slowed down by one-fourth the norm. Thus, a 20- or 30-year old Kaelite will not see any physical aging effects until the age of 50, not 40.
Level 3: The Kaelite is growing much stronger in his immortality by this point. He regenerates faster: one level of lethal or bashing damage per turn. Though he is not immune to disease or poison, he recovers so ridiculously that most do nothing to the immortal beyond a brief inconvenience. He can even start to regenerate aggravated damage (i.e., wounds cause by fire or the claws of supernatural beings), albeit very slowly (one level per day of rest). He can continue to regenerate even beyond Incapacitated in lethal damage, bringing him back from the brink of death, unless his brain suffered too severe damage (such as decapitation). The Kaelite also ages much slower, by one-half the norm. Thus, a 20- or 30-year old Kaelite will not see any physical aging effects until the age of 70.
Level 4: Now the Kaelite begins to realize as close to true immortality as anyone can get. He can soak aggravated damage, treating it like lethal damage in that regard. He regenerates aggravated damage faster, too: one level per turn (if resting, otherwise it’s one level per hour). He can continue to regenerate even beyond Incapacitated in aggravated damage unless his brain suffered too much damage (as through decapitation). The Kaelite ages imperceptibly slower now, surviving generations of his family. For every decade or so, the Kaelite physically ages one year, insuring that (barring violent death) he will last centuries – especially since even an elderly Kaelite can recover so easily from debilitating diseases like cancer.
Level 5: A penultimate master of immortality like this knows full well his strengths and weaknesses, and can likely outlive even most vampire elders. He now treats aggravated damage like lethal, regenerating it as swiftly. Furthermore, even his brain may recover from the most debilitating injuries: decapitating this Kaelite does not slay him! The body must be totally obliterated to destroy this old-timer. The Kaelite no longer ages at all either. Once he reaches this level of mastery, his aging just stops, leaving him at whatever point he stopped.
A note to players: Kaelite immortals are like Kami in another regard, too. They’re too powerful to make appropriate player characters. Only with extra-special permission and an excellent background story will this Storyteller allow a Kaelite into his Chronicle.
