Becoming an Alicorn

The process by which a pony becomes an alicorn (or hellhound) is related to their interactions involving taint. Taint is usually quite deadly or otherwise harmful to ponies, but a lucky few live through it and have it function as a benefit to them. Such characters arise naturally using the taint rules outlined in chapter 11. If you were sent here by those rules, you need only look below to the bolded stages. If a character has succeeded on enough luck rolls to make it to the point where taint actually is beneficial to them, then each subsequent exposure to the stuff pushes them up through these stages, one at a time. Each of these stages roughly corresponds to the quest perk listed below it; the effects of either the stage or the quest perk (or both) are considered appropriate physical or magical alterations for a character to receive as a ‘beneficial’ change as a result of their taint exposure. Of course, a GM is certainly entitled to make up their own progression – these are just suggestions.

Stage 1 – Enhanced magical stamina (1d4 additional strain). For Hellhounds, enhanced physical stamina (+1 END or STR)

Suggested Quest Perk: Touched by Taint (1) – Exposure to Taint has altered your physiology. When under the effects of advanced radiation poisoning (400+ Rads) any crippled limbs will automatically regenerate at a rate of 1 wound per area per hour.

Stage 2 – Reduction of appetite; characters exposed to more than 100 rads per day don’t need to eat that day to avoid starvation; crippled or maimed limbs will immediately begin to regrow if suffering from radiation poisoning (200+ rads).

Suggested Quest Perk: Touched by Taint (2) – Exposure to Taint has altered your physiology. You do not take attribute penalties from radiation. In fact, you heal at a rate of one wound per thirty minutes while exposed to it. However, radiation continues to build up in your system as normal, and can still kill you if you hit 1000 rads.

Stage 3 - Radiation is no longer harmful; instead, radiation will now heal characters (as Alicorns). Dramatic extension of natural lifespan. In clinical settings, this stage immediately progresses into stages four and five.

Suggested Quest Perk: Touched by Taint (3) – Exposure to Taint has further altered your physiology. You receive a +2 temporary bonus to Strength, Endurance and Agility, and move an extra 5 feet per action whenever you’re basking in the warm glow of radiation. Your action points (SATS) regenerate five points faster every round per 100 rads you’ve absorbed, and radiation can no longer kill you. Your natural lifespan has increased.

Stage 4 – Noticeable physical changes, including increased stature (D/W increases by 1) in both cases. In alicorns, telepathic glands develop in the brain. The horn begins to grow, and muscles in the back begin to develop to support wings. Gawd does it ever itch! Hellhounds start to see a yellowing of the skin, more pronounced musculature, and elongation of the teeth and claws.

Suggested Quest Perk: You Got a Friend in Me! - You’ve been joined telepathically with the Goddess in Unity. This offers new dialogue options. The Goddess can manipulate your thoughts and actions through this link.

Stage 5 – Full alicorn or hellhound transformation. Usually (but not always) results in fusion with nearby ponies or living creatures for conservation of mass; may be lethal to those involved. Ponies without wings or horns gain either or, as appropriate. Magic starts at rank 50; flight starts at rank 25. Hellhounds do not fuse with other characters, but their transformation is much more painful as their claws grow and sharpen.

Note that these stages are not necessarily independent, and may flow together; the Great and Powerful Goddess created her alicorns by advancing them to stage five in a single dose, and redeye’s lab workers were unable to provoke a transformation that stopped after advancing past stage 2. A single controlled application of taint is usually used to push characters into stage 5 without stopping at stages 3 or 4 as intermediate steps.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1042