A devoted wife sits weeping by her hearth. The hour is late and she must spend yet another night alone. Her soldier husband has been deployed for nearly a year now. As of late there has been no word on how his garrison is faring. In her despair she dreads the worst.
There is a knock at the door. Her heart leaps as her spine chills. Could it be? She pulls the door open to see her mate. His eyes are weary and his complexion is pale, yet his smile assures her that his love for her has not diminished. "I cannot stay for long, beloved," he tells her. She is too overcome with joy to care. She takes him in her arms and forgets her sorrow.
They pass the night in a passionate embrace. Just as she is about to fall to sleep, she thinks she hears him say "Farewell, beloved." The next day she wakes up alone. Her husband is gone. There is a knock at the door. She rushes to answer it. It is a solder in her husband's garrison. He delivers the sad news that her husband was killed in battle these three weeks passed.
Some time passes, and the devoted wife learns that she is with child.
Stories such as these are prevalent in areas where armies of living defend their homelands against hordes of undead. Somehow the disembodied spirits of the valiant fallen make their way back to their homes as beings of flesh just long enough to continue their bloodlines.
The resulting offspring are known as Halftegeists, or "Half-Ghosts." Although infused with the taint of undeath, these people are often regarded as living symbols of their father's undying resolve to preserve and continue life. All halftegeists are recognized by their hollow, nearly transparent eyes and echoey voices.
Halftegeist Traits
+2 to any ability score to represent their varied nature. 0 RP
Half Undead 5 RP (see page 216 of the Ultimate Races Guide for details)
Weapon Familiarity Due to the circumstances of their conception, halftegeists inherit the warrior spirits of their fallen fathers. They are proficient with two martial weapons of their choice. 2 RP
Incorpreal Affinity A a swift action a halftegeist can make their unarmed attacks and any weapon they wield have the ghost touch quality and deal 1d6 additional damage to any incorpreal undead they successfully strike. This lasts for 1 round per character level. 3RP*
*Homebrewed Racial Trait.
Bump
If you are going for german, the correct name would be "Halbgeist".
Ja ja da vergewaltigen sie mal wieder unsere schöne Sprache:)
No language-raping was intended, Smug. Yes, I tried to go the German route for a name. "Halbgeist" seems to fit. Thank you for the correction, Jadeite.
It's an interesting concept, one that has a long tradition in literature and mythology. Sehr gut!
There are lots of stories about solid ghosts. I call them Phantom Hitchhikers. I give them 75% solidness, like phantasmal monsters. When the body is found, buried, and or word reaches the loved ones, they transform into a petitioner.
In some stories, an angel of death may come and tell them it's time to go.
Another weird story concerns a baby found on a tombstone. A couple adopted the infant and gave him the last name Tombs. I would assume he was a Half Ghost.
A Half Ghost could come about in several weird ways, I think. This could just be one variation of one.
A balanced race for a gothic-themed setting, I like it.
There are lots of stories about solid ghosts. I call them Phantom Hitchhikers. I give them 75% solidness, like phantasmal monsters. When the body is found, buried, and or word reaches the loved ones, they transform into a petitioner.
In some stories, an angel of death may come and tell them it's time to go.
Another weird story concerns a baby found on a tombstone. A couple adopted the infant and gave him the last name Tombs. I would assume he was a Half Ghost.
We're working on some new ghost template variations for use in the Kaidan, Japanese horror setting. Some Japanese ghosts were 100% corporeal, some had 'parts' of them being corporeal and other parts not. Like corporeal hands to strangle with 'attached' to incorporeal forms. Some are 100% corporeal for 1 hour a day, then 100% incorporeal the rest.
The Ubume is a ghost of a woman who died in childbirth. She tends to visit her growing children to watch them, and offer toys or candy. Some want to take their children with them to their graves, not as an attack, to try to be with them. Once children grow up, these ubume ghosts are attracted to the children of others. They are known to be able to carry infant children, even though they are largely incorporeal.
There are lots of stories about solid ghosts. I call them Phantom Hitchhikers. I give them 75% solidness, like phantasmal monsters. When the body is found, buried, and or word reaches the loved ones, they transform into a petitioner.
In some stories, an angel of death may come and tell them it's time to go.
Another weird story concerns a baby found on a tombstone. A couple adopted the infant and gave him the last name Tombs. I would assume he was a Half Ghost.We're working on some new ghost template variations for use in the Kaidan, Japanese horror setting. Some Japanese ghosts were 100% corporeal, some had 'parts' of them being corporeal and other parts not. Like corporeal hands to strangle with 'attached' to incorporeal forms. Some are 100% corporeal for 1 hour a day, then 100% incorporeal the rest.
The Ubume is a ghost of a woman who died in childbirth. She tends to visit her growing children to watch them, and offer toys or candy. Some want to take their children with them to their graves, not as an attack, to try to be with them. Once children grow up, these ubume ghosts are attracted to the children of others. They are known to be able to carry infant children, even though they are largely incorporeal.
That all sounds very creepy and fun. Feel free to use this thread's idea if you can squeeze it in.
A balanced race for a gothic-themed setting, I like it.
Thank you, Big Lemon!
