Elemental Touch

Elemental Touch is currently very rare, but seems to be on the increase since the recent troubles. Humans can be touched by the elements, changing their appearance and behaviour. Up to a few months ago this was limited to relatively sparse elemental markings, but some have now been seen with more extensive Touches, occasionally even giving them unusual abilities. People with elemental touches are looked upon with suspicion by many people and in some cases disgust.

It’s known that becoming elementally touched is possible through major magical or alchemical mishaps. Recently some experimentation has been done with deliberate surgical grafts of elementally active material, but such material has only become available in the last few months so is a very new field. Legend has it effects similar to this were also sometimes exhibited by those who had made pacts with elementals, adding to the suspicion over people exhibiting them.

• PCs can start untouched or with one Brush With Element only.
• Basic grafts are an accessible way to get a chosen basic elemental touch.
• Elemental touches with a combat benefit will typically take a mortal wound slot.
• Random elemental touches may happen as a result of contact with large magic and alchemy effects, but only with the player’s OC agreement.
• Basic elemental touches grant predictable benefits for predictable drawbacks.
• Advanced grafts and pacts with elementals are ways to get more powerful elemental touches, which will have a dramatic effect on the character. The more powerful the elemental touch the more dramatic the appearance change should be.
• You cannot have the same elemental touch twice, with a few exceptions (such as Brush With Element).

Elemental touches have strong roleplaying effects and will affect how NPCs interact with the person, particularly elementals. They may also have mechanical advantages and disadvantages. Becoming elementally touched can never happen without the player’s OC consent. Once touched by an element it can’t easily be removed (though it is possible), but a change within the same element is fine (and a way to alleviate OC issues with a physrep). It is possible to become elementally touched from two non-opposing elements. Becoming elementally touched by opposing elements is probably a terrible idea.

Basic elemental touches will have a preset type of physrep required. Advanced elemental touches can be more custom, and there is scope for red, green, blue and grey/white face markings, fey features, iconic animal features, demonic features and undead features.

Known Elemental Touches

Name	Element	Resources to graft	Physrep	Mechanical Effect	Roleplaying Effect
Brush With Element	Any	One of any reagent	SparseFAQ face markings of your elemental colour.	None. Special: May be gained once per element.	RP effects of your choice in line with your element.
Third Eye	Chaos	Two red reagents	An extra eye in the colour of your element.	You can control an extra power when leading Chaos rituals You cannot lead or participate in Order rituals	You want to find things out, particularly anything to do with your element.
	Order	Two blue reagents		You can control an extra power when leading Order rituals You cannot lead or participate in Chaos rituals
	Creation	Two green reagents		You can control an extra power when leading Creation rituals You cannot lead or participate in Destruction rituals
	Destruction	Two black reagents		You can control an extra power when leading Destruction rituals You cannot lead or participate in Creation rituals
Horns	Creation	Two green reagents	Horns	Once per encounter you can call STUN with a melee weapon. Takes a mortal wound slot.	Aggressive towards strangers.
Small Claws	Creation	Two green reagents	Claws on one hand up to 24 inches.	Twice per encounter you can strike for TRIPLE with a melee weapon. You cannot wield anything in that hand. You can use the claws as a weapon but cannot parry with them, but need Melee Training to use them with another weapon. Takes a mortal wound slot.	You are inclined to use your resources selfishly.
Large Claws			Claws on one hand up to 42"	Once per encounter you can strike for TRIPLE with a melee weapon. You cannot wield anything in that hand. You can use the claws as a weapon and can parry with them, but need Melee Training to use them with another weapon. Takes a mortal wound slot.
Necrotic Strike	Destruction	Two white reagents	Extensive dark skin or veins on the hand and/or arm.	Once per encounter you can strike with a melee weapon for DOUBLE and CURE 2 yourself. Takes a mortal wound slot.	You are inclined to believe the ends justify the means.
Flame Lash	Chaos	Unknown	Extensive red skin or veins on the hand and/or arm.	Once per encounter you can call MASS MAGIC TRIPLE. Takes a mortal wound slot.	You are quick to anger.
Beguiling Voice	Order	Two blue reagents	Blue lips	You may call EPIC EFFECT when using the Hearts and Minds skill. If you knowingly tell a lie, take EPIC TRIPLE STUN.	You greatly dislike lying.
Shifting Visage	Chaos	Two red reagents	Extensive red patterns on the face	Twice per encounter you can call ranged STUN on people that damage you. Takes a mortal wound slot.	You are disinclined to be truthful
Transfixing Gaze	Order	Two gold nuggets	Distinctive contacts or blue markings around the eyes	Once per encounter you can call COMPEL: Stand still. While the target complies, you also cannot move. Takes a mortal wound slot.	You are inclined to obey instructions
Sunken eyes	Destruction	Two black reagents	Black make-up around the eyes	Gain an additional Hit Takes a mortal wound slot.	You are inclined to solve problems with violence.