Taint is a mechanic designed around demonic corruption. Interacting with demons in certain ways will cause a character to gain taint points, at certain thresholds the taint grants some effects and abilities, both positive and negative.
At the highest level taint is almost incurable and will lead to your character losing their soul and becoming a demon, thus rendering them unplayable and effectively dead. At lower levels taint is can be fixed relatively easily.
A Warden can withstand more taint than the average person, therefore their point thresholds are doubled.
You gain taint points for engaging in the listed taint activities. Gaining a number of these points as detailed below will give you a taint level.
Mechanically, anything that refers to 'low level taint' refers to taint of level 2 and below.
Taint activities:
Entering the pit - 1 Point (This cannot push you into level 5)
Staying in the pit for more than one hour - 1 Point per day (To a maximum of 5 per visit. This cannot push you into level 5)
Making a deal with a demon - 3 points, and until the deal is ended, (broken, completed or the demon is permanently killed) the tainted’s taint is never considered ‘minor’ taint.
Reading demonic text - 1 point
Eating/Consuming something demonic - 2 points
Activating a demonic item - 1 point
The point system may be altered or added to at ref discretion depending on the activities a player is engaging in or the strength of the demonic influence, this is a baseline only.
Listed below are the effects each level of taint will have on a character and the number of points it takes to reach each level.
Everyone starts here, with no taint and no taint effects.
You have accrued enough taint for it to begin to have a significant effect upon you. You gain the following roleplay brief and ability.
Roleplay Brief
You experience minor irritation upon contact with Holy Symbols. Eg: Itching, feeling hot and sweaty, or feeling generally uncomfortable.
You feel more comfortable in the known presence of those who are tainted or demons.
Effects and Abilities
When you reduce an individual with a soul to sever on all locs, receive 5 points of healing.
Taint Brief: Level 2 (Taint points 15-19, Warden 30-39)
Your taint has now increased to a new level, and is beginning to spread into your body. You now have the following roleplay brief, effects, and abilities.
Roleplay Brief
You cannot hold Holy Symbols.
You now have minor irritation upon vision of Holy Symbols.
You feel more comfortable in the known presence of those who are tainted or demons.
Effects and Abilities
Gain an Endurance Rank, (this also increases your maximum while you have this ability.)
Reduce the amount of Clerical and Shamanic healing that has a numerical value by 1 point.
When you drop a cleric or shaman (other than yourself) to zero on their core; gain three spell points. This can be used once per day.
Plus from level 1:
When you reduce an individual with a soul to sever on all locs, receive 5 points of healing.
Taint Brief: Level 3 (Taint points 20-24, Warden 40-49)
The progression of your taint is now visible, and has spread into every part of your body. You now have the following roleplay brief, effects, and abilities.
Roleplay Brief
You may hear demonic whispers in your head. (from a ref)
You cannot hold Holy Symbols.
You have minor irritation upon vision of Holy Symbols.
You have minor irritation upon noticing the mention of a God’s Name.
You feel more comfortable in the known presence of those who are tainted or demons.
You must phys-rep red patches on your skin, if you have a problem with phys-reps, speak to a ref.
Effects and Abilities
Gain one use of ‘By My Taint: Imp Hide’ once per day.
Gain a use of ‘By My Taint: Cure Wound’ once per day which can only be used on others. This will taint the target a small amount. Tell a ref.
You are now Vulnerable to Holy
Reduce the amount of Clerical healing that has a numerical value by 2 points
You are immune to Shamanic Healing
Plus these from previous levels:
An additional Endurance Rank, (this also increases your maximum while you have this ability.)
When you drop a cleric or shaman (other than yourself) to zero on their core; gain three spell points or a refresh of one of your daily taint abilities. This can be used once per day.
When you reduce an individual with a soul to sever on all locs, receive 5 points of healing.
Taint Brief: Level 4 (Taint points 25-29, Warden 50-59)
The taint within you has reached such a level that you are dangling on the edge of losing your mortality. You now have the following roleplay brief, effects, and abilities.
IF YOU DIE AT THIS LEVEL, YOU WILL BECOME A DEMON AND BE NPC'd
Roleplay Brief.
You feel drained and itchy when you enter temples, groves, or sanctified ground.
You cannot hold Holy Symbols.
You have irritation upon noticing the mention of a God’s Name.
You have irritation upon vision of Holy Symbols.
You may hear demonic whispers in your head. (from a ref)
You feel more comfortable in the known presence of those who are tainted or demons.
You must phys-rep red patches of skin in a visible location, if you have a problem with this speak to a ref. You can increase your phys-rep from the previous level. You may have horns.
Effects and Abilities.
Gain the ‘Unholy’ tag. (You now count as unholy for the purposes of spells and abilities).
You are immune to Clerical and Shamanic healing.
Take the effect of the necromancer spell ‘Tomb Rot’ while you are touching or being touched by a Holy Symbol.
You are Immune to poisons.
When you are reduced to 0 on your core, you erupt into demonic flame, doing single flaming to each location of everyone in a far range.
If you reach the end of your death count while at this taint level, call ‘Time Freeze’. If this happens you will no longer be playable and will become a demon.
Plus These things from previous levels:
You are Vulnerable to Holy
One use of ‘By My Taint: Imp Hide’ once per day.
One use of ‘By My Taint: Cure Wound’ once per day which can only be used on others. This will taint the target a small amount. Tell a ref.
An Additional Endurance Rank, (this also increases your maximum while you have this ability.)
When you drop a cleric or shaman (other than yourself) to zero on their core; gain three spell points or a refresh of one of your daily taint abilities. This can be used once per day.
When you reduce an individual with a soul to sever on all locs, receive 5 points of healing.
Taint Brief: Level 5 (Taint points 30+, Warden 60+)
The taint almost entirely consumes you now, and at this level it is only a matter of time before your mortality will be lost. You have the following roleplay brief, effects, and abilities.
THIS LEVEL WILL KILL YOUR CHARACTER AND TURN THEM INTO A DEMON
Roleplay Brief
Upon hearing a God’s name for the first time each day you are filled with hatred for the divine, take the effects of the spell ‘Fear’
Upon having a Holy Symbol brandished at you for the first time each day you are filled with hatred for the divine, take the effects of the spell ‘Fear’
You feel drained and itchy when you enter temples, groves, or sanctified ground.
You cannot hold Holy Symbols.
You may hear demonic whispers in your head. (from a ref)
You are not bothered about committing acts that might cause you to gain taint.
You feel more comfortable in the known presence of those who are tainted or demons.
You now have a Demonic phys-rep requirement. Horns, tail, or red skin etc. This must be visible and cannot be concealed.
Effects and Abilities
Gain Six Endurance Ranks (you can surpass your maximum)
Gain the Demon tag, You now count as a demon for the purposes of spells and abilities/game calls/mechanical effect.
You are immune to Knockback, Strikedown and Poisons.
You are immune to Clerical & Shamanic healing.
You gain Weakness against Holy damage. (Double Damage)
Two Uses of ‘By My Taint: Imp Hide’ once per day.
Once per session you will be given a save against Demonic Possession. If you pass the save you then lose that save from your character sheet. You cannot use any mechanic to circumnavigate this save, (e.g goblin luck or good fortune.) If you fail the save, the demon possesses you. YOU WILL BECOME AN NPC AFTER THIS POINT, YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CHARACTER.
Plus These things from previous levels:
A use of ‘By My Taint: Cure Wound’ once per day which can only be used on others. This will taint the target a small amount. Tell a ref.
When you drop a cleric or shaman (other than yourself) to zero on their core; gain three spell points or a refresh of one of your daily taint abilities. This can be used once per day.
When you reduce an individual with a soul to sever on all locs, receive 5 points of healing.
Take the effect of the necromancer spell ‘Tomb Rot’ while you are touching or being touched by a Holy Symbol.