Splinters Into Fragments

Background: All splinters tend to come from the same bloodline. It is likely that they are all related, albeit usually distantly.

Appearance: Splinters, when they splinter, briefly resemble a mass of shattered, dark blue glass shards. They tend to favor clothing that is this same shade of dark blue. Many also dye their hair and take on other elements to showcase this midnight blue color.

Character Arcs: The following character arc ideas are particularly appropriate for splinters.

✦✦ Splintering leads to physical corruption of form. It’s simply a fact of life for a splinter. (Cleanse.)

✦✦ Since a splinter already looks like glass, why not actually become glass? (Transformation.)

Path to Joy: The following events may bring me Joy.

✦✦When I reassemble after splintering, I find a new way to assemble myself and gain 1 additional point to my Physicality pool permanently.

Path to Despair: The following events are likely to cause me Despair.

✦✦ I cannot find or reassemble all my splintered shards, and I suffer 1 Wound.

✦✦ Someone steals one of my fragments, and I suffer a scourge in all actions until I can regain it.

Forte Abilities: I have access to the following abilities, as long as I start with the first one and then select more, following the path indicated and spending Crux to do so.

Defensive Splintering

Level: 2 (no cost)

When I am attacked, I splinter into many pieces and then reform instantly. While I am splintered, some attacks pass right through me. I gain +1 to all Dodge defense actions. This is not an action in and of itself.

Color: Invisible

Two

Level: 3

I splinter into many fragments, which instantly reassemble into two versions of me. I’m in control of both. They are both me. Each version can take an action each round, but each suffers a −3 penalty to all actions, as each is only half of me. Further, while splintered, I do not have access to my belongings, abilities gained from my order, my spells, and so on. I have only my skills and secrets.

Depletion: 0–1 (check each round)

Color: Gold

Reduction

Level: 3

I splinter into many fragments, only one of which is significant. The rest fade away. The remaining fragment takes on the form of me, but is only 4 inches (10 cm) tall. This version of me has all my stats, skills, spells, and so on, with the following modifications: my Physicality pool gains 5 vex, and my Movement pool gains 3 bene. However, in a given round, I can move only about 3 feet (1 m). I can slip into small spaces, hide, and so on, as my new size would suggest.

Depletion: 0 (check each hour)

Color: Gold

Many

Level: 6

I splinter into many fragments, which instantly reassemble into a number of versions of me equal to the level of this effect. I’m in control of all of them. Each version of me can take an action each round, but each suffers a −3 penalty to all actions, as each is only a portion of me. Further, while splintered, I do not have access to my belongings, abilities gained from my order, my spells, and so on. I have only my skills and secrets.

Depletion: 0–1 (check each round)

Color: Gold

Growth

Level: 5

I splinter into many fragments and immediately reassemble, but when I do, I am 12 feet (4 m) tall. This version of me has all my stats, skills, spells, and so on, with the following modifications: my Physicality pool gains 5 bene, my Accuracy pool gains 2 bene, and my Movement pool gains 3 vex. I can move a short distance in a round and still take an action.

Depletion: 0 (check each hour)

Color: Gold

Reassemble Elsewhere

Level: 7

I splinter into many fragments and immediately reassemble up to 10 miles (16 km) away. I don’t need to know where I am going. Even if there are barriers in the way, they don’t hinder me, so I can reassemble on the other side of a locked door. If I try to reassemble somewhere that’s not possible (like within solid rock), I don’t go anywhere and I lose my next turn, disoriented and stunned.

Color: Pale

Explosion of Splinters

Level: 7 (+1 die)

I splinter into many fragments in a powerful explosion, and then immediately reassemble. In doing so, my splinters are like shards of metal and inflict damage equal to 3 less than the level of this ability to all close to me. I am, of course, unharmed by this.

Color: Red

Shattered Body

Level: 8

The next time I suffer damage, even 1 point, I reactively splinter into many fragments and then reform, restoring any Injuries and Wounds I suffered. Once I activate this power, the reactive splintering that may occur afterward is not an action. Essentially, I negate the next Wound I suffer.

Depletion: 0 (check each time the ability is activated)

Color: Green

Shattered Mind

Level: 8

I splinter my mind into many fragments, although my body remains intact and in place. My mind fragments instantly spread anywhere in the Actuality, and spend one round in a random body in a place of my choosing—one place per fragment—as long as there is a being’s mind that I can inhabit. I have only enough time to observe what is going on in that brief moment and—should I choose—say up to six words. I have a number of mind fragments equal to the level of this ability.

Color: Blue

Shattered Soul

Level: 10 (no cost)

I splinter my soul into nine fragments, keeping one and scattering eight throughout the Actuality. Should I die, one of those eight fragments comes to my body and heals it to full function. If I die again, the same thing happens, until I have exhausted all nine soul fragments, at which point I truly die. Then my soul reforms, and I lose this power. Once I do this, I cannot be affected by secrets or magical practices that require my secret soul name. I cannot access my Soul Guardian or any secret soul affiliation.

Color: Pale