FrivYeti/GreaterAkuma
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Greater Akuma - Conduits of the Yozi
Section 1: Reasoning
I really loved the Akuma section in the Player's Guide, but the little fluke with Dukantha coming out at about the same and creating two slightly different power scales for Infernals always made me curious - what could the Akuma potentially be? It was true that, with enough experience and specialized Merits, any Akuma could potentially be as powerful as Dukantha... sort of. Still, a thought occured to me. As frightening as they are, the ritual that creates the Akuma is usable by any Third-Circle demon. What might an Akuma blessed directly by the Yozi look like?
Well, I decided it would look a lot like Dukantha.
So, without further ado... I give you the Conduits of the Yozi, rarest of the Akuma...
Section 2: Process
The creation of an Akuma is a difficult process, requiring willing Exalts as it does. Few are the Exalts who succumb to the temptations of the Yozi, and the number of Celestial Exalts who have done this horrific deed could likely be counted on one's hands (or, if you are more pessimistic, hands and feet). More are the Dragon-Blooded who have taken this path; with so many more in creation, there are likely dozens of Terrestrial Akuma in existance.
However, all of these foul beings are creatures who were 'gifted' with their dark power by the Third Circle Demons; they are ultimately limited by the power of their dark masters. While the Yozi might (and will) use them directly, they will never be as powerful as they could be. That dubious honour is reserved for the rare Exalt capable of being gifted directly by a Yozi.
This gifting is a difficult prospect at best. First, the Exalt must, of course, come willingly to the Yozi. They may do so for power, or out of some twisted noble purpose, but they must do so. In addition, their personality and desired goals must both share enough of a resonance with the Yozi they are approaching for the bond to function properly; otherwise, it will fail. For example, an Exalt approaching the Ebon Dragon must live by subterfuge and guile, and must seek the freedom of the Yozi. Each Yozi will, of course, have their own conditions, which the Storyteller should decide; the character may be molded into such a shape, but this will be a difficult task, as they must truly change; magical compulsion will not suffice. Finally, the Yozi must be willing to forever sacrifice one of their Third Circle souls and replace it with the Exalt, forever altering themselves, however smally. In theory, a fetich might be sacrificed, but this would irrevocably and massively change the Yozi in question, and none would willingly do it.
If the Yozi can find an Exalt who meets these requirements, and is willing to take the risk, they may set about transforming the hapless Exalt who approached them. This process costs the Exalt a point of permanent Willpower, and takes a full month, during which the Yozi may do nothing but work. During this time, no Third Circle souls of the Yozi may be summoned, as they are all focused fully on their master, and the Yozi's demons will go unsupervised. For this reason alone, many Yozi fear to attempt this ritual. If the Exalt is aligned enough with the Yozi, he will become Greater Akuma; a conduit of power. Otherwise, he and the sacrificed Third Circle demon will be destroyed forever.
Section 3: Benefits and Penalties
The Exalt who becomes a Greater Akuma gains a number of powers and weaknesses, as follows:
1) She is permanently removed from fate, just as though she were a demon.
2) The maximum cap on all Attributes and Abilities is increased by 1, just as for normal Akuma.
3) The character may learn any demon Charm, either in the imbuing step or with experience. She may also learn any circle of sorcery.
4) The character gains the ability to channel the Yozi, summoning them into the world; the details will be different for each Yozi, but will be very powerful, and will follow the basic rules and restrictions of Summon the Sea that Marches Against the Flame. Over time, they may learn even more powerful manifestations of their Yozi as spirit Charms. These Charms may NEVER be learned by anyone except a Third Circle demon of the appropriate Yozi or a Greater Akuma of the appropriate Yozi.
5) The character immediately becomes an Inheritance 10 demon-blood. She gains 60 bonus points to spend on Attributes, Abilities, Willpower, Virtues, spirit Charms, or Merits, and can purchase up to 20 extra points worth of Flaws that relate directly to her cursed nature. In addition, she gains Affected By Wards and Unholy as automatic Flaws; she gains no points for them. She gains Mark of Infernal Favour (as a 5-pt Merit; it affects Second Circle demons as it does First Circle) and either Ordination of Lies or Ordination of Pain to reflect her demonic heritage. The character suffers a 10 XP increase in the cost of increasing any Charms of their original type, but may purchase demonic Charms for 15 XP each, regardless of the Exalt's type. Essence increases normally.
6) The character immediately gains Patron 5, granting her 17 extra background points to spend immediately.
7) Finally, the character is as much a part of her patron as a Third Circle demon is; she is unable to resist her in any way, and indeed, will not likely even think about it. A Yozi may possess a Greater Akuma at any time, for any reason, to any degree, and control them completely.
The character is now a Greater Akuma. If she is destroyed, it will weaken the Yozi exactly as if a Third Circle demon was destroyed. A Yozi may never have more than one of these blasphemies at a time, and may only create one per millenium. Generally speaking, there are only one or two of these creatures in existance at any given time; most of the Yozi lack the desire or the oppurtunity to create them.
