CW: Stalking, implied domestic abuse and sexual assault
There are countless great loves in stories. Romance is an entire genre itself. What these relationships look like vary wildly for each individual. Some people seek things they lack, others look for wild passion, and many look to be content. There is an idealized version of it that exist in the hearts of those who desire it. Yet, when we look to our stories about romance, things don’t come together all that easily. The lovers of fantasy go through wild swings of emotions. An idyllic meeting often sets the tone, a rival schemes to break them up, a messy reveal threatens to end their relationship, and then things are made right for their final reunion – taking the form of a wedding or other important commitment.
Attributes: The Lover is deeply entwined with another individual. Their partner need not be an Avatar – in the myths there is usually a pursuer and the taboos follow that assumption. But this doesn’t forbid two Lovers from being in a relationship or alternative relationship structures from being modeled. Throughout history and in many of the myths, it was assumed these roles were performed by a man and woman as a reflection of The Mother and The Father. But this isn’t locked to only heterosexual pairs either. Any variation of sexuality and genders can play the role as long as at least one party is invested in impressing the other. Since relationships in Unknown Armies can also be groups, a polycule or other alternative relationship structure might fill the Favorite for the Avatar as well. One of the biggest dangers for the Avatar is keeping their sense of Self in tact as the lovers blur together. With pure intentions, the channels are tools that can protect and foster the relationship.
An Avatar being so defined by another person opens up a slew of questions. When The Lover ascends, does their partner join them? Many myths feature gods looking for mortal brides, it’s possible the Lover’s ascension opened up the other Archetypes to getting down and dirty. Even The First and Last Man has a wife. Yet, if the Sorrows or Bluebeard’s Bride are any indication, being wed to the divine or supernatural is a harrowing affair and certainly not an easy relationship to get out of. The archetype’s darker side reveals that The Lover can be an unwelcome and obsessive suitor. The upside is that its hard to maintain without breaking the relationship and having to hear out the victim’s requests can give a buffer of safety. For someone prone to dangerous and possessive affection, they may seek to punish those who reject them or transfer their affection to a new target. With twisted intentions, the channels are tools that torment and trap the Lover’s quarry.
Taboo: The Lover must have a Favorite relationship. You wouldn’t be the Lover if you didn’t have one. If the relationship gets broken, the taboo penalty to the identity hits one week later and no experience can be gained. This happens weekly until the relationship is repaired. When the relationship is mended or a new Favorite is established, then the Avatar functions normally again. The week long grace period exists because the Archetype isn’t built around perfect relationships, it expects rocky roads and turmoil.
The Lover can’t deny a request of their partner. They may fail to fulfill the request due to circumstances, as the stories often go, but they at least have to make the attempt to follow through on their agreement. Failing doesn’t break taboo, only denying does. The lengths one goes to please their partner and the misunderstandings that follow are all part of the ancient stories playing out in real time.
Symbols: Paper hearts, diamond rings, knots, gifts, chocolates, daisies, doves, lipstick stains
Sample Identities: T4T Lesbian, Old School Romantic, Tradwife, Anchor Partner, Serial Stalker
Masks: Romeo & Juliet, Shrek & Fiona, Bluebeard
Channels
1%-50%, Admiration: The Lover puts their beloved above all else. Any Favorite relationship roll can be flip-flopped. With pure intentions, using Connect, Notice, and Of Course I Can makes for heartwarming gestures. With twisted intentions, using Lie, Struggle, or Coercion can bolster their abusive tendencies. Successful Favorite rolls mark experience as if the Avatar identity was rolled.
The Lover knows their chosen the best. Spending time with your partner (a date or other shared activity) lets you pick up on small details to learn about them quickly. Make an Avatar roll and on a success, pick one to learn: Obsession, Passion (Noble, Rage, or Fear), a mundane Identity, Hardened Notches (One meter), Failed Notches (One meter), or Syndromes (One meter).
51%-70%, Connection: A supernatural sense for your Favorite. An Avatar roll will give you a vague distance, direction, currents wounds, and meter of their most recent Stress check. Without a roll, you will automatically know when they are wounded and when they take a stress check. To learn specifics, you have to follow that up with the roll. The feelings caused by this bond are overwhelming as it takes the form of powerful longing and sympathetic pains. There are cases where people have found out a lover has died from this channel. For a Favorite relationship that has multiple partners, you have to pick one when you make the roll. If you make the roll in response to an automatic trigger, it will include who took the wound or stress check. With pure intentions, this helps you keep your beloved safe. With twisted intentions, this makes it hard for them to escape.
71%-90%, Transference: Take on the burdens of your paramour. When you get that ping that your Favorite is taking wounds or stress, you can choose to take it on instead. This does not require a roll, but it can be followed with a roll from the previous channel for more information before you decide to take on the damage. If it’s an attack, it misses or otherwise fails to go through. For the Avatar, the wounds might appear suddenly or come from an accident that follows immediately. Without knowing how serious it is, you could be taking on a paper cut or risking your life. Likewise, the rank of the Stress check is not revealed. A check your partner takes may be one you’re hardened against or one they’re hardened against could be one that you aren’t. A Lover has to be willing to take risks.
This channel can create a lot of problems in a relationship if used carelessly. If accidents or attacks continuously avoid your partner, they might realize that something odd is going on. If you continuously take stress checks, then your partner loses out on change and growth. Additionally, this channel might kill you, cause burn out, or give you a syndrome from overuse. It is here pure and twisted intentions blend together and love takes its toll.
91%+, World of Two: When the lovers are together, the world belongs to them. This lasts for minutes equal to the result of an Avatar roll and can only be used once a day. Under this effect, an invisible barrier separates the Lover and their Favorite from the rest of their surroundings. Within the barrier, they can always hear each other and no one can eavesdrop on them no matter how loud it is outside. Theme music works overtime to make sure they are taken care of. Crowds subconsciously part, lines get cut with ease, broken things work again with a single hit, gifts are found effortlessly, and beautiful sights emerge spontaneously. No harm can come to the lovers as synchronicity keeps them safe by diverting attacks, environmental dangers, and pursuers. Those protected by love can walk through natural disasters unharmed. If The Lover desires to be on display, anyone who can see them must pay attention to them or else take a Rank 5 Isolation check. There is pain knowing that the lovers exist in a world that can’t be reached. With pure intentions, this is a shimmering paradise. With twisted intentions, this is an inescapable prison.