nonsenseconscienceFirst off, just got UA 2nd edition after hearing lots and lots of interesting things about it… and I’m far from disappointed. It’s easily one of the best RPGs I’ve ever had a chance to look at.
Now: I’m designing an Avatar based on the archetype of the Warrior with a Death Wish… a man who hates life and places no value on his own, but is protected from death as long as he seeks it (and for whatever reason will not contemplate suicide – he’s a survivor)… a heroic Seeker after Death is a man who will fight against any odds because he doesn’t care about the consequences, while an evil one is pretty easy to envision.
But I’m having trouble thinking of masks, symbols and ascended, which leads me to believe this archetype may not be as common in literature and whatnot as i expect.
Masks: Spike Spiegel of Cowboy Bebop fame (if y’all are into anime), Leon the Professional, maybe Will Scarlet in his angry Robin-of-Sherwood incarnation, any number of Ronin.
Ascended: …. hm… Tough. Ideally, I’m looking for people who were indestructible while they were searching for death, then died tragically (or heroically) when they found a reason to go on living.
Anybody got ideas for symbols and the like?
Also, am I barking up the wrong tree? Maybe the idea of seeking after death but not having the strength (or lack) of will to do oneself in could qualify as an adept’s paradox.
Mr UnluckyAchilles; professional soldier who died, due to a tragic flaw (according to popularized mythology, at least).
Billy the Kid: live by a gun, die by a gun.
Pick a serial killer; all are walking icons of death, and when taken down, quite a few get clipped for their sins.
Take it as you will; those who deal in death all too often are prey to their fellows more than just the passage of the years.
nonsenseconscienceThat’s not precisely the core of the archetype… I’m looking for people who have nothing to lose, place no value on their own lives, subconsciously WANT to die, but won’t give their enemies the satisfaction of commiting suicide or what have you… As long as they chase their own deaths, consciously or otherwise, their avatar channels protect them from harm that would kill a lesser man. The second they decide they have something to live for, the fun is over and they’re all but doomed.
Miniature Wicker ZombuA kamikaze pilot could fit as either an ascension or an avatar in history. (other possible avatars in history could be any number of mildly suicidal 19th century explorers and conquerers, lots of them seem to take “do or die” a bit too literally)
Symbols could be the special japanese self-disembowling knifes, a worn out pair of walking shoes or basically any much used tool that is worn down until it’s almost broken, but is still used anyway.
rekylHow about Tyr, the norse god who lost his right arm when he tried to chain the Fenris wolf. He stuck the chain loop over his shoulder and put the arm in the wolf’s mouth and while he lost the right arm (his “me time hand”!) he slipped the loop over the wolves head.
Mainly all the norse gods are pretty fair game since they all know they will loose the last battle and they will no matter what, like all the people in Valhalla lose that most significant battle in the end.
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