Description
The Chimera’s obsession with transmutation led to the creation of the Mongrel Witchbreed. Their curse, however, is not entirely manifested by the dark magics that the Witchmark imparted. Rather, it is the Witch’s unholy curiosity that represents the heart and soul of the curse. Because of this, the perception of a Mongrel and the reality are two very different things.
Few outside of its victims recognize the true essence of this Witchbreed’s curse. Most people recognize Mongrels by their monstrous form—once mortal human bodies fused with the limbs and organs of countless animal species. The Mongrels vary substantially from specimen to specimen, and no two are known to have an identical combination of physical modifications. Examples include the horns of a stag, the eyes of a cat, or the shell of a turtle. Often, the Witch modified the size of the animal organs so that they become proportionate to the size of the Accursed who bears them. In rarer cases, an organ or limb can be grossly disproportionate, leaving the victim with a horribly misshapen appearance. These unholy replacements endow a Mongrel with inhuman abilities—most commonly ones that enable them to better serve in combat as a part of the Chimera’s army.
Yet these transplants do not represent the essence of their curse. Rather, the implanted body parts are examples of how the Chimera’s Witchmark modified the victims who bear it. The essence of the curse is the ability to survive the surgeries the Witch performs. It makes the subjects hardier and enables their flesh to merge with that of other organisms. However, it does nothing to reduce the pain that the surgeries inflict. Even as these transplants empower the recipients with inhuman abilities, they also inflict a life of constant agony.
Whether it is a consequence of the torturous pain or foul magic, the Chimera had even greater control over Mongrels than any of the other Witches hold over their Accursed. During the war, the Chimera frequently drove Mongrels into a frenzy of bloodlust before unleashing them on the armies of the Alliance. In this state, the Accursed were not only able to inflict incredible damage to their foes, but they were also often unaware of the damage that they suffered. Battlefield legends speak of Mongrels who fought on long after their bodies should have collapsed from blood loss and massive organ damage.
Those who have studied this curse suspect that it somehow keeps the body animated beyond injury, similar to the method the Soulforger uses to create Golems.
After the war’s end, many of the Mongrels reverted to a state of near-mindless savagery. Without the Chimera’s direction, they wandered across Morden alone and in small bands inflicting destruction upon whatever they encountered. It was only the intervention of the Order of the Penitent that ultimately provided a means for these Accursed to soothe their savagery. Specialists among the Order—no one knows if they were white witches, alchemists, or simply inspired devout—developed an elixir, which offers Mongrels relief from their primal nature. Replicating it requires a series of alchemical procedures and a range of rare components. Under its influence, the pain from their implants became far less severe. Rather than constantly submitting to a bestial state, members of the Witchbreed were once more capable of acting with restraint as their human personalities surfaced. For many Mongrels, the elixir became as significant as the end of the Bane War, and served to cement their desire to join the Order’s fight. They recognized that without its presence, they quickly lose their minds and succumb to base desires. However, even lessened, the pain remains a constant presence the Mongrel must fight just to survive another day.
Mongrel Witchbreed Package
Agonizing Pain: Attribute Penalty (Spirit –2)
Animal Components: Two Edges, appropriate to modifications
Edges
Bear the Pain
- Requirements: Seasoned, Mongrel, Vigor d8+
Those who have lived with the Mongrel Witchmark for an extended period of time sometimes become numb to any pain beyond that felt from their implants. He may ignore 1 point each of both wound and fatigue penalties.
Bestial Connection
- Requirements: Novice, Mongrel, Spirit d6+
The Mongrel extends his senses through one of his implants and achieves a mental connection to an animal of the same type that provided the implant. The animal must be within five miles. Its presence is subject Gamemaster discretion. If present, the Mongrel can automatically summon the animal to his current location, where it renders some minor assistance. Note that the Mongrel has no further control over the animal nor does the animal possess a heightened intelligence or communication.
Hybrid Survival
- Requirements: Novice, Mongrel, Smarts d6+
Some Mongrels are able to tap into the instincts associated with their implants. For these individuals, time spent far from human civilization is far easier to bear. When making a Survival test in an environment associated with one of their implants, the Mongrel receives a +4.