Sembene from 'Penny Dreadful'

Sembene

'The shamans in my mountains call it Uchawi Mabadiliko... the changing from one skin into another. The ones so cursed do not always fully remember it, this... becoming. Is it a sickness? Or is it something else? Is it a blessing, the purpose of which we can not yet see? I say, this is what it is. For I know you my friend, Ethan Chandler, I see inside you.'

F: Rm (30)

A: Ex (20)

S: Gd (10)

E: Rm (30)

R: Typ (06)

I:  Rm (30)

P: Rm (30)

Health: -90

Karma: 66

Resources:  Typ (06)

Popularity: 0

Talents:

Sembene had several skills which made him quite a match for the foes that Sir Malcolm Murray faced, including:

Sharp Weapons

Blunt Weapons
Firearms

Knowledge: London

Knowledge: Upper African Continent

Knowledge: Multi-lingual

Knowledge: British Explorers.

Dual weapon fighting

Cook

Hunting/Tracking

Stealth

Unarmed combat

Marksman

Powers:

Sembene has no real powers, but demonstrates several power-like effects throughout the Penny Dreadful series. Significantly, Sembene has one power-like effect:

 Strong-Willed: Sembene is a man of extraordinary will, perhaps even greater than his associates (outside of perhaps Vanessa Ives). Sembene is not easily startled or surprised by the actions or activities that he is exposed to, and has gone toe-to-toe with vampires, witches, and ultimately werewolves. Sembene is considered to have Rm (30) will to resist fear effects or to startle, and to ignore conditions or events which may make others flinch. In addition, it is suggested through the series that Sembene is resistant to mystical effects, and he is not as easily swayed as the others when the Night Witches attack or use magic. Sembene is also able to ignore his own pain and conditions with a similar FEAT roll, being able to act when others are stunned and even resist pain.

Contacts:

Sembene is a close ally of those within Malcolm Murray’s circle – Vanessa Ives, Ethan Chandler, and even Victor Frankenstein. Sembene’s role with Malcolm Murray is outwardly as a manservant, but is quite equal to Murray (See Limitations).

Limitations:

Sembene has a few limitations, such as:

• Responsibility to/for Malcolm Murray: Although the exact nature of Sembene’s relationship to Murray is speculated as being that Murray saved Sembene’s life, the truth is a bit more complex, as it is heavily implied that Sembene had saved Murray’s life and is now responsible for it. As such, Sembene will risk his own well-being for Malcolm Murray’s, and often will act on Murray’s instruction without real question. Sembene feels very strongly that he’s responsible for Murray’s life, and takes the role very seriously.
• Unusual Looks: Sembene has a series of marks on his face which mark him by his former profession as a slave trader. Sembene’s appearance can seem fearsome, and when first encountered, can be rather imposing (-1cs for social checks upon first encounter). 
• Reputation: Sembene has a reputation as a slave trader prior to his encounter with Malcolm Murray.
• Enemies: Any enemy that Malcolm Murray has, Sembene has, and as such was considered to be an enemy of Dracula, the Night Witches, and any of Murray’s other enemies.

Laurie Strode from 'Halloween'

Laurie Strode

F:  Gd (10)

A: Gd (10)

S: Typ (06)

E: Rm (30)

R: Typ (06)

I:  Ex (20)

P: Ex (20)

Health: 56

Karma: 46

Resources: Pr (04)/Typ (06) – (Personal Resources/Family Resources)

Popularity: 0 (Before the Haddonfield Incident) 5 Afterwards

Talents:

Laurie is still a student, and possesses the ‘Student’* talent.

Laurie could consider to have Area Knowledge: Haddonfield and Local Lore: Haddonfield if one so chose.

Powers:

Laurie is a normal human, but displays several Pseudo-powers:

• The First Final Girl: Laurie’s use of karma is unique throughout the first Halloween movie: When Laurie is threatened or terrified, she gains karma each time she encounters one of Michael’s activities or when spotting Michael. In addition, Laurie spends Karma when hiding from Michael or when defending from Michael’s attacks, gaining Karma whenever she believes she’s injured Michael. In addition, Laurie will automatically spend Karma if caught in a terrifying situation to at least a Green result. Laurie will also spend Karma to protect anyone in her charge, and will actual seize initiative to create advantages for her charges to escape.
• Higher Endurance: Laurie has higher a higher Endurance that allows her to resist certain effects and continue to operate with successful Endurance FEATs. Laurie’s Endurance is not superhuman, but it does border maximum human.
• Final Girl Will: A variation of Iron Will, Laurie can suppress her trauma and damage for some time, unknowingly doing so as she reacts to the onslaught o Michael Meyers. Laurie will ignore most damage below Gd (10) for several rounds, but will eventually collapse and have serious issues she will need to recover from.

Contacts:

Laurie was well-liked by the Haddonfield community, trusted to be a babysitter for several members of that community. In addition, it is assumed that Laurie could call on Samuel Loomis after the events of the first Halloween.

Limitations:

Laurie Strode has a few limitations – well, one big one:

• Hunted by Michael: Whether by accident or by intention, Laurie is one of the targets of the monstrous serial killer Michael Meyers, and he will stop at nothing to kill her. Laurie is one of the few people to escape Michael Meyers, and was present during his last efforts in Haddonfield.
• Cry Wolf:  Laurie often spots the danger before anyone else, recognizing there is something or someone wrong and often tries to tell authorities and others before anything happens. For whatever reason, No one really believes Laurie’s premonitions and ignores her feelings.

Notes:

This is Laurie through the first movie, ignoring the sequels, H20 and the 2001 movie where Laurie was ‘killed’. This is a personal decision for me, as I felt nothing that has followed (Yet) has been really on the same part as the first one. Laurie’s ‘Final Girl’ abilities are not real powers, but mechanics that would allow her to survive in that situation. In addition, the higher Endurance I feel is probably a bit high, but I think it can be justified throughout the film and situations. Finally, I would suggest that the ‘Cry Wolf’ limitation is not something that Laurie is conscious of, she’s simply reporting what she sees, which is 100% accurate and ignored anyway. I debated adding something about her ability to spot the threat, but I ended up giving her an Ex (20) Intuition instead. I places her Psyche as high as I did based on the events in the movie and how well she actually navigated them.

Kharis The Mummy, from 'The Mummy's Hand'

Kharis

For who shall defile the temples of the ancient gods, a cruel and violent death shall be his fate, and never shall his soul find rest unto eternity. Such is the curse of Amon-Ra, king of all the gods.

F: Ex (20)

A: Pr (04)

S: Rm (30)

E: Am (50)

R: Typ (06)

I:  Typ (06)

P: Gd (10)

Health: 104

Karma: 26

Resources:  Shift 0*

Popularity: -5/0/5/-5 (Ancient Egypt/History/As an attraction/As the Swamp Mummy)

Talents:

Kharis’s talents are limited by his experience, age, and mobility. Kharis has displayed the following skills:

Mystic Origin*

Knowledge: Ancient Egypt

Knowledge: Mystical Rites

Brawling

Powers:

The Mummy’s Curse: Kharis was cursed to wander the Earth unable to find rest, and has only been reanimated through the use of Tana Leaves, which could return him to full life and grant him immortality if enough were used. As only nine of the leaves were used in his return during The Mummy’s Hand

Kharis is still trapped in his ancient and weathered body. Kharis has the following abilities:

Undead Form: Kharis is considered to be beyond the veil of life and death, and is considered Invulnerable

• to all attacks that affect living creatures. Kharis is immune to stun effects (although he can be slammed and grand-slammed), and does react to taking damage as if he is still alive (Kharis flinches from fire and gunshots). Kharis takes no damage from non-magical effects, toxins, disease, poisons, or the like. Kharis can be slowed and/or trapped accordingly.
• Karma Immunity: Kharis cannot gain Karma through any action, nor can Kharis spend Karma to help him in any action. By the same action, Karma cannot be used to affect Kharis either. Karma cannot be used to improve rolls against Kharis due to the nature of his curse. In addition, Kharis’s curse prevents Kharis from ever attempting to ‘pull his punch’ or to downgrade his attacks.
• Agility Boost: Kharis is slow-moving, only able to navigate a single area per round, and possesses a degree of almost exaggerated awkwardness due to his time-ravaged form…however…. Kharis can move with Ex (20) ability when striking a target if in proximity. Kharis can only boost his Agility when pursuing a single target, and only when striking a target, not for any other purpose.
• Self-Revival: Kharis is bound to his mortal remains, and so long as the Tana Leaves are provided, Kharis will continue to return, even if years and decades pass in the interim. (Thirty years passed between two movies as an example). Kharis can be resurrected through mystical ceremonies and Tana Leaves.

Contacts:

Kharis has no real contacts, and is often used as a tool or pawn of others.

Limitations:

Kharis has key limitations based on the nature of his curse, the dependency on Tana Leaves, and his own obsessions:

• Cursed: Kharis is under the curse of the high priests of Ancient Egypt due to his attempted resurrection of his dead love. As such, powers such as Mystic Detection will detect Kharis strongly, and his nature/curse is well known to antiquarians and others. In addition, Kharis cannot resist those who know how to control him or control the Tana Leaves.
• Dependency: Tana Leaves: Kharis would be trapped without the ability to act if not for the mystical Tana Leaves. A brew of nine leaves will restore Kharis to mobility and allow him to return to activity, but it must be used regularly or Kharis will stop. Kharis’s dependency on the Tana Leaves is absolute, and Kharis will kill to gain them if necessary as it will also allow him to restore his long dead love Ananka. Kharis requires a Psyche FEAT to resist the need for the leaves, and will ally/be controlled  whomever has the leaves.
• Obsession: Ananka: Kharis is obsessed with restoring his lost love Ananka, and will stop at nothing to recover her and/or find her. Kharis’s obsession reduces his ability to resist Psyche FEATS when such is used to motivate him (-2cs). Kharis will become enraged if Ananka is harmed or if things occur to prevent their reunion. Kharis will also choose Ananka over himself if necessary.
• Monstrous Appearance: Kharis suffers a -4cs to all social interactions and cannot hide his identity, In addition, Kharis has no tongue and cannot speak, which makes attempts to communicate verbally nearly impossible. In addition, Kharis is missing an eye which adds to his inhuman appearance.
• Fire: Kharis’s form is vulnerable to catching fire, which dries out the Tana Leaves extract inside of him. When faced with flame above Ex (20) damage, Kharis begins to take Endurance Damage equal to rank of intensity, so Rm (30) would do +1 rank of Endurance, In (40) would do +2, etc. until Kharis is reduced to Shift 0 Endurance. Kharis will go inert at apparently cease all functioning – until Tana Leaves are again applied.

Notes:

Kharis is actually what most people think of when they think of the Universal Mummy movies – slow moving and wrapped in bandages. I don’t have an issue with Kharis’s FASERIP, it’s pretty consistent with the movies. The Invulnerability sounds really potent, but in comparison, his higher strength and invulnerability are Kharis’s only real advantages. I tried to capture the limitations as they were portrayed through the other movies.

February 2019 update

Good Morning all;


I hope February doesn't find you too miserable and that gaming is good. I'm in the final stretches of reposting my Halloween updates and making solid progress on other updates and write-ups.

Marscon 2019 was a success, I ran seven events with a bunch of old familiar players and a surprisingly new number of players who had never played MSH and ended up playing a few times. Not bad for a game that has been out of print since 1996.

So, I'm hoping today to begin reposting my Halloween 2018 write-ups here, including the ones I didn't get out during October.