Creations of Flux, Part III

Originally published January 6, 2014

Years ago I ran a Promethean: the Created game called Pandora's Tomorrow. As one might expect from the name, I created a large number of Pandorans for the game. In this series I will be sharing some of these failed creations, their history, and some story seeds for their use.

The Lasher and the Razor Hounds

Background: Not all Pandorans are the creation of Prometheans. Some are the failed creations of mortal demiurges. In New York City, a quiet community of Oriental alchemists has pursued the deepest secrets of their art. One of these, worried about an upsurge of gang violence in the 80s, sought to create a guardian for his community. Fusing several mystic traditions, he eventually succeeded in creating a Tammuz known as Chou Fang to watch over his people.

But before that he created monsters. Bodies that warped and ripped themselves apart before becoming flesh devouring horrors. Weak at first he was able to escape them. Once they settled into dormancy, he hid his failures in the walls of a crumbling tenement building. He bricked up the hidden space, hoping his work would never be discovered.

Unfortunately when the next Promethean ventured near the creatures awoke and force their way out. The hunted down and devoured the Created. One mutated, gaining a cruel intelligence and a knack for laying traps. While the other Pandorans slumbered, this smarter creature, the Lasher, made preparations, traps for the unwary. It has feasted well over the years, growing in power.

Lasher

Description: A deathly thin figure with black leathery skin, the Lasher's arms have been replaced with long whip-like tentacles. Its face is a wrinkled mass of armored skin with only its yellowed eyes and mouth of shattered teeth exposed. Though genderless, it speaks in a feminine whisper.

Storyteller Notes: The Lasher attempts to capture Prometheans who intrude on its domain, typically by toppling a large object on top of them. Its goal is to eat them slowly, savoring the experience while also tormenting the Created in his or her dreams.

Lineage: Ishtari
Rank: 2

Mental Attributes: Intelligence 1, Wits 3, Resolve 3
Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2
Social Attributes: Presence 2, Manipulation 1, Composure 1
Skills: Athletics 2, Brawl (whips) 3, Crafts (traps) 1, Empathy 2, Intimidation 3, Occult 2, Stealth 3 (Darkness), Survival 3
Merit: Area of Expertise (traps)

Willpower: 4 Vice: Wrath
Initiative: 4 Defense: 3 (GMC: 5)
Speed: 12 Health: 7

Pyros (Max (Current)/Spend per turn): 12 (2)/2
Size: 5
Bestowment: Inertia
Transmutations: Man-like Stature 1, Perfected Bezoar (Sharp Weapons) 3, Tentacles 2, Unwholesome Visitations 2

Notes:

• It takes the Lasher 2 turns to awaken due to the proximity of a Promethean.
• Bite: dice pool 6, Bashing.
• Whips: dice pool 8, Bashing
• Grapple: dice pool 8
• It spends pyros to boost its attack pools, attempting to disable its target.

Razor Hounds

Description: These large black hounds stand as tall as mastiffs but seem made from wrapped strips of leather studded with gleaming razors. They never bark or make any noise except for the click of their claws on hard ground.

Storyteller Notes: Razor Hounds prefer to run down their prey and savage them on the spot. Only a more powerful force can stop them from getting their fill.

Lineage: Ishtari
Rank: 1

Mental Attributes: Intelligence 0, Wits 2, Resolve 2
Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 2, Stamina 2
Social Attributes: Presence 1, Manipulation 0, Composure 1
Skills: Athletics 3, Brawl (Bite) 3, Intimidation 2, Stealth 2 (Darkness), Survival 2
Merits: Fleet of Foot 2

Willpower: 3 Vice: Wrath
Initiative: 3 Defense: 2 (GMC: 5) (Armor 1)
Speed: 13 Health: 6

Pyros (Max (Current)/Spend per turn): 10 (0)/1
Size: 4
Transmutations: Armor 1, Body Barbs 4

Notes:

• It takes the Razor Hounds 2 turns to awaken due to the proximity of a Promethean.
• Bite: dice pool 7, 1 Lethal
• Barbs: ½ damage (rounded down) a hell hound suffers from unarmed attacks is inflicted on the opponent.

Story Seeds

Hunting Party: While wandering Manhattan at night, the player characters find themselves shadowed by Razor Hounds. The creatures chase them into Central Park. Once there they fall prey to makeshift caltrops (Dexterity + Athletics - 2 or suffer 1 Lethal) and bear traps (Wits + Composure -3 to avoid or suffer 3 Lethal damage and become trapped). Once immobilized the Lasher emerges to subdue them.

Crypt of the Demiurge: a curious Promethean might seek out the mortal demiurge. Unfortunately he passed away many years ago. But among his list of possessions is a key to a tenement building. The structure is now abandoned but the failed creations live on. Anyone entering the abandoned room triggers a trap that drops a sofa down from the apartment above (attack dice pool 8 - Defense, 3 Lethal). As they struggle to free themselves, the Lasher and the Razor Hounds have time to fully animate.

The Rescue: while in New York City, the Created feel the call of Azoth to Azoth, coming from beneath the city. While exploring the tunnels beneath the city, they encounter a rockfall (dice pool 6 - Defense, 3 Lethal damage and buried). The Lasher has captured two Prometheans which it is slowly eating while feeding scraps to the Razor Hounds. It has laden the tunnels with traps.