Malice

[Lannis]

- MALICE -
[ One-off ]
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Overview
A malicious entity of unknown origin and nature, but unambiguous in intent. It exists to sow strife and suffering, and reaps the bitter fruits of its labors to strengthen itself. It mainly acts through possession, persuading or compelling others to act out its evil designs. It can inhabit both people and objects; rarely does it appear outside, but it may manifest itself as a figure drawn of smoke and burning-coal features near its host.
The following general rules apply:
- It can only inhabit people and objects that can readily be carried around, i.e. it can't possess a house or ship.
- It can only possess items that bear a craftsman's touch; anything manufactured, but not rocks or branches.
- It can only possess mostly-solid objects, i.e. not clothing.
- Changing hosts requires physical contact between the current host and the prospective one, i.e. picking up a possessed book.
- A characteristic sigil unerringly draws itself somewhere on its host. This can be a tattoo, brand, engraving, etc., but it always makes the same mark. Where it appears is at the discretion of the host/DM, but it should always be somewhere either immediately visible, or uncoverable without needing to significantly disrobe (just under a collar, on the wrist just above the hem of a sleeve, etc.). The host shows no other visible changes.
- It can't inhabit divine artifacts, or any blessed T3 or higher.
- Destroying or killing the host will banish it, so long as there are no other hosts it can immediately switch to.
- T3 or higher blessed can exorcise it through a prolonged ritual and prayer, either forcing it to another available host or banishing it if none are available.


Mortal Host:
Malice vies for control over the mortal that it inhabits, festering as a parasite as its influence grows. It may begin as small acts, guiding the host's hand with small acts of cruelty where they otherwise wouldn't, but eventually builds to a constant struggle during which both sides attempt to gain the upper hand as the dominant 'personality'. The manner in which the Fiend may act while possessing a host is determined by the strength of the host.

Weak hosts like old people and children often fall quickly to its compulsion. Stronger hosts like Cogimens, some blessed, and those of great intelligence and wit may prove harder to overcome since this is a matter of the mind. Malice rarely stays in one body for long, either seeking the opportunity for stronger prey if it is victorious, or weaker if it is overcome.

Progression:
- In the early stages of possession, the host may not realize that they're possessed at all. The individual will start by recognizing others who act maliciously and grow fond of them, wanting to be close to them and work together.
- As its influence grows the host begins to suffer intrusive thoughts and compulsions to cause suffering, starting out with small thoughts and later on leading to them performing malicious acts. This could be anything from acts of hatred, to lies, destruction, pain, etc. The host remains fully aware, but may have no explanation or understanding of their compelled actions.
- As the influence of the entity waxes the possessed will feel as if they are watching their own lives from behind their own eyes, like looking at some twisted dream of their once familiar reality. They will feel like a stranger in their own body.

Notes:
- While in a mortal host, Malice appears perfectly metaphysically camouflaged as part of the host, and is invisible to arcane means of detection.
- Repeated possessions may have increasingly more severe effects on the host's mental state, gradually driving them slightly insane.
- It has an easier time of exercising control while the host is asleep, and may act in this time without the host remembering it in the morning.


Inanimate Host:
The entity lurks in wait, hiding within an inanimate object until a better host arises. A marking appears on this object, identifying it as inhabited. While in this form, it can influence those in immediate proximity (the same room or house) and make them more prone to performing small acts of cruelty.

Notes:
- People carrying or wielding a possessed item feel this influence more strongly, and may experience up to the middle stage of full possession without Malice changing hosts.
- The inhabited item counts as having both anima and mens, and may be detected by magical inspection.

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Credit: Bartooliinii Lannis​