By: Al Baker
Lore
Cold…
That was the first thing I felt.
Unending, cold--a complete absence of warmth.
“Who am I?” I ask myself.
You are no one--just a spirit, a spark of consciousness, a voice in my mind answered.
“Why do I exist?”
To serve.
“What am I?”
You are a slave meant to do my bidding.
“Yes master.”
Created from ancient ice and animated by the souls of living beings, hoarfrost hosts are walking contradictions. On the outside, it appears to be nothing more than a walking ice sculpture but within it lies a glowing bluish-white ember of consciousness.
Characteristics
Based upon the mindset of its creator, a host's appearance can almost be anything; from crudely cobbled together constructs to beautifully crafted works of art. Hoarfrost hosts are generally asexual, unless their creator gives them a specific gender when making them. They usually tend to be either a clear or icy blue to transparent in color. The only common factor is a brilliant, pulsating sphere of bluish-white light within its chest. Hoarfrost hosts are considered constructs and not undead, even though they are powered by the spirits of the dead.
A Mindworker and his Hoarfrost Host Servant
Construction
A hoarfrost host must be constructed from elements like snow or ice and the soul of a living creature, which is called a "spark". This "spark” must be from a humanoid or any creature that is at least sentient/intelligent. All memories from the spark’s previous life are suppressed.
To create the Hoarfrost requires Mindworkers of great mental strength and skill. The process is mostly straightforward but requires the strictest concentration and prodigious deft. The two-stage procedure is as follows:
1. Abilities – Taking the Soul out of the victim.
Psionic Supremacy – Similar to Psychic Domination [Unearthed Arcana] (Breaking the Ego Barrier).
Drahjan's Grasp – Removes the “spark” of a Victim of Psionic Supremacy. [Greater] version works on sentient creatures Large+.
2. Construction – Take the snow/ice/rime/etc (250-1000lbs). Craft the Host in any shape you wish.
Binding the Soul – Symbols of Confinement.
Carve the Seven Sigils of Submission [Ring of 6 smaller symbols surrounding a larger 7th Owner’s Mark (Symbol MUST be one the Owner wishes to use to identify themself)] somewhere on the Host’s body.
Freeing the spark from the host requires destroying all or part of the ring and attempting the ability Reclaiming the Lost.
DC (20 average) reduction per sigil damaged:
· 1 sigil = -2
· 2 sigils = -4
· 3 sigils = -6
· 4 sigils = -8
· 5 sigils = -10
· 6 sigils = -12
Special Abilities
Construct immunities, double damage from fire, immune cold, death burst (when destroyed)
Alignment
Like all other sentient beings, hosts can be of any alignment. If they have no master, they tend toward neutrality, though it may be with a lawful bent to them. When under a master’s control they immediately gravitate to his/her alignment. In very rare cases, some hosts regain their spark’s memories and become the alignment of their personality. Some hoarfrost's have been known to be driven insane by the experience of remembering their past life and become chaotic neutral or even chaotic evil.
