Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Sin-eater / Corpsegrinder Class for Lamentations of the Flame Princess (LotFP)


THE DEAD ARE CORRUPT AND THE STOMACHS OF SIN-EATERS PURIFY THEIR ROTTING FLESH. The ghastly life of the poor sods who end up devouring the dead is never chosen, rather it is often a form of punishment handed down by fate.

Theologians have debated about the qualities of these unfortunate souls who seem to be holiness garbed in disgusting wretchedness. Are they malign beings warped by arcane chaos, do they belong to a cursed bloodline, or are they touched by some cruel god? Are they even human or are they some hybrid form of life? Many believe that their souls are eternally damned as the cost for forgiving those they eat. When a sin-eater dies their bodies are salted and burned and their remains are not allowed to be buried in the hallowed ground of most cemeteries.

If society has a caste system, sin-eaters are always considered to be the lowest of the low, but they are believed to be a spiritual necessity to cleanse those who's evil deeds weigh on them. From the lowliest peasant, to the grandest King, many call for their skills ere the final end so that they might peace in the hereafter.

Some cults and churches in backwoods areas elevate their dead upon lofty external biers to let the carrion birds eat the holy meat and take it to paradise. The parts that are refused by them are considered to be sinful, and it is the grisly task of these "corpsegrinders" to finish the rest of the remains (including gristle, joints, and bones). It is believed that those who die with the taint of dark sin will rise eventually as the Undead.

Their skin is greasy, pockmarked, and sickly looking and their thick warped limbs are malformed. They require armor to be specially made or modified (150-200% of normal cost) to fit their unusual bodies. Due to their horrid appearance they have a -2 penalty for all interactions that use the Reaction Roll table.
Sometimes sin-eaters acquire memories and temporary abilities from those they devour (1-in-6 chance to start; results are left up to the referee). They often file and sharpen their ever-growing teeth which grant them a savage bite attack which increases in effectiveness at higher levels. Their bite is an extra attack that can be used in addition to other normal attacks, so for example a sin-eater could swing with a weapon and attempt to bite a foe in close range in the same round.

Sin-eaters gain half as many skills as a specialist. Once per level per day they can appear to be a rancid corpse for as long as they remain completely motionless and prone. When they play dead they can surprise foes with a 3-in-6 chance. Unless they are attacked by the sin-eater Undead will attack other targets and completely ignore them.

Alchemists have bottled their highly caustic stomach acid and it seems to be quite efficacious against Undead. This typically costs 50 silver pieces and deals 1D8 damage but with a duration of 1D4 rounds.

*Optional Ability* Referees who want this class to be a bit more over-the-top could grant a ranged vomit attack that damages Undead within a 10' range (1D8 dmg for 1D4 rounds). This ability could also replace the bite attack and damage.


LevelBite
Dmg
XPHit PointsParalyzePoisonBreathDeviceMagicSkillsAbilities
Memories
01D2-1D61010161416--
11D201D88816121521-in-6
21D42200+1D886161215+11-in-6
31D44400+1D886161215+11-in-6
41D68800+1D864161015+11-in-6
51D617600+1D864161012+12-in-6
61D835200+1D862141012+12-in-6
71D870400+1D84214812+12-in-6
81D10140800+1D84214812+13-in-6
91D10281600+1D8421489+13-in-6
102D6422400+2221269+14-in-6
112D6563200+2221269+14-in-6
12+2D8+140800
/lvl
+2221048+15-in-6

Thanks to the following people who helped me tweak this class: Andrew Knapp, Gregorious21778, Ian Christiansen, Ignacio Bergkamp, Jeff Cape, Jeff Rients, John Scheib, and Ronnie Ortiz.

This was submitted for use in an upcoming issue of the Flame Princess Cult 'zine from Jeff Rients. It is an unofficial 'zine for Lamentations of the Flame Princess.

2 comments:

  1. makes. Is interesting and well thought out. Like an assassin a sin eater doesn't seem like a team player. I'm sure the ranged vomit will appeal to some.

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  2. Thanks for your comments. I hadn't thought about them being a team player... I guess they do give off more of a loner vibe.

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