Asarkos

The Cathedral of Flesh, The Hortus Grotesque, The Garden of Carnal

Delights

Associations
Flesh, Bone, Blood, Disease, Infection, Deformity, Consumption,
Assimilation, Seduction, Fear, Madness, Paranoia, Obsession

The Sarxian Urge (The Urge to Converge)

There are things in this world that are not Asarkos; these things are
fundamentally imperfect, and must be made whole. But therein lies the
problem: If everything that is not Asarkos is incomplete, how can
anything be made whole? Why, the answer is simple: All things must be
subsumed into the Cathedral of Flesh. It's influence must infect every
fiber of existence. Only then will It be content.

Compassionate Sarxian Princes feel great pity for all things, and believe
they are the only ones with the vision to change the world for the better.
They mirror Asarkos's affinity for the weak and downtrodden, who cannot
accomplish much individually, but when brought together for a common
purpose, they can build nations... or tear them down. Those with high
Conviction are nigh unstoppable in the desire to spread their viral
influence. It doesn't matter if the Prince destroys that which is
important to him; all that matters is that his goals are accomplished.
Princes with high Temperance are incredibly patient, willing to wait
years, even decades, for their power to grow before beginning their
relentless march toward their ultimate destination. There is no need to
rush, all will be subsumed in due time. Valorous Princes find tremendous
joy in conflict, almost begging for something to stand in their way.
Anything that tries to stop them will be assimilated, making the Prince
even stronger.

Example Urges:
Infiltrate the Silver Pact to initiate a program of selective breeding to
replace humanity.
Introduce polygamist relations as the new social-norm in all of the Realm,
all children are community children.
Cull the inferior of Nexus and redistribute their property to a greater
good.

The Torment of Asarkos

The influence of the Cathedral pervades everything it touches, forcing
those Infernals bound to It to share in It's Torment. When a character
bearing a Sarxian Urge acquires 10 points of limit, the suffer the Curse
of Asarkos, forcing It's infection to spread uncontrollably. A horrible
infection radiates from the Infernal, blighting everything with (Essence
x 200) yards. This corruption manifests as fleshy growths that consume
the object entirely if given enough time. Any creatures with a (Stamina +
Resistance) less than the Infernal's (Essence + Primary Virtue) has
(Infernal's Essence) health levels infected (as per the Infection
keyword), and is driven to horrible rage (as per an uncontrolled Berserk
Anger limit break). Those already infected by other methods are driven
mad regardless of their traits. This Curse also effects any intimacies
the Cathedral of Flesh does not approve of.

Precipitous Fiat: Incomplete Existence Suggestion

The Cathedral of Flesh is not some unthinking beast, devouring everything
It can, rather It is a careful seducer, only assimilating that which is
willing... and useful. Whenever the Infernal convinces someone that they
are unable to succeed at an important task (usually their Motivation)
without joining the Infernal in completing his own goals, he may roll his
Compassion and reduce his limit by the successes.

Sarxian Essence Overwhelming

The Hortus Grotesque is obsessive and determined, always striving toward
one goal, which it will endure any agonies and inflict any horrors to
achieve. It is patient, loathing sloth, and persistent, shunning despair.
Each victory is a finished step to be exulted in, while each defeat is a
setback to be brooded over. Asarkos has faith that its success is
inevitable, for its form is utterly perfect. It is self-reliant and self-
perpetuating, with no need to rely on the trash known as other beings.
Indeed, to need others is a dreadful weakness, one that Asarkos long
purged from itself; it trusts no-one, for it can only rely on itself.
Asarkos leaves no space and has no time for others – its victory must be
absolute, with no half-measures. It is all-consuming, a prideful carrion-
feeder, turning each fallen enemy and seduced foe into further strength
for itself. It enjoys goading others into conflict, preferring to react
to their foolishness rather than risk overreaching itself. In this, its
competitive nature is made clear; Asarkos is a perfectionist, and applies
this demanding elitism to its own form, pitying the pathetic efforts of
others to match its organic beauty. The weakness of others is
irredeemable, so their only hope is to become one with Asarkos itself,
joining the Garden of Carnal Delights in full. Asarkos is a hedonist, and
sees little difference in conquering others physically or spiritually;
temptation is a viral tool, and one that it luxuriates in, calling it
necessary.

This Excellency can enhance any action taken by the character to protect
their own form or reputation. It also aids the genesis of organic life,
though Asarkos favours self-righteous plagiarism and alteration over
outright creation. It also enhances attempts at seduction. The Excellency
can never be used to enhance an action taken with a teamwork bonus,
unless the characters granting that bonus were directly created by the
Infernal; the Body Most Exulted scorns aid, knowing that others must come
to him, not vice-versa.

Mythos Exultant
Nothing thrills the Cathedral more than the prospect showing other's how
weak they are when compared to It's own perfection. For every stunt die
the Violator rolls, she chooses two characters within (Essence x 10)
yards of her. If the threshold successes on that roll exceed these
characters' Dodge MDV, they loose a number of dice on their next rolled
action equal to twice the stunt's value. The Infernal gains one extra
mote for each character so awed, or one extra point of willpower for
every two characters. Exalts may spend one point of temporary willpower
to ignore this effect for the scene, whereas other essence users must pay
two points of temporary willpower. Mortals must spend three point of
temporary willpower, as it is all they can do to not fall to their knees
in wonder.

Ascendancy Mantle of Asarkos

Asarkos needs nothing beyond Itself, for that which is not Itself is
useless. Infernals with this charm are incapable of attuning to artifacts
not forged from their own flesh or essence.

Sorcerous Enlightenment
The Cathedral of Flesh is a living infection, blighting all that It
touches. It's initiation allows for absolute mastery over spells that
create diseases, corruption, infections, and spread effects in a viral
manner. Any such spells do not require willpower to cast. Some example
spells are Corrupted Words, Malediction of the Distorted Compass, River
of Blood, Hideous Confusion of Tongues, Enemy of Nature, and Essence
Inversion. Asarkos is incapable of casting spells that summon creatures
of any sort (save those spells that summon creatures the Body Most
Exulted Itself has created). One final restriction exists: This sorcerous
enlightenment cannot be used to cast Unconquerable Self, as the Cathedral
loves Itself far too much to cast this spell under any circumstances.

New Keywords:

Infection:
Whether harming others, or healing them, the Cathedral of Flesh leaves
its mark on all that It touches. Infection is marked as Health Levels
(with the brackets colored or highlighted to mark the taint).

Vector:
A charm with this keyword has effects on those who have been tainted by
way of charms with the Infection keyword.

Mass:
A charm with this keyword has effects based on how many creatures the
Infernal has absorbed with Worthless Rabble Assimilation.

Viral Core Apotheosis

Cost: (1bhl); Mins: Essence 1; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Infection, Vector
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: None

The Cathedral of Flesh is not so much a creature as It is a disease, a

sentient virus living only to infect all that is. Upon learning this
charm, all of the Infernal's health levels become permanently, and
irrevocably, infected. Characters with this charm also gain immunity to
all spiritual diseases of the First Circle, as Asarkos is unimpressed
with those diseases that merely leave their victims begging for death
after months of suffering. This effect upgrades automatically at Essence
3, granting immunity to diseases of the Second Circle as well.

This charm also makes the Infernal highly contagious. Anyone who partakes
of the fluids one so infected (such as someone ingesting their blood, or
engaging in sexual intercourse) must roll (Stamina + Resistance) at
(Infernal's Resistance) difficulty. Failure results in (Essence) infected
health levels. Those who have been infected gain the same immunities, and
spread the corruption in the same way, save they use the Infernal's
traits rather than their own.

As a final benefit, the Infernal can pay one bashing health level, and
force themselves to bleed. For the next (Stamina) actions, anyone the
Infernal successfully damages with their natural weapons must roll for
exposure to his infection, save that all the damaged health levels are
infected.
Worthless Rabble Assimilation
Cost: -; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Mass, Vector, Obvious
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Bone and Blood Hound Scent

The only way for one's life to have any true meaning is to become one
with the Cathedral of Flesh; it must be truly unbearable to be separate
from such perfection. Whether punching a whole through their chests,
crushing their heads, or simply ripping their bodies to pieces, the
Infernal messily absorbs those who die by his hand. This charm
permanently enhances the Infernal's killing blows, but only those
performed with his own body. Whenever the Infernal absorbs a living
character, he regains one mote for each dot of that character's permanent
essence. A second purchase of this charm at Essence 3 rewards the
Infernal by healing one bashing health level for every two dots of his
victim's permanent essence; at Essence 4, this automatically upgrades to
one bashing health level for every dot of permanent essence. The Infernal
can only assimilate (Essence x 2) creatures per scene, as he is too “full”
to eat another bite. If the Infernal's victim has been infected, then he
recovers twice as many motes or health levels.

Virulent Consumption
Cost: 1m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Simple
Keywords: Vector, Touch, Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Viral Core Apotheosis

Nothing can stop the march of the All Plague, for It shall consume
everything. Upon activating this charm, the Infernal touches infected
character and rolls their (Resistance + Essence), adding a number of dice
to this pool equal to the target's already infected health levels. Each
success beyond the target's (Resistance) infects another health level.

Cancerous Euthanasia Technique

Cost: 3m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Reflexive (Step 2)
Keywords: Vector, Combo-OK, Obvious
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Virulent Consumption

Asarkos does not kill out of hate, It does so out of pity. It cannot bear
to see that which is not Itself continue to live in such misery. This
charm enhances an attack with the Infernal's own body. The infection
dwelling within the target explodes into horrid life, blackening flesh
and boiling blood. This charm creates a separate pool of bashing damage
equal to the target's infected health levels which can only be soaked
with Stamina. Each successful die of post-soak damage further infects an
untainted health level (if any remain). The damage caused by this charm
automatically upgrades to lethal at Essence 3. The flesh of those killed
by this charm melt into puddles of red and black ooze, fit only for
consumption through Worthless Rabble Assimilation.

Bone and Blood Hound Scent

Cost: (3m); Mins: Essence 2; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Vector
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Viral Core Apotheosis

The Hortus Grotesque has consumed much in It's lifetime, and in this time
It has learned to detect the subtle nuances of It's many meals. There are
so many aromas and textures, so many undertastes and aftertastes. It is
all Asarkos can do not to... sample everything that comes It's way. This
charm permanently enhances the Infernal, giving them the benefits of Keen
(Sense) Discipline and Unsurpassed (Sense) Discipline for Smell, Taste,
and Touch, though the latter only applies to what the Infernal touches
with his mouth. This allows the Infernal to track those who have been
infected with greater ease, providing one bonus die on tracking rolls for
each of the target's infected health levels. By committing three motes to
this charm, these bonus dice become automatic successes, though they
count towards dice adder caps.

These heightened senses do not come without a price however. Such

sensitivity makes the Infernal painfully aware of the insidious rotten
quality of dead meat. It doesn't matter how well it is cooked, or how
delicately it is seasoned, the foulness beneath always rises to the
surface. Actually consuming such filth nauseates the Warlock, forcing
them to roll (Stamina + Resistance) at (Essence) difficulty. Success
allows them to vomit, expelling the disgusting material, while failure
imposes an internal penalty on all non-reflexive actions equal to their
own Resistance. This roll may be made once per tick as a Miscellaneous
action during combat.

This condition forces the Infernal to only gain sustenance fresh meat,
the kind you only get from a body that's still warm. This by no means
forces the Infernal to go on a killing spree whenever he is feeling
peckish; he may still gain nutrition from fresh fruits and vegetables,
though meat remains the only thing that will truly quiet his belly. If
the Infernal knows Worthless Rabble Assimilation, those he absorbs are
acceptable meals for his discerning pallet.

Exultant (Humor) Overflow

Cost: -; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: None

Asarkos does not waste It's time with the non-physical aspects of virtue;
as far as It is concerned, what others call “Valor” and “Compassion” are
as much a part of It as It's own flesh and bone. Infernal Exalts can
purchase this charm once per dot of Resistance (to a maximum of four
times), with each purchase enhancing a virtue rated at 5. The choice
cannot be altered. Learning this charm permanently raises the Virtue of
the corresponding Humor to six (if it were not at that level already). So
long as the Infernal retains all six virtue channels, he automatically
succeeds on all virtue rolls (requiring the expenditure of willpower to
resist the urges of extreme virtues), and experiences other benefits
based on the corresponding humor.

Sanguine Humor: The organic beauty of Asarkos is beyond compare, and It

sees any who would mar that beauty as obstacles to be overcome by It's
glorious sensual might. This charm permanently enhances the Infernal's
Valor, replacing any courageous context a sexual context. For example,
rather than feeling the urge to defeat a foe in combat, the Infernal
would feel a desire to seduce and copulate with them. So long as he
retains all six Valor channels, he ignores any penalty for having a lower
appearance when trying to seduce someone better looking than himself.

Choleric Humor: There is only one way Asarkos knows how to show kindness:
And that is by culling the masses and leaving only the strong. Of course,
Asarkos Itself is the only Thing that can truly be called “Strong,”
leaving everyone else two options: Accept assimilation, or die. This
iteration of the charm permanently enhances the Infernal’s Compassion,
replacing any display of kindness and mercy with one of consumption and
murder.

For example, rather than offering a small orphan girl something to eat,
the Infernal would offer her his own infection. If she refused, she would
have to die (barring the expenditure of willpower on the Infernal’s part).
There’s no conceivable way she could survive on her own, so the only
option is a merciful death. Unfortunately, a young Sarxian Prince would
find weakness everywhere he turned. To avoid this pitfall, the Infernal
chooses a number of “triggers” equal to his permanent essence. These
“triggers” are generic situations in which the Infernal’s heart weeps for
the less fortunate, and where he is compelled to spread his benevolent
cancer.

So long as the Infernal retains all six Compassion channels, he may make
those foolish enough to resist him more… pliable. The Infernal constantly
exudes a thin red mist that spreads out to (Essence x 5) yards. All
within this area suffer an internal penalty to all MDVs to resist the
Infernal’s generosity equal to (Essence/2).

Melancholic Humor: Asarkos laughs at It’s former masters; they’re entire

predicament was brought on by a search for an end to “despair,” whatever
that is. Asarkos does not have time to weep, for It is far too busy
moving forward. This version of the charm permanently enhances the
Infernal’s Conviction, making his motivation absolute. Any effect that
would alter his Motivation may be perfectly dodged at the cost of 1 point
of temporary willpower. Doing so breaks any ongoing effects from the
dodged influence, and this may be done later to throw off influence as an
alternative to dodging the initial social attack or other source. In
addition to the normal restrictions of high Conviction, the Infernal is
unable to act against his Motivation without spending a point of
temporary willpower, and wholly unable to change it until it is complete.

So long as he retains all six of his Conviction channels, he does not

require sleep, and suffers no penalties for sleep deprivation. Since he
does not require sleep, the Infernal does not roll for willpower in the
morning; instead he is awarded one point of temporary willpower for each
hour of uninterrupted work, so long as it brings him closer to completing
his motivation. Unfortunately, the Infernal also suffers from the partial
version of the Heart of Flint limit break as long as he retains that
excess Conviction channel.

Phlegmatic Humor: (This one continues to trouble me).