Corruption Quick Reference

UNANTICIPATED CIRCUMSTANCES

• IRIS is an engine of optimization, constantly striving to enhance its host. Since the release of the Feral Plague however, the residents of Horizon have become host to far higher concentrations than its designers had ever anticipated. In such a situation, IRIS can become overly aggressive in its measures to enhance the host body. In most cases, this ends with it attempting to optimize the brain and central nervous system, by subsuming their functions into its own network. Although this change benefits the physical body in several resepects, an unfortunate by-product of this change is the near-total erasure of the host's identity. Not being human, IRIS has no way to know the irreplaceable value of seemingly erratic brain impulses and behaviour patterns we commonly refer to as, “thought”.

THE STRUGGLE

Fortunately, the self-preservation impulse of the human psyche has proven a formidable opposition to the process. Recognizing the delicate operation of the nervous system and the contrasting violence of a “fight-or-flight” response from the brain when it is threatened, IRIS will very rarely attempt a brute-force takeover of the host's core functions. The human brain is far less resistant to gradual conditioning, offering IRIS a much safer, if protracted, method to “enhance” its host. People with higher concentrations of IRIS become more susceptible to this effect, sometimes referred to as a “Presence”. This collection of powerful impulses and pleasure-resonse patterns is used to influence the host subliminally through their natural virtues, vices and in other sources of elevated emotional state. Failure to resist these urges over a long period leaves the mind increasingly habituated to the influence, until the host eventually can't, or often won't, resist further control. At this point, IRIS is able to entirely assimilate the host's brain functions into its own network, benefitting the physical body greatly, but almost entirely erasing the host's identity in the process. This is known as, “Feralization”.

CONSEQUENCE

Representing your degree of vulnerability to this condition, you gain “Corruption” points as you integrate more IRIS or fail to resist its Presence. For each Trait rank you gain and every Aug you develop, your Corruption level increases. This has several effects. For example, various temptations may plague you when you witness events that anger or excite you. These urges become more frequent and severe as your Corruption increases. The Presence may also offer a surge of manic energy in times of weakness; when you are exhausted, or mortally wounded, but these redemptions come with an ever-increasing cost to your sanity.

When your Corruption is triggered, you can make an Endurance Skill test to resist the Presence driving you to obey. Success indicates that you steel yourself and carry on, while failure proves that the urge was too strong or, weakened and desperate, you lack the strength to refuse.

• THE PRICE OF POWER
  • Each Aug increases Corruption by +3
  • Each Trait rank increases Corruption by +2
    • Trait ranks given by the Director for a new Character don't count.

• TRIGGERS
  • These events can trigger your Corruption, forcing you to either resist or obey the Presence of your IRIS.
    • Check the Corruption Triggers table below. If you experience any of the events listed for your Corruption level or less, your Corruption is triggered.
    • If your Stamina drops lower than your Corruption level, your Corruption is triggered. (For example, if you have Corruption 10 and your Stamina drops below 10 for any reason)
    • If you attempt to extract IRIS, or have it extracted by someone else, for any reason, your Corruption is triggered. IRIS extraction is removing your Augs and Trait ranks to reduce Corruption.
    • If your Corruption level is ever greater than your MAXIMUM Stamina, your Corruption is triggered every night at midnight until you resolve the situation. Good luck.

• RESISTANCE
  • When your Corruption is triggered, you make a choice: either resist or obey.
  • If you want to resist, make an Endurance Skill test.
    • The difficulty for this test is half your Corruption level, rounding fractions up.
    • For example, if you have Corruption 15, you would need to score 8AP on the Endurance Skill test. This is because half of 15 is 7.5, which is rounded up to 8. Therefore, you need to score 8AP.
  • If you pass, you resist the Corruption and it can't be triggered again for the rest of the scene.
  • If you fail, check the Corruption Triggers table and suffer the consequences for your Corruption level. Your Corruption can't be triggered again for the rest of the scene.

• OBEDIENCE
  • When your Corruption is triggered, you make a choice: either resist or obey.
  • If you obey voluntarily, there are several effects:
    • Check your rank in the Resolve Trait. Instantly gain that many Stamina.
    • Gain +5AP for your next Skill test.
    • Check the Corruption Triggers table and suffer the consequences for your Corruption level as normal.
  • You cannot obey voluntarily after failing an attempt to resist.
  • Generally, the benefit of obedience is using the Stamina and AP bonuses to (hopefully) resolve the trigger as quickly as possible, before the situation can get any worse.

• PASSING OUT AND DEATH COMA
  • When your Stamina drops to 0 or less, normally you Pass Out. You only recover from Passing Out when your Stamina recovers to 1 or higher.
  • When your Health drops to 0 or less, normally you go into Death Coma. you only recover from Death Coma when your Health recovers to 1 or higher.
  • You can delay Passing Out and Death Coma for 1 round by passing an Endurance Skill test.
    • The difficulty is 5AP for the first round you delay, 10AP for the second round, 15AP for the third and so on.
  • If you fail your Endurance Skill test to resist Passing Out or Death Coma, your last chance is Embracing your Corruption.

• EMBRACING CORRUPTION
  • You embrace the power of your IRIS, willingly giving up control in exchange for a second chance.
    • Embracing Corruption automatically delays Passing Out and Death Coma for 1 scene.
    • Also gain +5AP for your next test
    • After Embracing Corruption, your Health and Stamina remain unchanged. You can continue losing Health and Stamina while Pass Out and Death Coma are being delayed.
    • Choose a Corruption Consequence at your Corruption level and suffer its effects as normal.
    • The target of your psychosis is at the Director's discretion, but ideally you and the Director should try to find conditions you can both agree on.

• LIMITATIONS
  • If your Stamina ever goes fully negative, you Pass Out. No action can prevent this. For example if you have Stamina 10, then dropping to -10 Stamina or less forces you to Pass Out.
  • If your Health ever goes fully negative, you Die. No action can prevent this. For example, if you have 20 Health, then dropping to -20 Health or less causes permanent death. Make a new Character.