[Reflections of Reality] Monster Shard

(Monster Shard User Battle: Inspired by the Avatar battle of .hack//G.U.)




These are different from the shards of past adventurers. They contain the reflected souls of the monsters.

Common Characteristics: The creature manifested from the shard...

• ... takes the form of creatures such as animals, insects, or non-humanoids with the exception are demonic and angelic beings.
• ... is gargatuan, no matter what it is based off of.
• ... isn't truly the monster, but a reflection of the monster.

When the person takes hold of the shard, it will expose their life, allowing them to be manipulated.

In order for a person to use it, the Shard requires two things:

• Negative Emotions
• The user's deepest desires.

All who dwell nearby the User will notice that Alternate Tokyo chances to a look at their life, or rather, the most familiar event to the User.

When the user activates the shard, Alternate Tokyo changes to the shape of a space-like plane. All involved in the battle will find themselves floating in the space-like plane.

The User will be encased in a crystal at the heart of the monster they transform to while another crystal is suspended in the air. That crystal represents the false illusion.

The monster will fight as if it would normally fight if it was its real self while the user remains in their delusional dream. This is known as 'Trance Bliss'. This protects the shard from being destroyed through a barrier surrounding it.

However, when the crystal that operates the illusion is destroyed, the User enters a 'Trance Wrath' state. The barrier is destroyed. This synchronizes them with the monster that they merged with. This is the state where the User is fighting as the monster, rather than the monster's mindset. This is a dangerous state for a few reasons.

• The creature fights in an enraged mode to match with the user's rage.
• Should the shard be destroyed while the person is still in the Trance Wrath stage, they will not become comatose, but will die instead. The cause of the death in the real world is through heart failure.
  

However, it is easier to snap a person out of the rage and pull them out before destroying the shard. One of the ways is that the Spirit Guide finally manifests itself briefly to launch a Light of Truth into the target.

LIGHT OF TRUTH:

[House-Ruled only to the Spirit Guides in battle vs Monster Shard Users]

The Spirit Guide leaves the Shard Bearer briefly to charge up a beam of light. This takes an entire round to do. When the beam is made up, the Spirit Guide launches it out. Unfortunately, if the monster strikes the person charging it, the user loses that concentration and has to start again. The Monster User can sense when it's being used and will likely charge after the user.

You roll a 1d20 + Charisma or Wisdom Modifer vs Monster User's Will+5. Pretty much, whichever is your higher one, base it off of that.


In some cases, the Light of Truth will reveal the person's reason for using the monster shard. A visual flashback, essentially.

In review, there are three stages:

Stage 1:

The creature behaves similar to the being that it is made from. With the User in a 'Trance Bliss' state, an orb that keeps the illusion of their bliss is hidden somewhere. With a spot check, the orb becomes visible and can be destroyed.


Stage 2:

With the orb destroyed, the User enters a 'Trance Wrath' state. Now the creature behaves off of the User's wrath. If the shard is destroyed, the User dies of a heart-failure. However, one can open up the path to confront the user through a Light of Truth blast. The User has to be 10% health.


Stage 3:

Should the Light of Truth be used, the party will be taken to a plane where they see the User trapped in a crystal. Still in the Trance Wrath, the User will lash out, striking anyone and all that comes its path. Every step is a trap. Should they reach the crystal, they can break the crystal and calm the User down, destroying the Monster Shard for good.



ALTERNATE USE OF MONSTER SHARD:

The alternate way of using the shard is if the user wills and dominates the monster within the synchronization rather than becoming dominated. The user is exempted from the Trance Stage and immune to the Light of Truth, but is subject to death should the shard be destroyed.