Psicrystal Character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Psicrystal Character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ashianyl
06-27-07, 01:05 PM This idea is from an old thread that has since disappeared due to inactivity... and I would like to share it with all you fellow RPers once more, if only because I love her so.

She was a creation that was carefully crafted together from the available rules at the time, each given a reason to exist on the character and in return nurtured her personality, desires and much more. I have had some grand adventures with her, but I rather just share the concept of her with everyone so that, if this character inspires you, you take her out for a spin on some adventures of your own.

May I present, once more, Milei.

Concept

From what I can gather, the psicrystal, while a splintered personality of the psion, isn't directly tied to the creator's life force like a familiar and may still exist even after the creator died (couldn't find any references anywhere in XPH about the fate of psicrystals after the creator's death).

The psicrystal can also be a relic with chaotic good alignment (thanks to the Ancestral Relic feat from the creator), thus allowing the psicrystal more of a conscience than your regular construct and is certainly not just a magical item that can be dispelled and shut down... she is a force of good! :D

Throughout her career as a psicrystal, she has been made into many forms by her creator. As a useful tool, the psicrystal has changed forms into weapons, later becoming the various golems as her master became more powerful. - note: Metamorphosis allows morphing into objects with the appropriate craft skills and changing into creatures with the same base type.

Now, how the crystal evolved into a humanoid shape that looks like its creator is through the use of the Epic Psicrystal Power feat that imbued the psicrystal with the Metamorphosis power. However, because of her creator's death, she only had enough power points to manifest the power one last time as she could no longer replenish her power point reserves. Believing it to be her final act of remembering her creator, the psicrystal took the form of her master and waited for the power to run its course before she became a psicrystal again and perhaps slowly fade into oblivion when the master died.

But it didn't happen that way. The power did not fade, and in fact somehow became permanent.

As for roleplaying the character, I imagine her to be something like Data from Star Trek. While she has had plenty of experiences traversing the planes with her now deceased master, there are certain concepts that she cannot grasp since she only posesses a single aspect of her creator's personality (the nimble aspect).

Background

Psicrystals normally don’t survive their masters, but Milei was no ordinary psicrystal. A simple Deep Crystal (material, see pg 182 XPH) crafted and used as a spear head, Milei was found by a clan and passed on as an heirloom since her creation. Milei slowly gained a sentience of sorts through her many masters from within the clan that would, as a ritual, imbue her with the power of good (Ancestral Relic feat, see pg 36 & 39 BoED).

It wasn’t until her previous master however, that Milei gained true consciousness as her master used the crystal not as a weapon, but as a psicrystal.

Milei always remembered bits and pieces of her adventuring days with her master, but not enough to piece it all together. She knows she always seemed paranoid of danger most of the time, especially when her master was asleep (the jumpy trait is due to her the Nimble feature of the psicrystal).

There were many grand adventures, and while Milei’s master didn’t always heed her warnings of danger, they were a good pair together. Their battles and teamwork have always been good. The pair led a long, fruitful life battling demons and devils and other evils that needed to be thwarted and saving the world countless times.

But as they years went by, the master took more of a backseat in grand adventures, despite her awesome powers. The master was content, and so was Milei, being a simple psicrystal herself. The last few years went by relatively peaceful, with her master retreating to the life of a hermit and researching for ways to extend her own life while Milei continued being the dutiful companion and helped with the household chores (having been given the power to metamorphosis herself, Milei did not find the job too difficult).

As age crept up on her master, and despite her master’s failing health, the experiments became more hurried, frantic even. On the last day of her master’s life however, Milei suddenly felt her master overcome with joy.

“Soon I will be gone from this world, my child. When I have finally gone, take my appearance as I was in my youth and remember me one last time,” said her master, a smile forming on her lips as she cradled her beloved psicrystal one last time.

Milei watched as her master slowly passes on to the next world. As her master’s body fell lifeless, Milei dutifully did as she was told and use the last of her psi powers to take the form of her master. Although this was not the first time Milei took the form (her master was notorious for having been seen at three different places at any one time – the first being the psicrystal, other being the Fission clone), Milei felt different this time.

All of a sudden, Milei’s consciousness expanded and she became more than just aware, she could feel sadness. It was a great sense of loss, an indescribable void that Milei could never fathom as a psicrystal. At first, the feelings were for her deceased master, one who had always been there with her. Then, the realization struck that she too would soon fade away as there was now no one to renew her psychic energies, and she felt fear. Afraid of what was to happen, the unknown.

But the power did not fade. Milei, who had been reflecting for the past few hours on her fate, suddenly sensed hope.

After building a pyre for her master (it seemed fitting somehow as her master had often times returned from near death via Fiery Discorporation), Milei began sifting through the many notes her master left behind. The research was about artificial life. In between the facts and theories, Milei found scribbling of her master’s desire for children and that Milei would be the first.

Although Milei’s limited understanding meant she could not decipher much of what was written, Milei did realize that she was her master’s legacy. It was then that Milei began reading and exploring the rest of her master’s abode, absorbing the many tomes of knowledge to prepare herself for her journeys ahead in preparation to learn more so that she may one day return to her master’s abode to decipher the rest of the notes.

Roleplaying notes:
Milei is like a prodigious child, knowledgeable in many things (Int 16) yet lacking the emotional maturity and understanding to be able to interact with others properly (Cha 6). She has an inquisitive mind, but is also cautious about risks, considering she is the only one of her kind that she knows of (Wis 14). She has a strong sense of justice (for being an Ancestral Relic) and seeks knowledge so that she may one day understand and duplicate her master’s work.

:)
Lyinginbedmon
06-27-07, 01:28 PM This is a very interesting concept, I'd love to see how this played out. Given all the work for extending her lifespan, is it possible that the master was repsonsible for the permanent Metamorphosis? Perhaps combined with Mind Seed Miel could serve as a kind of reincarnation of her master (A bit like a Doctor Who regeneration), and it certainly wouldn't be out of the way for an Epic character.

Of course, the big question is: What happens to Miel in a Null Psionics Field or when she's hit with a Dispel Psionics?
Ashianyl
06-28-07, 04:41 AM I had lots of fun playing her. She had her first 'child' when she found the perfect Deep Crystal to be imbued as her Psicrystal. Upon reaching level 9, she gave the 'breath of life' to her Psicrystal by taking the Ancestral Relic feat.

It's a character that your DM can create many adventures for, with numerous plot twists and turns.

As for the character race itself, you will need your DM to rule that she takes on one of the permissible races after the whole transformation. In Milei's case, I played her as an Elan - with the theory that since Elans did not exist prior to this, she was possibly the first.

Even if you really wanted to continue playing the character as a Psicrystal with the DM giving you a permanent Metamorphosis power (say with the limitations based on your hit dice for x amount of times a day), it's possible.

You would continue functioning as a Psicrystal with full cognitive capabilities within a Null Psionics Field or when targetted by a Dispel Magic because:

a) Psicrystals are 'construct' by definition and as such can continue functioning even while under the affects of a Null Psionics Field and are practically immune to Dispel Magic (although the buffs on them, on the other hand, are not).

b) You are also immune to such mundane magic because you are an artefact due to the Ancestral Relic feat.

You won't be able to maintain any physical form created by Metamorphosis in such a field though and you would shrink back to your Psicrystal form.

:)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ashianyl 06-27-07, 01:05 PM	This idea is from an old thread that has since disappeared due to inactivity... and I would like to share it with all you fellow RPers once more, if only because I love her so. She was a creation that was carefully crafted together from the available rules at the time, each given a reason to exist on the character and in return nurtured her personality, desires and much more. I have had some grand adventures with her, but I rather just share the concept of her with everyone so that, if this character inspires you, you take her out for a spin on some adventures of your own. May I present, once more, Milei. Concept From what I can gather, the psicrystal, while a splintered personality of the psion, isn't directly tied to the creator's life force like a familiar and may still exist even after the creator died (couldn't find any references anywhere in XPH about the fate of psicrystals after the creator's death). The psicrystal can also be a relic with chaotic good alignment (thanks to the Ancestral Relic feat from the creator), thus allowing the psicrystal more of a conscience than your regular construct and is certainly not just a magical item that can be dispelled and shut down... she is a force of good! :D Throughout her career as a psicrystal, she has been made into many forms by her creator. As a useful tool, the psicrystal has changed forms into weapons, later becoming the various golems as her master became more powerful. - note: Metamorphosis allows morphing into objects with the appropriate craft skills and changing into creatures with the same base type. Now, how the crystal evolved into a humanoid shape that looks like its creator is through the use of the Epic Psicrystal Power feat that imbued the psicrystal with the Metamorphosis power. However, because of her creator's death, she only had enough power points to manifest the power one last time as she could no longer replenish her power point reserves. Believing it to be her final act of remembering her creator, the psicrystal took the form of her master and waited for the power to run its course before she became a psicrystal again and perhaps slowly fade into oblivion when the master died. But it didn't happen that way. The power did not fade, and in fact somehow became permanent. As for roleplaying the character, I imagine her to be something like Data from Star Trek. While she has had plenty of experiences traversing the planes with her now deceased master, there are certain concepts that she cannot grasp since she only posesses a single aspect of her creator's personality (the nimble aspect). Background Psicrystals normally don’t survive their masters, but Milei was no ordinary psicrystal. A simple Deep Crystal (material, see pg 182 XPH) crafted and used as a spear head, Milei was found by a clan and passed on as an heirloom since her creation. Milei slowly gained a sentience of sorts through her many masters from within the clan that would, as a ritual, imbue her with the power of good (Ancestral Relic feat, see pg 36 & 39 BoED). It wasn’t until her previous master however, that Milei gained true consciousness as her master used the crystal not as a weapon, but as a psicrystal. Milei always remembered bits and pieces of her adventuring days with her master, but not enough to piece it all together. She knows she always seemed paranoid of danger most of the time, especially when her master was asleep (the jumpy trait is due to her the Nimble feature of the psicrystal). There were many grand adventures, and while Milei’s master didn’t always heed her warnings of danger, they were a good pair together. Their battles and teamwork have always been good. The pair led a long, fruitful life battling demons and devils and other evils that needed to be thwarted and saving the world countless times. But as they years went by, the master took more of a backseat in grand adventures, despite her awesome powers. The master was content, and so was Milei, being a simple psicrystal herself. The last few years went by relatively peaceful, with her master retreating to the life of a hermit and researching for ways to extend her own life while Milei continued being the dutiful companion and helped with the household chores (having been given the power to metamorphosis herself, Milei did not find the job too difficult). As age crept up on her master, and despite her master’s failing health, the experiments became more hurried, frantic even. On the last day of her master’s life however, Milei suddenly felt her master overcome with joy. “Soon I will be gone from this world, my child. When I have finally gone, take my appearance as I was in my youth and remember me one last time,” said her master, a smile forming on her lips as she cradled her beloved psicrystal one last time. Milei watched as her master slowly passes on to the next world. As her master’s body fell lifeless, Milei dutifully did as she was told and use the last of her psi powers to take the form of her master. Although this was not the first time Milei took the form (her master was notorious for having been seen at three different places at any one time – the first being the psicrystal, other being the Fission clone), Milei felt different this time. All of a sudden, Milei’s consciousness expanded and she became more than just aware, she could feel sadness. It was a great sense of loss, an indescribable void that Milei could never fathom as a psicrystal. At first, the feelings were for her deceased master, one who had always been there with her. Then, the realization struck that she too would soon fade away as there was now no one to renew her psychic energies, and she felt fear. Afraid of what was to happen, the unknown. But the power did not fade. Milei, who had been reflecting for the past few hours on her fate, suddenly sensed hope. After building a pyre for her master (it seemed fitting somehow as her master had often times returned from near death via Fiery Discorporation), Milei began sifting through the many notes her master left behind. The research was about artificial life. In between the facts and theories, Milei found scribbling of her master’s desire for children and that Milei would be the first. Although Milei’s limited understanding meant she could not decipher much of what was written, Milei did realize that she was her master’s legacy. It was then that Milei began reading and exploring the rest of her master’s abode, absorbing the many tomes of knowledge to prepare herself for her journeys ahead in preparation to learn more so that she may one day return to her master’s abode to decipher the rest of the notes. Roleplaying notes: Milei is like a prodigious child, knowledgeable in many things (Int 16) yet lacking the emotional maturity and understanding to be able to interact with others properly (Cha 6). She has an inquisitive mind, but is also cautious about risks, considering she is the only one of her kind that she knows of (Wis 14). She has a strong sense of justice (for being an Ancestral Relic) and seeks knowledge so that she may one day understand and duplicate her master’s work. :)
Lyinginbedmon 06-27-07, 01:28 PM	This is a very interesting concept, I'd love to see how this played out. Given all the work for extending her lifespan, is it possible that the master was repsonsible for the permanent Metamorphosis? Perhaps combined with Mind Seed Miel could serve as a kind of reincarnation of her master (A bit like a Doctor Who regeneration), and it certainly wouldn't be out of the way for an Epic character. Of course, the big question is: What happens to Miel in a Null Psionics Field or when she's hit with a Dispel Psionics?
Ashianyl 06-28-07, 04:41 AM	I had lots of fun playing her. She had her first 'child' when she found the perfect Deep Crystal to be imbued as her Psicrystal. Upon reaching level 9, she gave the 'breath of life' to her Psicrystal by taking the Ancestral Relic feat. It's a character that your DM can create many adventures for, with numerous plot twists and turns. As for the character race itself, you will need your DM to rule that she takes on one of the permissible races after the whole transformation. In Milei's case, I played her as an Elan - with the theory that since Elans did not exist prior to this, she was possibly the first. Even if you really wanted to continue playing the character as a Psicrystal with the DM giving you a permanent Metamorphosis power (say with the limitations based on your hit dice for x amount of times a day), it's possible. You would continue functioning as a Psicrystal with full cognitive capabilities within a Null Psionics Field or when targetted by a Dispel Magic because: a) Psicrystals are 'construct' by definition and as such can continue functioning even while under the affects of a Null Psionics Field and are practically immune to Dispel Magic (although the buffs on them, on the other hand, are not). b) You are also immune to such mundane magic because you are an artefact due to the Ancestral Relic feat. You won't be able to maintain any physical form created by Metamorphosis in such a field though and you would shrink back to your Psicrystal form. :)