How to Build: Leviathan

[phoenix240]

Leviathan are creatures in the Supernatural setting, powerful elder beings that were so dangerous they were banished by God as a threat to creation.

Their principle abilities are superhuman strength, durability and immortality. They're practically impossible to kill and ignore all but them most severe injuries and recover from those fairly quickly, reforming their bodies from a black goo (its not blood, its "much more than that" but exactly what it is is never specified, it might there essence or souls. Whatever it is, its extremely poisonous). Decapitating one and separating the head and body will keep them in stasis for awhile but if the pieces get close enough together for long enough (several minutes) they'll reform. Spells seem to affect them normally as well (but can't kill them). When attacking their mouths expand into black fang filled maws that temporarily obliterate their facial features. Leviathan are powerful enough to kill angels with their bare hands and may be able to kill other immortal creatures as well. They can also negate Angelic powers and may be able to do so with other supernatural beings.

Their most unusual power is shapeshifting. If they touch anyone for a moment or two they can emulate them exactly, down to the clothing they're wearing. They also get their memories, skills, personality etc, all the tools needed to emulate that person exactly. They can even gain a form by touching just a piece of their target's flesh. A single strand of DNA will do.

Leviathan hunger for meat, human flesh in particular. The lower ranked one are often ruled by their hunger unless controlled by a strong intelligent leader. They can consume an entire human being in moments. Without a leader they are beasts and animalistic hunters with one they can be insidious and clever foes using their shape shifting and acquired skills creatively and effectively.

The seem to have an allergy to Borax. The chemical causes sever burns and pain, enough to incapacitate one long enough for it to be beheaded though apparently it doesn't kill them. Only a couple fo ways to kill them been revealed. One is to stab them with the bone of a saint consecrated in the Blood of the Three fallen (a fallen angel, a demon and a monster) in a unique magical ritual. They can apparently kill each other by consuming the other Leviathan. One of their more bizarre stunts is to commit ritual suicide by eating themselves.

 

How would you write up a Leviathan in Hero System 5th Revised?

[Ninja-Bear]

Phoniex240 here are a few ideas off the top of my head.

 

1) As for the mouth full of teeth perhaps a 3D6 HKA AP? But definately extra PR- offense when showing pearly whites. Thats scary right there!

2) The healing facter-Regeneration with extra limb and ressurection options used. And maybe custon lim. not versus borax and special dagger and other leviathans.

3) The biggest thing would be duplicate someone.  Shape shift with the celluar option is the easy part with no concious control. I.e. you get the form of the DNA          used but can't choose any form you want.  But the memories and knowledge is the hardest to model.  I would recommend use a VPP with the same NCC lim. as stated preivously.  With the VPP iirc, you normally can't put  skills in it, however for this case, I would make an exemption.

[phoenix240]

That seems pretty straight forward. The skilll and memory duplication is the oddest part,. I did forget something about that ability. Leviathan are unable to emulate the exceptional talent that some people possess: natural geniuses and prodigies: Edisons, Teslas, Mozarts, the really and truly gifted and exceptional. Their leader refers to it as "the spark" and actually grudgingly respects humans that have it relegating the others to play things and cattle.

 

Some it might stem from their mental limitations. While they're not generally stupid most Leviathan don't seem to be very creative thinkers. Their intellect varies but most them are fairly linear planners and act to slake their immediate needs (usually hunger) in the most direct manner possible. Those with more talent and ambition become leaders but there has only been one powerful and intelligent enough to rule over them all since the race was created and when he's killed their invasion and take over plans simply fall apart because no one else  is able to take the reigns.