This one will get some re-work soon and show up in my In Ruins PFRPG Homebrew setting.
The Dead Heart
Under Dark Skies
With the turn of the spade, or the use of the autopsy scalpel
It is pulled from a murderer’s corpse.
Placed within an esoteric device
Implanted into a Recipient person, place, thing, vehicle, etc.
Altering them from that point on, bringing them into the darkness and far away from The Light.
It appears where ever death and ability meet. In lands where magic flourishes then crystals, metals, vines, and the forge aid in making the receptacle.
In lands where technology reigns supreme then wires, tubing, microchips are used.
Where other disciplines come into play, then local materials are utilized.
In all, the results are the same, yielding the dead heart of a murderer used as a power source to strength and deadliness.
Cosmetic Changes
With the Dead Heart come great strength and some difficulties as well. As the heart of a murderer is needed, it brings the evil and aura of death to the bearer as well. This manifests in personality changes, mood changes, an increased affinity for evil, as well as stark physical changes as well. Muscles are added, durability is increased, as well as an overall loathsome appearance. Skin and hair lightens, pales, turns pallid, finger and toe nails grow yellowish and appear almost infected, lesions and bruises show up easily on the skin and the teeth also turn more yellow and in the right light, look sharpened almost.
Game Rules
In settings using Alignment a shift of 2 steps towards Evil on that axis and one step towards Chaos on that axis as well, will occur in living entities. This will affect those with special alignment oriented powers in either a positive or a negative fashion. Example Paladins this would shift them from Lawful Good to Neutral Evil with the attendant ability losses from such shifts. If the character is already evil, etc. then no changes are made.
Adds to the Recipient
+10 Hit Points (1 time bonus, not affected by Constitution Bonus)
+2 to BAB (1 time bonus, stacks with all character BAB)
+2 to Fortitude Saves (1 time bonus, stacks with all character and stat changes)
+1 to Strength (1 time bonus, changes modifiers)
+1 to Constitution (1 time bonus, changes modifiers)
-2 to Charisma (1 time deduction, changes modifiers)
-1 to Dexterity (1 time deduction, changes modifiers)
-2 on Reaction Rolls (1 time deduction, in addition to the change in Charisma, stacks)
The characteristic changes are permanent. This change will affect skills, saves, etc. Hit Points as well from Constitution Bonus on subsequent levels only (Not Retroactive)
The recovery time from the surgical implantation depends on the game setting. Without the use of advanced medicine or magical assistance, it could take months (in theory) to recover. Otherwise the normal recovery of 1 point per day or 2 points per day with complete rest and medical attention applies, up to the new maximum hit point amount. Use common sense and feel free to apply situational penalties for not allowing for adequate time to recover.
It is major invasive surgery implanting The Dead Heart adjacent and connected to the existing heart. The Medical Skill (Doctor, etc per setting) DC is Heroic (30). In vehicles, constructs, robots, etc. then it is a Formidable (25) DC Craft Mechanical Skill Roll to correctly implant it. Characters can Take 20 on the Modifications.
Count the surgery as bringing the character to 1 Hit Point left once surgery is complete. It does require a Formidable (25) DC Fortitude Check to survive it. The Surgical / Medical Roll can be used as a bonus, each point succeeds by adds a positive bonus to the Fortitude Check.
Of course if the character fails the Fortitude check, depending on the game, perhaps their heart could be used as a second Dead Heart as well?
