Editing Nephandi (section)

==The Kids ''Aren't'' Alright (Widderslainte)==

When a Nephandi finally eats shit and dies, their Avatar does not magically un-corrupt itself. Instead it attaches itself at birth to some other poor schmuck, turning them into a '''Widderslainte'''.

The Widderslainte present an interesting moral dilemma to Mages. They are essentially predestined towards reality-violating magical turbo-evil, but not through any conscious choice. They are literally born evil; the Nephandic Avatar basically eats their part of their soul containing their sense of empathy when it attaches itself, turning them into a sociopath from the first breath. Is that an excuse? Does that make the inherently more or less deserving of redemption than their counterparts? These are the kinds of questions that can really make or break a campaign. 

Originally, though, if you were born a Widderslainte, sucks to suck; there's basically no cure but ripping out your soul and obliterating it to break the cycle.  Kind of violates the inherent moral question there, unfortunately.

In one of the few actually pretty good retcons brought about by M20, the nature of the Widderslainte was changed. The Nephandic Avatar was changed from a sucking darkness where the Widderslainte's compassion should be to the metaphysical equivalent of an abusive parent. Widderslainte aren't even really properly Nephandi anymore. Not necessarily, at least. But there is always a danger that the voice in the back of their head will overpower their better judgement. They don't ''always'' embrace the dark side, but it's a slippery path, and even a single Nephandus is a cosmic-level threat. Is it worth the risk to let them live?

Interesting stuff. Hell, that's halfway to being a playable character concept right there.