One-Sided Fusions

A typical fusion results in a new entity created by combining the component Characters, but One-Sided Fusions represent a fusion in which one Character takes in and claims possession of another Character’s power. These are fundamentally different to Unification as they’re typically against the will of those taken in, and in many cases a One-Sided Fusion will be temporary.

Suppressed Character. In One-Sided Fusions, there is a Dominant Character and a dominated Character (known as the Suppressed Character). The Suppressed Character is the Character that is being taken control of or otherwise becoming part of the Dominant Character, increasing their power and options.

If you are Defeated and/or die while you possess a Suppressed Character, that Suppressed Character is also Defeated and/or dies. Any effects that may trigger when they are Defeated occur as usual and if the Suppressed Character stops being Defeated while the Dominant Character does not, the Suppressed Character is immediately freed from the One-Sided Fusion, and returns to the Combat Encounter on a Square adjacent to the Dominant Character of their choice (use their recorded Initiative if possible).

Based on the Suppressed Character, the Dominant Character gains the following benefits:

• Increase your Attribute Modifiers by 1/4 (rounded up) of the Attribute Scores of those same Attributes from the Suppressed Character.
• Gain access to the Unique Abilities, Auras and Signature Techniques of the Suppressed Character, ignoring any and all Prerequisites.
• Gain access to all Transformations possessed by the Suppressed Character (you must still adhere to Racial Requirements). Any Mastery or Power Improvements gained by the Suppressed Character are also gained by you.
• For each Transformation your Suppressed Character possesses that you do not meet the Racial Requirements for or already possess, you may increase the Attribute Modifier Bonus (FO/MA) of a Transformation of the same type you possess by 1(T). This effect doesn’t apply if there are multiple of the same Transformation (see — Absorption).
• Gain access to 1 Secondary Racial Trait of the Suppressed Character.

For any of these benefits, if you would gain a Trait and there is a Choice effect or Passive effect for that Trait that requires a choice at Character Creation or upon gaining the Trait, you must select the same options as the Suppressed Character.

You can only possess a single Suppressed Character unless otherwise stated.

Temporary Traits. If an effect from a Trait you obtained from a Suppressed Character would increase the amount of Technique Points you would gain, modify the Technique Point Cost for a Unique Ability/Signature Technique/Aura, or otherwise modify your amount of Technique Points in any way – ignore that effect.

Types of One-Sided Fusion. There are two-types of One-Sided Fusion, Absorption and Possession. Absorption represents when a Suppressed Character has been consumed and is within the body of the Dominant Character, while Possession represents when a Dominant Character enters a Suppressed Character and takes control from the inside.

Each version of a One-Sided Fusion has its own additional terminology (Absorbed Character or Host Character respectively) to refer to their unique instance of a Suppressed Character. This is fundamentally because each type of One-Sided Fusion has its own mechanics regarding their Suppressed Character, in addition to the usual effects.

Escaping a One-Sided Fusion. At the start of each of your turns, a Suppressed Character can make a Clash (Cognitive) against the Dominant Character in their One-Sided Fusion. If they lose, they gain 1 stack of Struggling until they escape the One-Sided Fusion. For every 3 stacks of Struggling, increase their Cognitive Saves in Clashes against you by 1(T). If they win, they are freed from the One-Sided Fusion and return to the Combat Encounter on a Square adjacent to the Dominant Character of their choice (use their recorded Initiative, if possible) – additionally, they may use any Maneuver that costs 1 Standard Action as an Out-of-Sequence Maneuver and the Dominant Character gains 2 Stacks of the Fatigued Combat Condition until end of their next turn.

Permanence of One-Sided Fusions. At the end of each Combat Encounter, every Suppressed Character must make a Clash (Cognitive) against their Dominant Character (make the rolls in order of Initiative) while increasing their Dice Score by 2(bT). If they lose, they become a Deeply Suppressed Character. If they win, they escape the One-Sided Fusion (this may cause the Combat Encounter to continue depending on the situation – your ARC will decide what is most fitting, given their experiences).

Deeply Suppressed Characters are Suppressed Characters that do not make a Clash (Cognitive) against their Dominant Character at the start of each of their turns, or at the end of each Combat Encounter.

Fusion and One-Sided Fusion. If you are the Dominant Character in a One-Sided Fusion, you cannot be a Fused Character for a Fusion. Additionally, there are rules depending on a Fused Character being the Suppressed Character in a One-Sided Fusion, but they vary depending on type:

• Absorption. If you have a Fusion as an Absorbed Character, then they are treated as a number of Absorbed Characters equal to the amount of Fused Characters in the Fusion. A Round Limit for a Temporary Fusion continues to countdown while the Fusion is an Absorbed Character. If a Fusion de-fuses while Absorbed, they separate into the Fused Characters who all become Absorbed Characters.

Possession. A Round Limit for a Temporary Fusion continues to countdown while the Fusion is a Possessed Character. If a Fusion de-fuses while Possessed, you must select one of the Fused Characters to remain as a Possessed Characters, while all other Fused Characters become free.

Absorption

Absorption occurs through the use of the Absorption Maneuver, and once a Suppressed Character is removed from the game, they are considered part of your Character. Below are rules unique to Absorption that you benefit from while you possess an Absorbed Character:

• You can possess up to 1(bT) Absorbed Characters. If you do, for the increase to your Attribute Modifiers from possessing Absorbed Character(s), select the highest Attribute Scores from the various Absorbed Characters to apply to the effect, rather than applying the bonus for each Suppressed Character.
• If the Dominant Character is a Majin, upon gaining a new Absorbed Character, they may gain a copy of the Top Layer of Apparel that Absorbed Character is wearing and equip it immediately as their new Top Layer of Apparel – this becomes known as their Absorbed Apparel. Upon gaining an Absorbed Apparel, if they have 3 pieces of Apparel then they must destroy their current Top Layer of Apparel and replace it with the Absorbed Apparel upon applying this effect. A Majin can only possess 1 Absorbed Apparel at a time, and must destroy an Absorbed Apparel they possess to gain a new Absorbed Apparel. If a Majin loses the Absorbed Character they gained the Absorbed Apparel from, the Absorbed Apparel is destroyed and they may gain an Absorbed Apparel from their Absorbed Character with the highest Tier of Power among their Absorbed Characters (if there’s a tie, the Dominant Character chooses which).
• If the Dominant Character and the Suppressed Character both possess the Mutation Manifested Power, the Dominant Character gains the Mutation Trait of the Suppressed Character (even if they are not of the race listed).
• If you are not a Majin and are knocked through two Health Thresholds by an Attacking Maneuver, the most recent Absorbed Character you possess is freed from the One-Sided Fusion, and returns to the Combat Encounter on a Square adjacent to the Dominant Character of their choice (use their recorded Initiative if possible). If the Absorbed Character was a Deeply Suppressed Character, then they enter the Combat Encounter in the Sleeping Combat Condition.
• When making a Skill Check, you may use the Skill Bonus of any of your Suppressed Characters instead of your own.

Absorption Maneuver

Absorption Maneuver [1/Round]: You consume, wrap around, or otherwise engulf a target and make them part of yourself.
–Action Cost: 2 Actions
–KP Cost: N/A
–Effect: Target a Character within your Melee Range. Make a Clash (Strike vs Strike/Dodge) against them. If you win, make a second Clash (Corporeal) against that character. If you lose this Clash, your Opponent suffers from the Shaken Combat Condition until the end of their next turn. If you win, your Opponent is removed from the Combat Encounter (record their Initiative until the end of the Combat Encounter or they are freed from the One-Sided Fusion) and becomes a Suppressed Character in an Absorption-Type One-Sided Fusion.

Possession

Possession occurs through the use of the Possession Maneuver, and once a Suppressed Character is removed from the game, they are considered part of your character. Below are rules unique to Possession that you benefit from while possessing a body:

• Instead of increasing your Attributes (AG/FO/TE/MA) by 1/4 of your Host Character’s Attribute Scores, instead set your Attribute Modifiers (before you apply any other effects or Attribute Modifier Bonuses) to the Host Character’s Attribute Scores and then increase your Attribute Modifiers by 1/4 of your Attribute Scores instead.
• You are also treated as the Race of your Host Character and can exchange one of your Primary Racial Traits for a Primary Racial Trait of your Host Character.
• Regardless of your base Size Category and your Traits that modify your Size Category, your Size Category becomes equal to that of the Host Character. The Growth Aspect in any Transformation you are in applies to your Host Character instead of you.
• If the Host Character was in a Transformation when they became a Host Character, use the Transformation Maneuver to enter that Transformation as an Out-of-Sequence Maneuver.
• Any damage you receive is also inflicted to your Host Character. If a Host Character is Defeated, you can decide to also be Defeated or to end the One-Sided Fusion and place your Suppressed Character onto an adjacent Square of your choice.
• If you are a Neo-Tuffle of the Parasite Subrace, you lose access to the Liquid Form Racial Trait while you possess someone, but you gain access to a Primary or Secondary Racial Trait of your choice from the Host Character.
• If you enter a Transformation your Host Character has access to with the Rampaging Aspect, ignore the effects of the Rampaging Aspect.

Possession Maneuver

Possession Maneuver [1/Round]: You invade your target’s body, taking them over from within.
–Action Cost: 2 Actions
–KP Cost: N/A
–Effect: Target a character within your Melee Range. Make a Clash (Strike vs Strike/Dodge) against them. If you win, make a second Clash (Impulsive) against that character. If you lose this Clash, your Opponent suffers from the Guard Down Combat Condition until the end of the current turn. If you win, your Opponent is removed from the Combat Encounter (record their Initiative until the end of the Combat Encounter or they are freed from the One-Sided Fusion) and becomes a Suppressed Character in a Possession-Type One-Sided Fusion.

Ejection

You can end a One-Sided Fusion through the Ejection Maneuver, detailed below.

Ejection Maneuver

Ejection Maneuver: You can separate yourself from those who you’ve assimilated.
–Action Cost: 1 Action
–KP Cost: N/A
–Effect: Target a Suppressed Character and free them from the One-Sided Fusion. They are returned to/enter the Battlefield on a Square adjacent to you of your choosing, and suffer from the Slowed Combat Condition until the end of their next turn.