Hymn of the Autumnal Vigil

Coldly Logical Necromancers of Dispassionate Reasoning

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Who They Are

Corpse Roses exist in the space between knowledge and understanding, between the dead and the living, between what can be known and what can only be felt. They collect, record, and study. They are not emotionless — they feel deeply, which is precisely why they've learned to govern feelings with such careful discipline. In life, many were melancholy and introspective. In death, that became something more useful: an absolute comfort with darkness, with the dead, with the parts of existence the living cannot face. The dead do not judge them, and in the Third Era, there are more dead than ever.

The Tenets of Sunset

Bathe in the darkness, but hold fast to what remains of the light · Protect the bonds of family and community against corruption and loss · Tend to spirits in their places and the dead in their grief · Gather knowledge from every source available · Record what you have learned · Share what you know freely, but with intention · Look beyond what is obvious · Console the grieving and remind others to let the dead go.

Starting Attribute Priorities

Category	Priority	Starting Points
Mental	Primary	7 points
Physical	Secondary	5 points
Social	Tertiary	3 points

Starting Essence Balance

Yin-aspected. Flows from death, darkness, and stillness. 3 Yang / 7 Yin.

Dharma Disciplines

Discipline	Level 1 Effect
Yin Prana ●	Death's Essencell — channeling Yin Essence lowers ambient temperature and unsettles the living nearby; they must roll Willpower (diff 6) to knowingly lie in the Corpse Rose's presence for the scene. Costs 1 Yin Essence.
Equilibrium ●	Centered Mind — +1 die to Willpower rolls resisting emotional manipulation, supernatural influence, or Shadow intrusion. Passive.
Ghost-Flame Art ●	Spirit Sight — actively reads a location's Essence imprint: what happened there spiritually, how long ago, and whether residue remains. Perception + Occult (diff 6).

Suggested Starting Abilities

Talents	Alertness 2, Empathy 1, Subterfuge 1, Expression 1
Skills	Research 2, Occult Ritual 2, Stealth 1
Knowledges	Occult 2, Academics 1, Investigation 1

Heaven's Mandate & Dharmic Weakness

Heaven's Mandate: Keepers of Balance	Dharmic Weakness: Cold to the World
+2 dice to Occult and Investigation rolls when working with ghosts, recording historical truth, or assisting the grieving.	-1 die on Social rolls intended to express warmth, care, or genuine emotional connection (does not apply to information delivery, fair adjudication, or interacting with the dead).

Quick Reference

Nicknames	Corpse Roses, Historians of Yore
Essence Aspected	Yin (3 Yang / 7 Yin starting)
Disciplines	Yin Prana, Equilibrium, Ghost-Flame Art
Mandate	Keepers of Balance
Dharmic Weakness	Cold to the World
Willpower (base)	Equal to Courage at creation

See also: Hellion overview · Character Creation Guide