Poenaplaceunque

By Ian Sheridan, modified by Andrew Lucas. For the Cenobites (version 1)

Description

This "Discipline" always has the Initiative in a combat, thus allowing the Cenobites to maintain their dignity and avoid personal violence.

* The Tearing

This power manifests itself by assailing the victim with instruments of torture, mutilating their flesh and causing intense agony. Mr Sheridan writes:

"Examples of this power...[include]..hooks on chains..., circular saws, knives, ice-picks, surgical tools, some organic material like a tongue, a hand, body...[fluids].., sexual organs..., hair, fingernails, or a combination of organic and metallic, surgical tools held by or connected to the hands, etc."

The "Hellraiser" films provide excellent examples of this power in use.

System: Willpower roll [difficulty of victim's Dexterity + Dodge + Celerity]. Each success inflicts two health levels of damage.

** The Clutching

The attack now holds the victim in place, and can move their trapped body about freely.

System: The victim must make a Willpower roll [difficulty of Cenobite's Willpower] to attempt to escape. If the victim is able to make the attempt, a further Strength + Potence roll at the same difficulty will free him, each success removing one of the successes of the original Clutching attack (the damage doesn't go away, but the instruments can be removed from the flesh). Naturally, a Cenobite can renew the attack over any number of rounds, each success against a victim already trapped being added to the entanglement from which the cictim strives to escape.

*** The Ecstacy

The torture now becomes so intensely pleasurable the victim will come back for more.

System: The attacks are now Aggravated. Roll Manipulation + Empathy [difficulty of victim's Willpower] to pleasure them.

Successes	Result
1	Victim starts to self-mutilate.
2	Victim must roll Willpower [difficulty eight] to resist any opportunity to suffer pain.
3	Victim can only avoid inflicting pain and injury on himself by spending a Willpower point at every opportunity.
4	Victim's entire life is now dedicated to seeking out the Lament Configuration, in order to go to Hell. The victim will happily undergo any and all Cenobite attacks, and will not resist when slowly torn apart.

**** The Pillar

An immobilised victim can now be placed on a great mechanism of torture, such as the Pillar shown in "Hellraiser," and subjected to a supremely intense physical death followed by damnation.

System: The victim suffers four Aggravated wounds per round until dead.

***** The Gate

If a gateway is opened, the Cenobite can widen it for the passage of Leviathan. Powerful Cenobites will have this ability.

System: Take the character sheets and scenario notes, put them in a metal dustbin, and set light to them. This provides an anology in the real world to what is happening in the game world. ;-)

****** The Lament Configuration

Very powerful Cenobites and Leviathan itself can perform this feat -- the conversion of a willing victim into a Cenobite. See "Hellbound: Hellraiser Two" for examples.

System: Use the Cenobite generation rules in the previous section.