Wail of the Banshee

[Mr. Death]

So I'm thinking of using a Banshee as a character in one of my games, and I'm mulling over what powers she should have. Flight, obviously, and some kind of supernatural sense about Death. It'd be a Fae (the "shee" in the name coming from the pronunciation of "sidhe" after all).

I'm pondering what to do with the scream. Possibly some reflavor of Incite Emotion (Fear)? Something like the Barabbas Curse, where whoever hears it is fated to die?

[cold_breaker]

So I'm thinking of using a Banshee as a character in one of my games, and I'm mulling over what powers she should have. Flight, obviously, and some kind of supernatural sense about Death. It'd be a Fae (the "shee" in the name coming from the pronunciation of "sidhe" after all).

I'm pondering what to do with the scream. Possibly some reflavor of Incite Emotion (Fear)? Something like the Barabbas Curse, where whoever hears it is fated to die?

Yeah, I went with an area wide incite attack at range (since it's technically you only need to hear it.) I did a similar build for a Morrigan, although I used incite bloodlust.

[wyvern]

Alternatively, you could go with more of the original mythos, and have the wail not be a killing attack (D&D popularized that), but instead be a notification that someone has died... or is fated to die.  In the latter case, you could run it a bit like the barabbas curse... or you could run it as a warning, and say that - if the hearer heeds the warning - free will allows gaining a bonus versus death.  (I.E. free will trumps fate, so if you're warned, you can actually do something about it.)

I could also see an alliance between a banshee and a valkyrie - the banshee figures out what important people are going to die when, and the valkyrie goes to collect...

[Sanctaphrax]

Here's how I handled it.

[Mr. Death]

Hm, looks interesting. Though I'm thinking considerably more high powered. She's supposed to be a major NPC in a game that's over 12 refresh already.

[vultur]

Yeah, I went with an area wide incite attack at range (since it's technically you only need to hear it.)

Yes, for the "wail is deadly" (as opposed to merely warning) version I think Incite Emotion (Fear, At Range, Lasting Emotion, Potent Emotion) is the way to go. Mental attacks can apparently lead to death already, as White Court Vampires can kill by feeding, and that's a mental attack in game terms.