Cruel

Cypher System Rulebook 1e

Misfortune and suffering do not move you. When another endures hardship, you find it hard to care, and you may even enjoy the pain and difficulty the person experiences if they've done you wrong in the past. Your cruel streak may derive from bitterness brought about by your own struggles and disappointments. You might be a hard pragmatist, doing what you feel you must even if others are worse for it. Or you could be a sadist, delighting in the pain you inflict. Being cruel does not necessarily make you a villain. Your cruelty may be reserved for those who cross you or other people useful to you. You might have become cruel as the result of an intensely awful experience. Abuse and torture, for example, can strip away compassion for other living beings.

As well, you need not be cruel in every situation. In fact, others might see you as personable, friendly, and even helpful. But when angered or frustrated, your dual nature reveals itself, and those who have earned your scorn are likely to suffer for it.

You gain the following characteristics:

Cunning

+2 to your Intellect Pool.

Cruelty

When you use force, you can choose to maim or deliver painful injuries to draw out your foe's suffering. Whenever you inflict damage, you can choose to inflict 2 fewer points of damage to ease your next attack against that foe.

Skill

You're trained in tasks related to deception, intimidation, and persuasion when you interact with characters experiencing physical or emotional pain. Inability: You have a hard time connecting with others, understanding their motives, or sharing their feelings. Any task to ascertain another character's motives, feelings, or disposition is hindered.

Additional Equipment

You have a valuable memento from the last person you destroyed. The memento is moderately priced, and you can sell it or trade it for an item of equal or lesser value.

Initial Link to the Starting Adventure

From the following list of options, choose how you became involved in the first adventure.

  1. You suspect that you might gain a long-term advantage from helping the other PCs and may be able to use that advantage against your enemies.
  2. By joining the PCs, you see an opportunity to grow your personal power and status at the expense of others.
  3. You hope to make another PC's life more difficult by joining the group.
  4. Joining the PCs gives you an opportunity to escape justice for a crime you committed.