The Strange Bestiary
A recursion stain forms when a creature travels via inapposite gate to a recursion where the laws of its native recursion are not supported. As reality imposes its will on the creature, stripping it of powers and capabilities beyond what its new location allows, the creature weakens and could die. Not every creature that undergoes this complete disintegration leaves a stain, but those with great power might. Once a stain forms, it acts as a cancer on existence, destabilizing local reality.
People who aren't quickened can't see recursion stains. Photographs can catch them sometimes, though people usually dismiss them as a quirk in the film's development or a digital error. Quickened people see them clearly. A recursion stain looks like a swirling fractal pattern that causes light to bend around it. It floats in the air and moves in an erratic manner.
Motive: Unpredictable
Environment (Any): Anywhere
Health: 15
Damage Inflicted: Moderate wound (5 points)
Movement: Immediate
Combat: When quickened creatures are within short range of a recursion stain, they lose access to all abilities granted by their focus, and they suffer 1 point of ambient damage each round they remain in the vicinity. In addition, translated non-native creatures revert from their translated forms into their normal forms. Nonquickened creatures and mundane objects normally can't see or interact with a recursion stain, and they usually do not suffer damage when one becomes active.
A recursion stain ignores damage from all physical objects. Energy of any kind, however, destabilizes the stain for one round. As its next action, the stain sends a pulse out to a short distance, and each creature in range must succeed on a Might defense roll or take 5 points of damage.
If a recursion stain is destroyed, it collapses in on itself and creates a fractal vortex linked to the recursion that the creature that made the stain came from. The vortex behaves as an inapposite gate and stays open for 1d6 hours before closing permanently.
Interaction: Recursion stains are almost mindless and barely able to perceive their surroundings. When a quickened creature comes within range, a recursion stain may remember its past self and attempt to communicate its original purpose to a curious character. However, it can't help but affect quickened creatures as described under Combat, even if it is regretful and wants assistance.
Use: The local hotel has always had a reputation for being haunted. When an Estate agent stayed overnight and died there, the reputation graduated to a certainty, though little else is known.
GM Intrusion: The special abilities of a character damaged by a recursion stain are modified by one step to the character's detriment for one hour.