Those of the Shifting Host

The Vessel shapes the Will.

Core Concept

This species possesses no stable physical form of its own. They are beings of pure Eidos or psychic energy that must inhabit and co-opt a host body to interact with the world. Their “creative agency” comes from the choice and modification of their vessel.

Physiology & Biology

In their natural state, they are incorporeal and undetectable. To exist, they must form a bond with a biological or mechanical host. The nature of this bond can vary, from parasitic to truly symbiotic. A powerful Symbiote can not only control a host but can also slowly reshape it, augmenting its abilities or even forcing mutations.

Psychology & Society (Faith / Fiction)

Core Faith: They believe their own identity is fluid and is defined by the experiences they have through their current host. They are the ultimate vicarious beings, seeing hosts as tools, partners, or prisons.

Core Fiction: They tell stories of legendary Symbiote-Host pairings, like that of a brilliant, frail scholar bonded with a giant war-beast. They might see themselves as “Guardian Angels,” “Riding Spirits,” or, more cynically, as “Puppet Masters.”

Gameplay Hooks & Tensions

This is a perfect framework for a player Incarnation. The player is the Symbiote. Awakening is the process of finding and bonding with a host. Gameplay could involve jumping from host to host, a unique form of “permadeath” where the player survives but their “character” (the host) is lost.

A central quest line for a Symbiote player would be the search for the “perfect” vessel. The core tension is the relationship with the host: is it a partnership where you must respect the host’s Needs and Beliefs, or a possession where you must constantly fight to suppress its will?

Eidos Generated

• [symbiosis]
• [possession]
• [vicarious_life]
• [the_borrowed_form]
• [co-pilot]