Preserved

Preserved

Somehow when you died, the virus didn’t lay waste to your flesh. You were left with a mostly normal appearance. You look human, and most people can’t tell you’re a zombie, unless they look very carefully. You can blend into society, somewhat, and with some practice, you can relearn to speak like humans, use tools like humans, even drive a car like a human. A wolf disguised as a sheep, you can merge with your prey, waiting for the right time to strike. 

Automatic Talents:

Blend In – Most humans don’t realize you are undead until you make it obvious. You can’t use items or speak (unless you have talents that allow you to), but you can walk around in public and not draw attention immediately. This ability is most-useful with crowds or groups of people.

Limited Motor Skills – You can manipulate simple objects, such as doorknobs or levers, and pick up items (though you can’t necessarily use items). You can’t throw items or use tools (unless a talent allows you to).

Statistics: 

HP: 14 + Resilience score at 1st level, +5 each time you gain a level. 

Ability Score Modifiers: None

Starting Humanity: 14

Class Skills (4): Acrobatics, Athletics, Charm, Intimidate, 

Item Use Talent Tree: You begin to recall how to use items.

• Tool Use: You gain the ability to utilize simple (and unpowered) hand tools and other small objects. This list includes (but isn’t limited to) hammers, crowbars, screwdrivers, wrenches, etc. You can even spend money! Use your imagination! Note: This does not confer the ability to wield weapons.

• Weapon Use: You can now use simple weapons.

- Requires Tool Use

• Fine Tool Use: You can now use tools that can require fine manipulation. This includes (but is not limited to) needle and thread, pen and paper, typewriters, anything that requires using individual fingers to use properly. Note: You can use various communication media, but unless you know another language (such as Human), you cannot write anything that non-zombies would understand.

- Requires Tool Use

• Machine Use: You can now use common machinery, though not skillfully. You can use hand-held power tools, jackhammers, and even operate vehicles (among other things); any powered objects that only require a couple of different actions at a time to use (for instance, a car only requires the use of a steering wheel and two pedals at any one time). Note: While you know how to operate a vehicle, this simply means you know how to switch from park to drive (and vice versa), how to steer, and how to use the pedals. You do not know proper driving rules (speed limits, traffic lights, lanes, etc) but you can at least stay on the road. You just know how to operate the machinery. Probably best to drive when no other traffic is around!

- Requires Fine Tool Use

• Improved Machine Use: You know the basics of “acceptable” machine use. You can stay within the lanes, follow traffic signals, etc. 

- Requires Machine Use

Language Talent Tree: You start to remember how to talk to others. 

• Crude Language: You learn a crude version of the Human language. You can speak to humans in very short sentences (little more than “Yes”, “No”, “I’m Hungry”, etc). You might often say “Huh?” or “What?” unless people speak to you slowly and carefully. You can pass as human, but most people will think you have a mental deficiency. You will not fit in at most places, where the mentally handicapped would be out of place, so be careful not to draw attention to yourself! You can converse for a number of minutes equal to 3 + your Preserved class level before people start to catch on. You are better off getting in and out before people start asking questions!

• Improved Language: You can now talk in mostly complete sentences and convey complete thoughts, though deeper thoughts are beyond you. You lack the ability to “small talk” as well as a number of human devices (such as sarcasm, joking, or persuasion). You can only speak directly and convey the message you are attempting to convey in the simplest manner possible. You can remain undetected while conversing for a number of minutes equal to 5 + twice your Preserved class level. 

- Requires Crude Language

• Perfect Language: You can now talk completely normally. People will never know you are a zombie simply by talking to you. 

- Requires Improved Language

• Power of Persuasion: You can now persuade others to do things for you. When you’re talking to a human, you may ask them a favor. They make a Willpower check or perform the action for you, with a DC set by the favor you’re asking for: 

DC Favor

20 Requires almost no effort - “Can I use your pen?”

15 Requires some movement - “Help me carry this?”

10 Requires effort or money - “Will you go buy a drill for me?”

5 Obviously dangerous - “Climb into that wood-chipper” 

+5 Seems completely harmless - “Will you go get my car keys from the other room?”

-10 Seems possibly dangerous - “Come with me into this dark alley.”

- Requires Perfect Language