Frost Affliction

Overview

Difficulty/Rarity Level: ★★★☆☆ (medium, uncommon)

Companions touched by the Blood Affliction embody a blend of predatory instincts and vampiric mystique, granting them unparalleled charisma, physical strength, and mastery over blood energy. They balance their hunger for vitality with their growing ability to manipulate their environment and allies, creating a dynamic that’s both thrilling and dangerous to explore.

Core Traits

Regardless of their level, all Blood Afflicted Companions share the following characteristics:

• Blood Shard Dependency: Companions with this Affliction must consume Blood Shards to stabilize their Affliction; the shards are deep crimson and are shaped like a fang. They can be naturally found in dark, remote areas like ancient dungeons and primal caverns. The shards may also be more likely to appear in locales where blood has been spilled, especially at night. Companions can also absorb ambient shards by spending time in close proximity to dark environments or those centered around blood such as hospitals and sites of trauma or battle.

• Feeding Appendage: Specialized appendages, similar to retractable fangs, develop somewhere on their body (usually within the mouth, but could manifest elsewhere); these allow even non-predatory species to consume blood energy.
• Crimson Markings: Subtle red markings spiral across their body, glowing faintly in dim light and pulsing in sync with their heartbeat. These markings intensify when their abilities are in use.
• Iridescent Eyes: When channeling blood energy, their eyes take on a shimmering, liquid-like quality that reflects their power.
• Affinity for Darkness: Blood Afflicted Companions thrive in shadowy or dim environments and gain strength in areas rich with blood, death, or trauma.
  • Daylight Sensitivity: Their abilities are significantly weakened in bright or daylight environments.
• Charismatic Presence: Their vampiric essence draws others in, making them powerful allies and leaders.
• Resilient and Adaptable: Blood Afflicted Companions often excel in physical endurance and strategic thinking, thriving in high-pressure scenarios.
  • Hunger for Blood: Their reliance on blood energy requires careful management; failure to feed diminishes their power and vitality.

Why pick a Blood Afflicted Companion?

Blood Afflicted Companions stand out for their strong connection to blood energy and their ability to thrive in dark, high-stakes environments. Their Affliction offers a unique blend of utility, adaptability, and thematic flavor, making them an excellent choice for players who enjoy companions with a predatory edge and supernatural flair.

What Makes Blood Afflicted Companions Unique?

• Illusion Magic: Vampiric Companions have inherent access to illusion magic, starting with small visual tricks and growing into powerful, semi-tangible deceptions that can confuse, distract, or protect.
• Blood Energy Mastery: Their Affliction revolves around manipulating blood energy to heal, enhance, or defend, offering flexibility in combat and survival scenarios.
• Feeding Dependency: Blood Afflicted Companions rely on blood energy to sustain and empower their abilities, creating a unique balance of risk and reward.
• Moral Complexity: The hunger tied to their Affliction often forces them into morally ambiguous situations, providing rich opportunities for storytelling and character development.

Is a Blood Afflicted Companion Right for You?

If you’re looking for a Companion that blends striking aesthetics with versatile abilities, thrives in darker settings, and offers opportunities for complex narratives, a Blood Afflicted Companion can be a distinctive and rewarding choice.

Bonding Process Suggestion

Out of character, you will need to purchase your character's Companions through the Bonding form, or receive them for free with an in-character post. In character, this is a possible method a character might use to bond with a Blood Afflicted Companions; it is not mandatory to follow this exact process though, so if you have another idea please feel free!

Initial Contact:

• Frost Afflicted Companions can often be found in serene and cold location, preferably a snow-covered landscape with icy formations.
• Approach the Companion gently, with respectful distance.
• Offer a gentle nod of acknowledgment, allowing them to recognize your presence without feeling overwhelmed.

Building Trust:

• This step requires time, possibly several encounters, to allow the Companion to gradually warm up to your presence.
• Bring offerings during each visit, placing them nearby and stepping back to allow the Companion to approach and consume them.
• Demonstrate patience and stillness, allowing them to take their time to explore and get to know you.

Deepening the Bond:

• Engage in tranquil meditation sessions in a frosty enclave, fostering a budding telepathic link where images and emotions can be shared silently between you and the Companion, gradually building up to short phrases.
• The final sealing of the bond involves entering a shared dream space during a deep meditation or sleep, where inner worlds merge, and a deep, unspoken understanding is forged.
  • During the dream, they will come across a perfect, large snowflake that is comfortable to hold and will never melt; when they return from the dream, the bonded partner will be holding this unique snowflake and a similar marking will appear on the Companion.
  • These snowflakes are often worked into jewelry, which the bonded partner wears to show the connection to their Companion.

FROST AFFLICTED COMPANION LEVELING

Capabilities & Difficulties: Most Companions with this Affliction will follow the progression path outlined below, however, as long as you stay within the bounds of your Companion's current level and purchased talents, we allow for some flexibility in interpretation. The capabilities and difficulties are those that all Afflicted of the appropriate level may have access to -- not every Companion will be extremely proficient in every Capability, and not every Companion will be affected as badly, or in the same way, by a Difficulty.

Level 0 [0 Shards]

At Level 0, the Frost Affliction represents a raw and unrefined link to the elemental forces of ice and cold. The Companion exudes an unsettling chill, and their presence hints at the untapped power of winter storms. While this Affliction is both awe-inspiring and volatile, it carries practical potential even in its infancy.

Capabilities:

• Shiverstrike: The Companion channels their latent cold into their physical attacks, leaving a biting frost that slows their target’s movements or reflexes briefly. This chill can affect flesh, armor, or even machinery, showing the creeping power of frost.
• Icy Resonance: The partner gains a subtle, adaptive benefit: a sharper focus or steadier aim in tense moments, as if the Companion’s chill steadies their nerves. This calming influence works even in high-pressure situations, such as combat or perilous exploration.

Difficulties:

• Chill Unbound: The Companion radiates uncontrolled cold, making physical closeness uncomfortable for prolonged periods. Metal items held nearby may grow frost-coated, and liquids may freeze if left exposed too long.
• Frozen Resolve: The Companion’s aloofness can make them harder to bond with, requiring patience and understanding to earn their trust and cooperation.
• Icy Vulnerabilities: While the Companion thrives in cooler temperatures, heat saps their energy. Prolonged exposure to high heat dulls their reflexes and sharpens their discomfort.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• Their body glitters faintly with frost, as if they’ve stepped from a fresh snowfall. This shimmer may fade in heat or grow more pronounced when stressed.
• A light fog seems to cling to their form, trailing behind them as they move and evoking the feeling of winter mornings.
• Subtle frost patterns, like intricate fractals, spread across their fur, feathers, or scales, catching the light in iridescent blue and white.

Level I [100 Shards]

At Level I, the Frost Affliction transitions into a more deliberate and refined form. The Companion gains greater control over their cold energy, allowing for creative and practical applications. Their connection with their partner strengthens, fostering resilience and synergy.

Capabilities:

• Frostcraft: The Companion gains the ability to manipulate ambient moisture, forming small frost constructs such as icy barriers, spikes, or decorative patterns. These structures are fragile but useful for combat, exploration, or creating minor distractions.
• Chilling Glare: The Companion can direct their icy energy into a focused stare that briefly disorients or slows a target. This piercing gaze appears as an unnatural, frosty glow in their eyes, instilling hesitation or unease.
• Winter’s Vigil: The Companion’s bond with their partner provides a steadying influence, granting mild resistance to cold-based attacks and environmental effects. This ability ensures protection in harsh climates or during elemental confrontations.
• Frozen Step: The partner’s movements become subtly imbued with a frosty precision, leaving faint ice trails that cause slick terrain underfoot for a short time. This creates potential hazards for enemies pursuing them while granting strategic opportunities during encounters.

Difficulties:

• Fragile Frost: Frost structures created by the Companion are delicate and prone to shattering under pressure or heat, limiting their durability in chaotic scenarios.
• Frostbound Energy: The Companion’s increasing attunement to cold amplifies their sensitivity to heat. Prolonged exposure to fire or high temperatures drains their energy, making them more vulnerable in such conditions.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• A perpetual, icy mist clings to the Companion’s form, swirling faintly around them during moments of focus or emotional intensity.
• Frost patterns on their body become increasingly detailed, resembling intricate snowflakes or fractals that shift in color or size based on their mood.
• Their voice carries a faint echo, as if layered with the soft murmur of a winter wind, giving it an eerie and captivating quality.

Level II [200 Shards]

At Level II, the Frost Affliction manifests as a blend of precision and creativity, enabling the Companion to wield frost energy with deliberate intent. Their growing connection to the cold enhances their versatility and utility, while their bond with their partner becomes increasingly symbiotic.

Capabilities:

• Icelance: The Companion gains the ability to conjure and hurl shards of solid ice as projectiles. These lances can pierce defenses or pin targets momentarily, offering a new offensive capability.
• Glacial Mantle: The Companion can encase parts of their body in frost armor. This protective layer absorbs some physical damage and shatters violently when broken, releasing a burst of chilling energy to hinder nearby foes.
• Polar Resonance: Enhances the partner’s physical endurance by reducing energy drain from strenuous activities. This boosts their effectiveness during prolonged encounters or explorations.
• Cryostasis Bond: The partner gains the ability to stabilize a critically wounded Companion or ally by touching them, encasing the target in a thin layer of ice that slows injury progression for a brief time. This ability requires proximity and cannot fully heal but provides a critical pause in dangerous situations.

Difficulties:

• Fractured Frost: Frost armor and constructs are prone to instability under stress, leading to unpredictable failures in critical moments.
• Chill Fatigue: As their frostcraft abilities grow, the Companion requires more energy to sustain their creations. Overuse risks temporary lethargy or weakened performance.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• Ice projectiles like lances shimmer faintly with prismatic reflections, evoking a polished crystal appearance.
• Frost armor emits subtle cracks and creaks as it moves, as if alive.
• Pale frost patterns bloom across their body in symmetrical, snowflake-like shapes, glowing faintly during ability use.
• A low, almost melodic hum resonates from them when they create frost structures, akin to the sound of ice forming on a lake.

Level III [300 Shards]

At Level III, the Frost Affliction evolves to grant the Companion precise control and impactful abilities that elevate their role in both combat and exploration. The partner’s synergy with the Companion also deepens, enhancing their combined effectiveness and survivability. The Companion’s frostcraft is now not only a weapon but a tool for survival and dominance, reflecting their advancing mastery.

Capabilities:

• Icebound Strike: The Companion channels frost energy into their physical attacks, creating a devastating impact that freezes a target’s surface layer on contact. This ability briefly immobilizes smaller foes or weakens larger ones, offering new tactical advantages in combat.
• Glacial Spire: The Companion can summon a towering spike of ice from the ground, useful for blocking pathways, creating barriers, or dealing heavy damage in combat. The spire’s durability makes it a versatile tool for both offense and defense.
• Frost Synchrony: The partner’s reflexes and reaction times are enhanced while near the Companion, allowing them to anticipate enemy movements with uncanny precision. This reflects the Companion’s frost energy stabilizing the partner’s mental focus and physical acuity.
• Auroral Shield: The Companion projects a faint, shimmering aurora around themselves and their partner that temporarily reduces the effectiveness of ranged or elemental attacks. This shield is most potent during moments of intense coordination or shared danger.

Difficulties:

• Icy Overexertion: Overuse of frost abilities now comes with the risk of frostburn-like symptoms affecting the Companion’s extremities, slowing their movements and temporarily reducing their combat effectiveness.
• Environmental Susceptibility: While their frostcraft is powerful, extreme environments (e.g., volcanic areas, deserts) challenge the Companion’s ability to sustain their abilities for prolonged periods, requiring more frequent breaks or adjustments.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• The frost patterns on the Companion’s body now glow faintly in dim light, giving them an ethereal and commanding presence.
• When summoning Glacial Spire or using Icebound Strike, cracks and crystalline formations ripple outward briefly before dissipating.
• Their movements leave behind a lingering frost trail, which glitters with subtle auroral hues in moonlight or darkness.
• In moments of heightened emotional intensity, an auroral shimmer radiates from their body, resembling the Northern Lights.

Level IV [400 Shards]

At Level IV, the Frost Affliction grants the Companion control over frost energy at a strategic level, blending their physical power with tactical prowess. Their icy presence becomes a force of nature, allowing them to dominate their surroundings while fortifying the bond with their partner.

Capabilities:

• Permafrost Field: The Companion can create a localized zone of extreme cold, causing the ground within the area to frost over and grow hazardous for enemies. The field slows movement, reduces agility, and creates environmental pressure in combat scenarios.
• Cryoquake: The Companion channels energy into the earth, causing a localized burst of frost and minor seismic activity. This ability destabilizes foes, breaks up terrain, and creates shards of ice that can be weaponized or used defensively.
• Frostward Bond: The partner gains resistance to temperature extremes, making them equally resilient to icy and fiery conditions. This bond allows for unhindered action in hazardous environments.
• Subzero Precision: The partner’s ability to strike or react becomes enhanced when within the Companion’s frost aura. Their attacks and reflexes gain increased accuracy and swiftness, as if sharpened by the cold.

Difficulties:

• Aura Instability: The growing power of the frost aura occasionally acts unpredictably, freezing unintended objects or allies within close range if not carefully managed.
• Frost Tether: The Companion’s abilities are now more reliant on proximity to icy or cold environments. Prolonged action in heat-heavy areas depletes their energy faster and reduces the effectiveness of their frostcraft.
• Subzero Feedback: As the Companion’s abilities become more potent, prolonged use of advanced frostcraft can cause a feedback loop in their system, resulting in temporary numbness or reduced sensitivity in their extremities. This can hinder their precision and agility in critical moments.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• The Companion’s frost constructs now emit faint whispers or crackling sounds, akin to ice shifting under pressure.
• When activating Cryoquake, frost lines spread outward from the Companion’s body, glowing momentarily before fading into the terrain.
• Their eyes reflect a shimmering auroral glow, flickering with blue and green hues during moments of heightened focus or tension.
• The Companion’s form becomes surrounded by a faint, crystalline haze that sparkles subtly in direct light, evoking the appearance of a frost-clad guardian.

Level V [500 Shards]

At Level V, the Frost Affliction reaches a level of precision and grandeur that transforms the Companion into a commanding presence on the battlefield. Their frost energy extends its influence to larger scales, offering potent offensive and defensive capabilities while further cementing the synergy with their partner.

Capabilities:

• Blizzard Veil: The Companion summons a swirling storm of frost and snow centered around themselves. This veil obscures vision, chills enemies, and provides cover for their partner, creating both a tactical advantage and environmental disruption.
• Frostbreaker Surge: The Companion channels an immense burst of frost energy into a concentrated explosion, shattering ice constructs or freezing terrain in a wide radius. This surge creates jagged ice shards that can harm foes and alter the battlefield.
• Auroral Pulse: The partner gains the ability to unleash a pulse of auroral energy when in close proximity to the Companion. This pulse disorients enemies and creates a temporary shield against elemental attacks, reflecting the deepened bond between them.
• Chilled Instincts: While near the Companion, the partner’s ability to anticipate and counteract enemy actions is enhanced. This instinctual foresight feels like the cold sharpening their reflexes, giving them an edge in combat.

Difficulties:

• Frigid Exhaustion: The expanded range and power of the Companion’s frost abilities place significant strain on their stamina. Overuse of abilities like Blizzard Veil or Frostbreaker Surge may leave them drained or sluggish.
• Unstable Constructs: The rapid generation and destruction of frost constructs during intense combat create an inherent instability, occasionally leading to unintended fractures or outbursts of energy.
• Icebound Dependency: As their powers grow, the Companion becomes more reliant on cold environments to maintain optimal performance. Prolonged exposure to neutral or hot climates weakens their frost aura and reduces the effectiveness of their abilities.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• The blizzards and frost storms summoned by the Companion often form faint shapes or patterns resembling wolves, dragons, or other ethereal creatures within the swirling snow.
• Their icy aura now glimmers with subtle hues of pink, green, and blue, creating an auroral effect that shifts with their emotions or the intensity of their abilities.
• Frostbreaker Surge leaves behind crystalline fractures in the terrain that shimmer faintly before dissolving, creating the illusion of a cracked, frozen world.
• Their voice carries a resonant, icy timbre, as if the cold itself echoes through their words, captivating those who hear it.

Level VI [600 Shards]

At Level VI, the Frost Affliction reaches its penultimate form, solidifying the Companion’s ability to shape the battlefield and empower their partner. Their frostcraft evolves into a harmonious blend of manipulation, offense, and defense, showcasing their mastery over winter’s might.

Capabilities:

• Frozen Dominion: The Companion generates a large field of frost around themselves, slowing enemies, reducing reaction times, and creating brittle terrain that may crack under pressure. This dominion allows the Companion to exert control over their surroundings and turn the tide of battle.
• Frostflare Barrage: The Companion unleashes a series of explosive frost flares across a wide area. These flares erupt into bursts of ice and cold energy, damaging and disorienting enemies while reshaping the terrain with jagged ice.
• Aurora Convergence: The Companion channels concentrated auroral energy into their partner, temporarily enhancing their speed, strength, and elemental resistance. This surge transforms the partner into a force of nature, capable of matching the Companion’s prowess.
• Wintersoul Shield: The partner gains a protective barrier imbued with frost energy, deflecting physical and elemental damage for a short time. This shield also radiates a chilling aura that discourages enemies from approaching too closely.

Difficulties:

• Frost Oversaturation: Prolonged use of Frozen Dominion risks freezing the Companion’s extremities, causing temporary stiffness or pain, reducing their agility.
• Aurora Feedback: Overusing Aurora Convergence can strain the partner, leaving them fatigued and momentarily vulnerable after the effects fade.
• Chilling Vulnerability: The Companion’s increased reliance on frost energy makes them more susceptible to elemental imbalances. Prolonged exposure to intense heat or electrical energy can destabilize their frostcraft abilities.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• The frost patterns on the Companion’s body now shift dynamically, resembling flowing auroras that ripple in real time based on their energy levels.
• Frozen Dominion causes the ground beneath them to shimmer with delicate crystalline fractals that seem to hum faintly when struck.
• Their breath takes on a glowing, auroral quality, leaving faint trails of light in the air as they exhale.
• When activating Aurora Convergence, their body radiates vibrant, shifting colors that bathe their partner in an ethereal glow, making them stand out amidst chaos.

Level VII [700 Shards]

At Level VII, the Frost Affliction reaches its apex, granting the Companion the ability to summon a Frostforged Familiar unlike anything they’ve created before. This sentient manifestation of frost energy enhances the Companion’s reach and strategy while maintaining their thematic identity. Their partner’s connection grows into a seamless synergy that allows them to manipulate frost energy with precision and power.

Capabilities:

• Frostforged Entity: The Companion summons a unique frost-based familiar that acts as an autonomous extension of their will. This familiar can take on a small but distinct form (e.g., an icy fox, hawk, or a spectral wolf, or unique creature of the player’s choice) and is intelligent - capable of scouting, distracting enemies, and assisting in combat. This entity can evolve its form mid-combat, splintering into smaller frost wisps for distraction or forming into a single, larger guardian for direct confrontation. It requires a constant flow of energy and dissipates if the Companion becomes too fatigued.
• Cryochain Cataclysm: The Companion links their frost energy across multiple targets, creating a chain reaction of icy explosions that spread from one foe to another. Each detonation creates frost tendrils that entangle enemies and freeze terrain, limiting movement and forcing strategic repositioning.
• Empowered Harmony: The bond between the Companion and their partner becomes fully reciprocal. When the partner performs frostcraft abilities granted by the Companion, the Companion regains a fraction of their stamina, creating a feedback loop of sustained energy and resilience.
• Glacier’s Resolve: The partner gains the ability to summon temporary glacial reinforcements, such as shields or ice spikes, around themselves or the Companion. These constructs provide strong defense against physical and magical attacks, enhancing survivability.

Difficulties:

• Entity Fatigue: The Frostforged Entity requires constant energy to maintain, and its shifting forms increase this drain. If the entity is destroyed or overused, the Companion experiences severe energy loss and reduced ability effectiveness.
• Cryochain Feedback: While devastating, Cryochain Cataclysm risks backfiring if enemies are too close to the Companion or their partner, causing collateral damage and unintentional terrain hazards.
• Frostburn Dependency: As their frostcraft abilities peak, the Companion becomes increasingly reliant on replenishing frost energy sources. Extended combat in warm or neutral environments depletes their reserves faster, forcing careful planning.

Quirks & Cosmetic Changes (optional):

• The Frostforged Entity constantly shifts its appearance, growing or shrinking depending on its energy reserves. It may resemble an ethereal wolf, bird, or an abstract crystalline construct, with glimmers of auroral light rippling across its surface.
• Cryochain Cataclysm leaves behind intricate frost formations at the points of each explosion, resembling fractal patterns or delicate ice flowers.
• The Companion’s movements are accompanied by faint, echoing sounds of cracking ice or wind howling over frozen landscapes.
• Their presence emits a cold so profound that nearby surfaces frost over, and their touch can temporarily leave behind crystalline imprints on objects or terrain.
• In moments of high tension, faint silhouettes of previous frost creations or the familiar seem to move within the Companion’s aura, creating an eerie, otherworldly effect.

Level VIII [800+ Shards]

At Level VIII, Companions ascend to their ultimate specialization, choosing one path that reflects their mastery over frost energy and their connection to winter’s elemental power. These specializations define their role in the world, unlocking unique abilities and shaping their destiny as harbingers of ice and snow.

• Eternal Glacier Sentinel: These Companions become living embodiments of eternal glaciers, their presence stabilizing the land around them. They can shape vast icy fortresses and protect entire regions from harm.
  • Example Powers: Create massive, semi-permanent ice fortifications; reinforce allies with glacial shields; summon avalanches to defend territory.
• Aurora Conductor: Masters of the auroral spectrum, these Companions wield light and frost in harmony, creating mesmerizing displays that heal allies, confuse enemies, or channel destructive energy.
  • Example Powers: Manipulate auroras to heal or empower allies; create disorienting light storms; unleash focused beams of auroral frost energy.
• Frost Phantom Summoner: These Companions call forth spectral entities made of ice and frost, commanding an army of phantoms to assist in battle or scout distant lands.
  • Example Powers: Summon frost phantoms with unique abilities (e.g., distraction, combat support); deploy spectral scouts; overwhelm enemies with a frost specter horde.
• Cryostorm Architect: Companions with this specialization harness the raw fury of blizzards, directing their chaos to reshape battlefields and overwhelm foes.
  • Example Powers: Summon immense blizzards that obscure vision; generate icy whirlwinds; freeze terrain to control enemy movement.
• Winter Star Weaver: These Companions tap into the celestial power of icy constellations, using star-aligned frost magic to guide, protect, and empower.
  • Example Powers: Call down starry frost strikes; create protective constellations over allies; align celestial energy to boost frostcraft potency.
• Glacial Rune Master: By carving intricate frost runes into ice, land, or even their own body, these Companions channel ancient powers to manipulate the world around them.
  • Example Powers: Create frost runes that trap or weaken enemies; inscribe protective runes on allies; unleash stored energy from runes for massive effects.
• Frozen Heart Healer: These Companions embody the restorative power of winter, channeling frost to soothe pain, heal injuries, and rejuvenate life in frozen wastelands.
  • Example Powers: Heal allies with frost energy; create frost sanctuaries that restore health and stamina; purify toxins or curses with icy touch.
• Polar Guardian: Protectors of the polar realms, these Companions gain dominion over the icy seas and tundras, wielding frost energy to command tides, wildlife, and the environment.
  • Example Powers: Summon tidal waves of frost; call upon arctic wildlife for aid; shield allies with icy ocean currents.
• Icebound Chronomancer: By attuning to the frozen flow of time, these Companions can manipulate the temporal plane, freezing moments to their advantage.
  • Example Powers: Slow or stop time briefly in localized areas; create frost constructs that persist outside normal time; rewind damage to allies.
• Northern Light Oracle: These Companions ascend as spiritual guides, using the aurora to reveal truths, predict outcomes, and inspire others.
  • Example Powers: Project visions through auroras; predict future events based on celestial alignment; guide allies with spiritual frost energy.