So, having listened to the recent Blood Magic episode of The Letters Page and having perused the SC RPG Starter Kit, I think I'm starting to flesh out who my first character will be.
Morgan Cutter shouldn't be alive. Struggling with depression throughout his early teens, Morgan found himself entering high school with little in the way of a support network. His interests in mythology, the occult, industrial music, and classic literature isolated him from all but a few close friends who shared the same interests. While warm with these few, Morgan's solitude took its toll on his mental fortitude, spiraling into a self-imposed isolation.
Unfortunately, Morgan's issues went all but unnoticed by his parents, mired in the conflicts surrounding their impending divorce. Already a latchkey kid, Morgan spent his evenings in effective solitary confinement, making his own meals in an empty house. That is, however, until his first suicide attempt; at age 17, Morgan opened his wrists with a straight razor, nearly bleeding out in his parents' bathroom before his mother found him. Morgan was institutionalized at Lincroft Asylum for nearly 3 months, seeking counseling and treatment as his wrists healed.
Upon his release--and now with the coping mechanisms and medication necessary to combat his depression--Morgan found that his friends and family held him closer than ever. When his friends suggested a midnight seance, followed by a late-night Lenny's run--"Just like old times!"--Morgan was quick to join them. That night, in St. Ignatius' Cemetery, Morgan and his friends lit up a candle and began chanting from an old book that Esther had bought in a used bookshop.
That's when his suture popped. A slow dribble of Morgan's blood fell to earth as the group chanted; mystic energy swirled around him, lifting the astounded Morgan into the air. Panicked, the group scattered and, as the chanting ceased, Morgan dropped back to earth, enervated and breathless.
After a good deal of both research and experimentation, Morgan and his friends came to a strange conclusion: Morgan was a blood mage, capable of expending life force to manifest arcane power.
If one good thing can be said to have come from Morgan Cutter's suicide attempt, it could be this: it made Morgan ask himself, "What can only you offer the world?" Now, he had an answer. He would embrace this power and use it to help defend against the terrors of the night. Morgan Cutter would don the mask of The Hemogoblin.
Principle of the Survivor: You have been granted a second chance at life--something not everyone is lucky enough to receive. What can you offer the world? Minor Twist: How do you still struggle with your mental state? Major Twist: What are you willing to give up to ensure that others get their second chance?
Principle of Vitae: There is a truth that lies in blood, but truth is like a knife that is all blade--it cuts the hand that wields it. Minor Twist: What did you learn about blood magic that you did not know, even as you used it? Major Twist: Who pays the price for your power?
Not sure how I'd yet stat up The Hemogoblin, but I see very much as a "debuff"-type character, inflicting curses and maledictions (Hinder actions, likely) as well as attack at the cost of his own Health. He'd likely have an early ability (Green, ideally) that lets him siphon arcane power from foes, using their lost Health to fuel his other abilities. He's also a character that likely would grow more powerful as blood gets spilled, so I see his status dice as going Green (d6); Yellow (d8); Red (d10). However, I also tend to view him as very reticent to cause lasting harm or even kill, instead opting to deal himself damage to fuel his spells rather than harm any but the most heinous of foes.