(this has nothing to do with Spirit of the Century.)

In the movie of The Spirit (the will eisner comic), the character is haunted by the vision of a beautiful woman embodying death. The Spirit himself was a cop who was killed in the line of duty and (in the film version) injected with a chemical that means he can't die and that he heals real quick. Thus anytime he encounters a situation that would otherwise kill him he meets this vision, calling to him like a siren.

I am interested in replicating that kind of experience, but how to do so mechanically. The character wouldn't necessarily be super powered or super natural, more a symbolic aspect that represents their inability to give in to the forces that threaten them. A sort of inevitable comeback, but perhaps with a price attached.

Quote from: Ghost Whistler;423591(this has nothing to do with Spirit of the Century.)

In the movie of The Spirit (the will eisner comic), the character is haunted by the vision of a beautiful woman embodying death. The Spirit himself was a cop who was killed in the line of duty and (in the film version) injected with a chemical that means he can't die and that he heals real quick. Thus anytime he encounters a situation that would otherwise kill him he meets this vision, calling to him like a siren.

I am interested in replicating that kind of experience, but how to do so mechanically. The character wouldn't necessarily be super powered or super natural, more a symbolic aspect that represents their inability to give in to the forces that threaten them. A sort of inevitable comeback, but perhaps with a price attached.

You could potentially model it as a kind of ally with a restorative ability that she could lend to the PC.

Something "calling to" the character?

During a part of the game in which something relevant to the fate of the character is at stake, turn over an evocative tarot card that indicates that. Death, Justice, The Tower--whatever. The player may not know squat about what it has to do with his fate, or for how long the card will be face up. But there should be some trigger in the game that turns the card back over. If the player advances the character's fate while the card is showing, he gets some kind of chip or point or in-game bonus.

The fun would be in sooner or later figuring out one's fate and choosing (or not) to meet it.

Sounds abit like Geist:the sin eaters to me.

Similar things have been around a long time. We used to do this with Lace and Steel, since we had the tarot cards out anyway.

You could just let the guy be immortal -- everytime he gets to 'near-death' you just roleplay the experience of the Woman showing up for him.

Or you could use the 'visions' to give clues to upcoming events.

If you want the possiblility of the character to finally die, have him make somekind of saving throw to stay alive, and roleplay accordingly.