Post by Elisandra on Mar 24, 2008 6:19:46 GMT -8
Pooka
Source: www.geocities.com/darkworldinfo/antagonists/changeling/kith.html
Pooka are among the most charming and congenial of the Kithain. However, they're also rapscallions, scoundrels and are known for their deceitful, devious, eccentric, and mischievous ways. Their lives are a constant barrage of pranks, lies and wild stunts. Faerie lore claims that pooka are descended from innocent dreams of long ago, when mortals watched animals play and wished they could be so free as well. They find it difficult to take mundane life seriously, and they'll do anything to discourage the sadness that it brings. If they carry a piece of that sadness deep within their hearts, you'd never guess it. Truth is anathema to a pooka. Anything they say will be peppered with lies to make it more interesting. A pooka's animal affinity will often tie into their environment. Pooka who dwell in the city often take the form of dogs, cats or even rats, while country pooka may emulate horses, wolves or wild hares. Most are mammals, but a few avian, as well as reptilian pooka do exist. Seelie pooka are loyal friends and courageous in battle. If one of their pranks causes real pain, they are genuinely sorry. Unseelie pooka can be vicious and feral, but most do their best to fit in with their Seelie brethren. Whatever form they choose, pooka are usually cute. Though their appearances are manifold ( depending on their animal affinities ) they are often furry, with elongated, animalistic features, and even actual animal ears. Whether they are actors, clowns, jugglers, court jesters or stand up comedians, pooka somehow manage to eke out a living doing what they love.
Childlings are little angels, especially when they think they're going to get caught. Seelie childlings are like playful baby animals, causing trouble and trying hard to avoid punishment. Unseelie childlings are destructive little beasts, but soon learn the fine art of making sure the Seelie get blamed.
Wilders have a notoriously crude sense of humor. Imagine a class clown who'd seduce your best friend's S.O. while planting a stink bomb in the school's ventilation system. When his pranks are going really well, he'll even get a luminescent gleam in his eyes. Be careful when a wilder pooka starts to sharpen his claws.
Grumps age gracefully. Most of them settle down to jobs in which fools can make an easy living. While their sense of humor never fades, it does become more subtle. Graybeard pooka tend to prefer elaborate pranks that can take weeks to orchestrate properly.
Birthrights
* Shapechanging -- Each pooka has an affinity with an animal of her choice. When completely alone, she can shapechange into that animal ( or back from it ) in one turn. Shapechanging costs a point of Glamour, but revering back is free. The pooka has all of the animal's natural abilities ( claws, speed, leaping, etc. ), although it's only possible to assume the forms of mundane beasts. Even the large and scary forms tend to be far more playful than deadly, even when a fight breaks out. Changelings can't ken the animal form of a pooka in her mortal seeming. They really don't need to see the animal form to figure it out, though: a pooka often shares a few of the animal's more endearing qualities. A cat pooka, for instance, might lick her fingers after a meal, or purr when stroked. In her faerie mien, she might have little ears and a long swishing tail.
* Confidant -- The innate charm of a pooka breaks down the barriers of even the coldest people. Adding a faeries curiosity to that makes him an outstanding confidant. Once during a conversation, a pooka may roll a Perception + Empathy ( or Subterfuge ) to get a changeling or mortal to spill her guts; the difficulty is the 'victim's' Willpower. Each success allows a truthful answer to one personal question. This isn't an instantaneous effect, though. It takes time, effort and role-playing to coax out the information. This birthright functions normally at all times, even with mortals. A pooka can never botch an Empathy or Subterfuge roll.
Frailties
* Lies -- People may trust a pooka, but no one in their right mind would believe one. They're infamous for their elaborate lies. No matter how important an issue may be, a pooka must always mix in a lie. It's their nature. A pooka must make a Willpower roll, difficulty 8, to tell the whole truth. Different pooka have different styles of lying. Some Seelie pooka always say the opposite of what they mean, while many Unseelie purposefully tell the truth now and then to throw listeners off guard. Unseelie pooka sometimes couch their lies very carefully - and if an Unseelie makes a Willpower roll at the beginning of a scene, he can mix lies and truth freely. This can make him even more dangerous.
Source: www.geocities.com/darkworldinfo/antagonists/changeling/kith.html
Pooka are among the most charming and congenial of the Kithain. However, they're also rapscallions, scoundrels and are known for their deceitful, devious, eccentric, and mischievous ways. Their lives are a constant barrage of pranks, lies and wild stunts. Faerie lore claims that pooka are descended from innocent dreams of long ago, when mortals watched animals play and wished they could be so free as well. They find it difficult to take mundane life seriously, and they'll do anything to discourage the sadness that it brings. If they carry a piece of that sadness deep within their hearts, you'd never guess it. Truth is anathema to a pooka. Anything they say will be peppered with lies to make it more interesting. A pooka's animal affinity will often tie into their environment. Pooka who dwell in the city often take the form of dogs, cats or even rats, while country pooka may emulate horses, wolves or wild hares. Most are mammals, but a few avian, as well as reptilian pooka do exist. Seelie pooka are loyal friends and courageous in battle. If one of their pranks causes real pain, they are genuinely sorry. Unseelie pooka can be vicious and feral, but most do their best to fit in with their Seelie brethren. Whatever form they choose, pooka are usually cute. Though their appearances are manifold ( depending on their animal affinities ) they are often furry, with elongated, animalistic features, and even actual animal ears. Whether they are actors, clowns, jugglers, court jesters or stand up comedians, pooka somehow manage to eke out a living doing what they love.
Childlings are little angels, especially when they think they're going to get caught. Seelie childlings are like playful baby animals, causing trouble and trying hard to avoid punishment. Unseelie childlings are destructive little beasts, but soon learn the fine art of making sure the Seelie get blamed.
Wilders have a notoriously crude sense of humor. Imagine a class clown who'd seduce your best friend's S.O. while planting a stink bomb in the school's ventilation system. When his pranks are going really well, he'll even get a luminescent gleam in his eyes. Be careful when a wilder pooka starts to sharpen his claws.
Grumps age gracefully. Most of them settle down to jobs in which fools can make an easy living. While their sense of humor never fades, it does become more subtle. Graybeard pooka tend to prefer elaborate pranks that can take weeks to orchestrate properly.
Birthrights
* Shapechanging -- Each pooka has an affinity with an animal of her choice. When completely alone, she can shapechange into that animal ( or back from it ) in one turn. Shapechanging costs a point of Glamour, but revering back is free. The pooka has all of the animal's natural abilities ( claws, speed, leaping, etc. ), although it's only possible to assume the forms of mundane beasts. Even the large and scary forms tend to be far more playful than deadly, even when a fight breaks out. Changelings can't ken the animal form of a pooka in her mortal seeming. They really don't need to see the animal form to figure it out, though: a pooka often shares a few of the animal's more endearing qualities. A cat pooka, for instance, might lick her fingers after a meal, or purr when stroked. In her faerie mien, she might have little ears and a long swishing tail.
* Confidant -- The innate charm of a pooka breaks down the barriers of even the coldest people. Adding a faeries curiosity to that makes him an outstanding confidant. Once during a conversation, a pooka may roll a Perception + Empathy ( or Subterfuge ) to get a changeling or mortal to spill her guts; the difficulty is the 'victim's' Willpower. Each success allows a truthful answer to one personal question. This isn't an instantaneous effect, though. It takes time, effort and role-playing to coax out the information. This birthright functions normally at all times, even with mortals. A pooka can never botch an Empathy or Subterfuge roll.
Frailties
* Lies -- People may trust a pooka, but no one in their right mind would believe one. They're infamous for their elaborate lies. No matter how important an issue may be, a pooka must always mix in a lie. It's their nature. A pooka must make a Willpower roll, difficulty 8, to tell the whole truth. Different pooka have different styles of lying. Some Seelie pooka always say the opposite of what they mean, while many Unseelie purposefully tell the truth now and then to throw listeners off guard. Unseelie pooka sometimes couch their lies very carefully - and if an Unseelie makes a Willpower roll at the beginning of a scene, he can mix lies and truth freely. This can make him even more dangerous.