|
Art: Metamorphosis
Legends abound of fae shifting shape, disguising themselves, growing to giant size or otherwise altering their form. This Art is the basis for many such tales. A treasured bit of commoner lore, this Art has suffered greatly with the spread of Banality as outlandish shapes and sizes are slowly written out of conventional reality, but it nonetheless remains a potent tool (or weapon) in the hands of clever fae. Note that Metamorphosis remains primarily a commoner Art; while there are seldom any formal restrictions on teaching it to the nobility, most commoners see it as one of the few weapons they have that the sidhe don't, and are in no hurry to bring them up to speed on it just yet. For their part, many sidhe are actually quite uneasy about changing their beautiful shapes with such a "low Art" and prefer to hold off on shape changing until they master the more "respectable" Primal Art.
Art Note: As Metamorphosis often involves drastic changes in a character's appearance, players should be prepared to write description cards that detail their character's new form; these cards should be brightly colored and prominently attached to their costume so other players are immediately aware of a change, even if the other characters aren't.
Type of Challenge: Physical
Basic
Hidden Form: This devious Art allows a changeling to blend into her surroundings, effectively disappearing from sight. Characters employing this Art use the standard hand signal for invisibility; however, Hidden Form differs from Veiled Eyes in several important ways. First of all, it is an actual physical change, so it fools cameras as well as people. This also means that characters with Hidden Form may interact with their environment in ways that characters with Veiled Eyes cannot - run, open doors, pick up objects, and so on - although such actions allow anyone watching an immediate mental test, no traits risked, to detect the invisible character (this can be retested with the Stealth or Alertness abilities). If an observer "picks out" the outline of the invisible character, they can track or fight them without difficulty until such time as the invisible character either completely stops moving or goes entirely out of their line of sight -turns a corner, jumps a wall, etc. - at which point the observer must make another mental test to detect the invisible character once more. Characters who pierce the cantrip successfully are two traits up on subsequent detection tests for the rest of the scene, however, since they know better what to look for. Second, since those under this cantrip are still prone to making noise, giving off a scent and so on, characters with any form of Heightened Senses receive a free retest to detect changelings in Hidden Form. Finally, while it is possible to fight in this form (and opponents are at a two trait penalty against such a well disguised foe), the rapid movements and intense concentration battle requires tend to break down the cantrip very quickly - the changeling must spend a Glamour trait every round of combat to maintain their disguised state or the cantrip immediately ends.
Type: Wyrd
Impersonate: While not a true shape shifter yet, the changeling has learned to alter his features in a number of ways, making him a veritable master of disguise and capable of copying the voice and visage of another with uncanny accuracy. Note that this change does not convey "scientific" details such as fingerprints, DNA or retina patterns, nor does it bestow any of the memories, abilities or supernatural powers of the target of Impersonate; thus, the would-be double may also need to make Performance (Acting) or Subterfuge tests to keep up the act under scrutiny. Also, the size of the character under Impersonate's effects must be roughly similar to the target's, unless the caster is also willing to use Go Ask Alice (below). The number of Bunk traits gained in the casting determines how good a resemblance the character actually creates: one or two Bunk traits is a poor likeness indeed, only capable of passing inspection in near-darkness or at a distance; anyone trying to see through the shoddy disguise receives a free retest of such tests, and those with Heightened Senses pierce it automatically. Three to four Bunk traits is enough for a good copy, and the character is two traits up on all tests to hide his identity unless the opponent is an intimate friend or lover or has some form of Heightened Senses, in which case the test is performed normally. Five or more Bunk traits equates to a perfect likeness, which can only be pierced by close friends or lovers, and even then the character is two traits up to maintain his disguise. This Art costs one social trait and lasts a maximum of one hour or scene per Bunk trait whichever is longer.
Type: Chimerical if used for fae mien, Wyrd if used for mortal seeming.
Intermediate
Go Ask Alice: Faeries have always been known as "Little People," and this Art is one reason why - skilled users can shrink to the size of a thimble or grow taller than trees, both of which can prove very useful in the right situations. Small characters may call Fair Escape by slipping under doors or through cracks in walls, for example, while enlarged fae can frighten foes and reach the top shelf unaided. Despite some common misconceptions, though, this Art does not make a changeling any stronger or tougher if enlarged, nor does it make one any faster or more delicate simply by virtue of decreasing their size. As with Impersonate, this Art can be used on either the fae mien or the mortal seeming, though exceptionally large or tiny fae are bound to attract a great deal of Banality if exposed to skeptical onlookers. The maximum amount of size alteration possible is determined by the number of Bunk traits gained in casting - each Bunk trait allows a changeling to grow as much as 1/2 again larger than normal, or shrink by 1/4 their normal size, cumulatively. Go Ask Alice can be cast multiple times on a target during a scene to allow for truly impressive feats of size manipulation, and lasts for one scene or until the caster wills it undone, whichever comes first.
Type: Wyrd or Chimerical
Merlin's Lessons: Animal transformations - frogs into princes, peasants into newts and so on - are common in fairy tales, and this Art is one of the main reasons why this is so. A changeling using this cantrip can transform his target into a non-mythical creature for one hour per Bunk trait; for an additional Glamour trait, the natural powers and advantages of an animal form are conferred as well, such as the burrowing instincts of a mole or the graceful flight of a bird. The Storyteller has the final word on what powers can be gained and how they are adjudicated in play. Note that the target retains his normal mental and social traits, health levels, memories and intellect during this time, as well as any Birthrights or other supernatural powers that can still be used in his current form. However, his physical traits rely on his new shape, and his powers of speech remain limited by the animal shape (which may also prohibit many social test), not to mention that many abilities and backgrounds are pretty useless without opposable thumbs. Characters with natural shape shifting powers such as pookas, selkies or Garou may spend a trait of Blood/Glamour/Gnosis/Pathos/etc. to retest this Art, but may do so only once during the duration of the cantrip.
Type: Wyrd
Advanced
Mythic Transformation: This Art is identical to the Primal Art Elder Form, including Glamour cost, with two important changes. First, if using the Art only on himself, the caster does not need the Realm of what he wishes to become, only the proper Realm needed to affect himself. Second, while Elder Form does not confer any supernatural powers if the caster chooses a mythic shape such as a dragon or unicorn, a changeling employing Mythic Transformation may choose to spend a permanent Glamour trait to truly assume that shape - this confers all the legendary powers of the new form, as well as any mythic frailties it might have. A Storyteller must be consulted as to what powers and frailties are conferred by the new form, as well as how they are adjudicated during play. In addition to such high cost, a full Transformation has other risks - Banality eats away at mythic beasts, causing the changeling to lose one Glamour trait per hour the form is maintained. Once all Glamour traits are lost, health levels are lost at the same rate and cannot be healed until the caster takes his original shape again. In addition, if confronted by a skeptical observer - Kinain, Prodigals and mortals who are currently enchanted don't count - the changeling must immediately make a test of his permanent Glamour rating versus the target's Banality. If the changeling loses, he is immediately dropped into a random spot in the Dreaming as the Banal world utterly rejects his presence and must make his way home however he can.
Type: Wyrd or Chimerical
|
|
