W20 - Changing Breeds.pdf

Nonetheless, they are usually insatiably curious andshow great glee when they undergo their First Change.The discovery of hands and a two-legged form is often adelight. Human form gives them even more opportunitiesto undergo new experiences and allows them to get intomore trouble than ever before.Inveterate wanderers, roko love to see new placesand discover novel things.Beginning Gnosis: 5Starting Gifts: Burrow, Cricket Leap, HeightenedSenses• Shinju: The shinju are metis Kitsune. Among theKitsune, metis birth is not considered a curse. They do nothave deformities, but if a Fox-Fox pairing produces a childthere is only a ten percent chance they will produce a shinjushifter; most such offspring are normal foxes or humans.Shinju children are born at a higher cost than nonshinju:one (or both) of the Fox parents is very likely todie (see Birthing Pains sidebar).Raised in the court of their parents, shinju kits learntheir grand destiny early. Their heads swelled by tales ofthe greatness that is theirs, many become insufferablyarrogant and absolute perfectionists — even more sothan their kojin or roko relations.Beginning Gnosis: 4Starting Gifts: Scent of the True Form, Sense Wyrm,Truth of GaiaPathsThe Paths of the Kitsune constitute both a professionand something of a sacred calling. They are not determinedby the sun, moon, or the Kitsune’s time of birth, but arechosen by each Fox as she gains her first rank. When ayoung Kitsune reaches her Nogitsune-time, she is giventhe Rite of the Crossroads by a more experienced Ninetails.The element the young werefox chooses at thistime determines what Path she will follow. Unlike otherhengeyokai, Kitsune cannot undergo the Rite of the SecondFace, since the Rite of the Crossroads (if performedcorrectly) reveals her true essence and thus her life-choice.• Kataribe (kah-tah-ree-bay): Corresponding toclay, this Path is made up of builders and doers. Like apotter, the Kataribe make many things that aid the otherNine-tails. They are in contrast to the Doshi and Eji,who practice selective destruction as parts of their Paths.Along with a love of crafted goods, the Kataribe particularlylove knowledge, thus earning them the monikerof shijin, or poet. They spend much time collecting lorefrom around the world, learning stories, songs and poetryand weaving them together into a tapestry of information.The shijin spend time with court historians as well as theZhong Lung to avail themselves of the ancient historyknown to these shen. These Kitsune are in particularaccord with the Beast Courts and most Kitsune on theWay of Emerald Virtue are Kataribe. They get along wellwith both other shen and with humans.Initial Rage: 2Starting Gifts: Beast Speech, Fable, Truth of Gaia• Gukutsushi (goo-koots-shee): The dreamweaverscorrespond to the element of Kiri, fog. This is a difficultPath for outsiders to understand, combining the wayof the trickster — with their mastery of the mind andillusion — and the role of a physician or healer. Theybring solace to the suffering and take delight in deceivingthose who prove needful of such tricks. Their skills areless physical than the other Paths, but Gukutsushi canuse their mind-bending skills to devastating effect againstfoes. The illusions they cast, and the tricks they play ontheir enemies’ minds can be devastating in or out of battle.Their knowledge of both human and shen psychology isunsurpassed and they have honed their own minds intoboth keen weapons and tools for insightful analysis.Initial Rage: 2Starting Gifts: Clear the Mind, Mother’s Touch,Open Seal• Doshi (doh-shee): The sorcerers’ element isInazuma: lightning. Masters of magic and spirit communication,their path is one of shadow, as is evidenced bythe betraying hint of Yomi within them. On a successfuluse of Sense Wyrm at difficulty 9, the Doshi detect asslightly Wyrm-tainted.ELEGANT ELEMENTSRather than the singular elements commonin the spirit world (fire, earth, water, or air), theNine-tails accept a blending of two of the primaryelements as a singular element in and of itself.Each of the four blended elements recognized byKitsune corresponds to a particular Path.Nendo (Clay): Combines the elements ofearth and water. Corresponds to Path of Kataribe.Kiri (Fog): Combines the elements of waterand air. Corresponds to Path of Gukutsushi.Inazuma (Lightning): Combines the elementsof air and fire. Corresponds to Path ofDoshi.Yogan (Lava): Combines the elements offire and earth. Corresponds to Path of Eji.128CHANGING BREEDS