W20 - Changing Breeds.pdf

sense" that gives them an exceptionally precise sense ofdirection when they are underground. While underground,Ratkin can retrace any path and instantly know wherethey are in relation to anyplace else they have ever been.Ratkin can have acute night vision, and can seeclearly in the dark for an entire scene by spending onepoint of Gnosis.Ratkin can step sideways like the Garou, but canonly normally cross the Gauntlet if no other intelligentcreature is present, except for spirits and other Ratkin.Ratkin inflict reduced Delirium in Crinos form.When a human sees a Crinos Ratkin, treat the witness’sWillpower as if it was two points higher.A Ratkin’s blood is poisonous to anyone who drinksit. Anyone imbibing Ratkin blood (including unluckyAnanasi and vampires) suffers one point of unsoakablelethal damage for every point of Rage the Ratkin possesses.The Birthing Plague that lingers in their veins leavesRatkin completely immune to all diseases, though theycan still act as carriers.A wererat who is in danger can utter a silent screamcalled "keening" that can only be heard by other Ratkin.Ratkin can only keen when threatened, but no othersupernatural creatures can duplicate this sound.Ratkin begin play with 3 Willpower, and may notpurchase the Allies, Ancestors or Pure Breed Backgrounds.They also cannot purchase more than 2 dots of Resources.RenownRatkin respect Renown in the categories of Infamy,Cunning, and Obligation, and a Ratkin can have his worthrecognized in a variety of ways. Those who run mostlywith their own kind can brag about their adventures tothe courtiers at a nest and hope for recognition, or bragat a revel — a no-holds-barred chaotic party-cum-mobheld by warrior-rats before a battle — and garner theapproval of the crowd to gain his Renown. Those whorun with other shapeshifters, or who skulk on their owncan go directly to their totem spirit through meditationor other communion methods, and try to gain the spirit’sapproval of their exploits. The various Creeds that theRatkin hold to expand upon the Litany of Survival thatunderpins their society.BreedsRatkin are made, not born. Wererats subject someof their rat and human Kinfolk and all of their metisoffspring to the Rite of the Birthing Plague. The Plaguekills any normal humans and rats, along with most metisRatkin and Kinfolk. The few who survive suffer severaldays of fever and delusional insanity and then recoverto find that they are now wererats.CREED OF INFAMYI will defend our breeding grounds against allthreats, physical and spiritual.I shall seek revenge against those who preyupon my kind.I must shred the tentacles of the Wyrm whereverthey constrict us.I must sever the Weaver’s webs wherever theycalcify chaos.CREED OF CUNNINGI will survive so that I may breed.I must respect strength and exploit weakness.I shall grow stronger through conflict.I will learn from the mysteries of the spiritworld.I will revel in the visions the spirits grant me.CREED OF OBLIGATIONI shall preserve the Veil, which ensures oursurvival.I will build, steal, and suborn to strengthen mybreeding ground.I shall nurture, instruct, and aid the young.I will trust my own kind before I trust outsiders.When someone is responsible for injustice, I willmake sure someone pays.• Homid: They begin life like any other human.Some are inclined to violence, others lose themselvesin strange dreams and bouts of insanity. Almost all arenotably less successful than other humans, academically,professionally, and socially. Then, the madness of theBirthing Plague shows them their true destiny. MostRodens wererats do not trust homid Ratkin. The mostpowerful members of the larger nests especially distrustmembers of the homid breed.Initial Gnosis: 1Starting Gifts: Cooking, Eau de Rat, Persuasion182CHANGING BREEDS