W20 - Changing Breeds.pdf

WAIT A MINUTE, MY HAKKEN GETSFIVE GIFT LISTS?Effectively, yes. Two of those lists (generalHengeyokai and Beast Court Auspice) are moreexpensive than native Gifts, but they’re still lessexpensive than, say, picking up a Silver Fang Gift.So what gives? Why are hengeyokai so muchstronger than western shapeshifters?The answer has nothing to do with Asianmysticism or superiority, and everything to dowith history and hard work. The ChangingBreeds elsewhere in the world have spent allof history since the War of Rage in isolated,balkanized enclaves when they weren’t eithergoing to ground to avoid discovery altogether— or tearing one another’s throats out. The Feraretreated from the world, mistrustful of the rageof the werewolves and of each other.The hengeyokai, while not without theirshortcomings and problems, managed to holdit together to a far greater degree. They cametogether and built something. They took theirstrength, and made it the strength of theirbrothers. Beast Court characters have moreadvantages than other shapeshifters becausethey’re the beneficiaries of thousands of yearsof hard-won unity and back-breaking spirituallabor undertaken by their ancestors. Because ofthis, Beast Court characters have some perks toemphasize this point — unity and understandingbring concrete benefits, while the wage ofinfighting’s is death. Perhaps, if there is any timeleft before the Apocalypse, the Sunset Peoplecould learn from the Hengeyokai.• Strength of Purpose (Level Two) — As thePhilodox Gift.• Mental Speech (Level Three) — As the metis Gift.• Wisdom of the Ancient Ways (Level Three) —As the Philodox Gift.• Roll Over (Level Four) — As the Philodox Gift.• Take the True Form (Level Four) — As thePhilodox Gift.• Geas (Level Five) — As the Philodox Gift.• Strength of Will (Level Five) — As the AhrounGift.Fist• Falling Touch (Level One) — As the Ahroun Gift.• Inspiration (Level One) — As the Ahroun Gift.• Pack Tactics (Level One) — As the Ahroun Gift.• Razor Claws (Level One) — As the Ahroun Gift.• Resist Pain (Level One) — As the Philodox Gift.• Shield of Rage (Level Two) — As the Ahroun Gift.• Snarl of the Predator (Level Two) — As the Getof Fenris Gift.• Spirit of the Fray (Level Two) — As the AhrounGift.• True Fear (Level Two) — As the Ahroun Gift.• Combat Healing (Level Three) — As the AhrounGift.• Thunder of Susano’o (Level Three) — As theGet of Fenris Gift: Might of Thor.• Wind’s Returning Favor (Level Three) — Asthe Stargazer Gift.• Wrath of Gaia (Level Three) — As the SilverFang Gift.• Full Moon’s Light (Level Four) — As the AhrounGift.• Stoking Fury’s Furnace (Level Four) — As theAhroun Gift.• Kiss of Helios (Level Five) — As the Ahroun Gift.Mirror• Liar’s Face (Level One) — As the Ragabash Gift.• Persuasion (Level One) — As the homid Gift.• Spirit Snare (Level One) — As the Theurge Gift.• Spirit Speech (Level One) — As the Theurge Gift.• Umbral Tether (Level One) — As the TheurgeGift.• Battle Mandala (Level Two) — As the TheurgeGift.• Call to Duty (Level Two) — As the Philodox Gift.• Command Spirit (Level Two) — As the TheurgeGift.• Name the Spirit (Level Two) — As the lupus Gift.• Liar’s Craft (Level Three) — As the RagabashGift.• Pulse of the Invisible (Level Three) — As theTheurge Gift.• Umbral Camouflage (Level Three) — As theTheurge Gift.• Web Walker (Level Three) — As the Theurge Gift.APPENDIX TWO: HENGEYOKAI285