Werecreatures are the physical descendents of Lillith and her various lovers among many species. Lillith after her boredom with Caine decided to try living lives among many of the animal species of the world. She lived full lives among these species bearing young who were of herself with her human form and her animal lover.
    Due to this demonic nature they found that they could assume human form as well several forms inbetween the animalistic and human form. Some of the children of Lillith had children and these children also shared her gift and curse. Due to their demonic nature they had great difficulty controlling their passions and angers. The Goddess Gaia felt sympathy for them and gave them a powerful Avatar to go with this powerful Beast. In exchange for this healing she gave them a list of guidelines and laws.
    Werecreatures through the ages have had a rough history.  Constantly at war from many sides; fighting with humans, the creatures of the other Gods and those that would harm that they were sworn to protect.  In the year 2000 CE Gaia stopped speaking to them.

Index (note this is broken into two files. This index includes links to both.
Cyberware
Werecreature Basic Abilities
Additional aspects (Rage and new Vitae abilities)
Werecreature specific Skills -- these are special skills required for playing a werecreature.
The Spirit World
The Becoming
Gifts
Breed
Species
Unique Werecreature Backgrounds
Unique Werecreature Merits and Flaws
Society Notes
 

Cyberware

    For an unknown reason the Werecreature can change their shape and enter the Umbra without having any difficulty with Cyberware.  The Cyberware disappears when the Were changes shape and in its place the original body part comes into being in all forms that are considerably different than their normal.  Therefore, a Werewolf with a cyberarm has a cyberarm in Human form, and in Glabro form but loses it in Crinos, Hispo and Lupus form.  However, they do not lose the leg in any of their forms.
Index

Werecreature Basic Abilities

• All werecreatures can take the form of an animal and several forms between.  These are explained more fully in the section on species.
• Each werecreature has a Gift that their species has given them.  These are based specifically on the abilities of the species.  They are explained more fully in the section on species.
• All werecreatures can enter and leave the Umbra with the aid of a mirrored surface though this requires the spending of one Vitae for both actions.
• Werecreatures have supernatural gifts that they can chose to learn. Their Avatar and Beast is awakened in a specific way so the cannot have psychic gifts but no other creature can gain their gifts.  A werecreature learns singular gifts.  Create as if creating a GF 8 gift at a specific level.  Werecreatures cannot possess psychic gifts though they may learn thaumaturgy (very rare among the werecreatures)  There are many gifts that have been passed down the ages from werecreature to werecreature. These gifts require the use of several talents to use:  Vitae Gifts is required to use all Gifts that use Vitae, Rage Gifts is required to use all Gifts that use Rage and Will Gifts is required to use all gifts that use Willpower.
• Werecreatures have a vitae rating dependent upon their breed. Werecreatures regain two vitae per day instead of one vitae per day.
• Werecreatures heal very easily normal wounds heal at a rate of one per combat turn (somewhere between three and four seconds). Aggrevated wounds heal at a rate of one per day.  However, werecreatures take aggrevated wounds from mystical weapons, silver, fire, teeth and claws of supernatural creatures, as well as holy objects channeled against them (a sword used to strike them).
• Werecreatures do aggrevated damage by their claws and bite in any unnatural form. The standard damage for claws and bite is 2d6 damage + Body Type Modifier.
• Werecreatures may also make partial transformations or one body part. This act is always a Difficulty 9 action to perform.
• Werecreatures possess and can use Vitae and Rage explained below.
• Werecreatures have a close relationship with the spirit world and for this reason they possess a pack totem and may possess Species Totem, Caern Totem, Jamak and Pack Spirit Companions.
• *Stating specifically there is no veil and no delirium in this world.*

Additional Aspects

Rage
    The basic Rage pool is equal to 10 - Empathy rating (use current Empathy rating including any loss from Cyberware).  Rage only regenerates through Anger.  Anytime the character is angry the character has a chance of gaining additional Rage even over and above the Base Rage.  (However, between adventures it is assumed that the character's Rage returns to the base rage).
    Rage has two primary affects:

• Anytime the character's Rage rating is higher than the character's Empathy they have a chance of Frenzy.  Frenzy means the character looses control of their actions and turns into a killing machine.  The character rolls Will difficulty 10 + 1/point that Rage is higher.  While frenzying the character:
• ignores all wound penalties
• cannot take any complex actions
• Also for every point of Rage above the character's Willpower subtract 2 from all Social Interaction rolls.

• Remain active despite wounds. A spent Rage point gives the character a +10 to the Stun Save for that turn.
• Instantaneously heal the character.  The character rolls Will + Current Rage +d10 difficulty 15.  If successful the character automatically goes up d10 wound slots.  Using this gives the character Battle Scars unless a successful Body Type roll is made difficulty 15.  If you fail the initial roll those wounds take longer to heal than normal.  10 minutes per wound slot. Aggrevated wounds can be healed in this manner as well but the difficulty to avoid Battle Scars is difficulty 20.
• Transform to any form instantly no matter how many steps are between.
• Move very quickly a spent Rage point adds +10 to initiative
• Spend 1 Rage to ignore all wound penalties for the turn.

• Enter the Umbra with the aid of a mirrored surface.  It costs 1 vitae to enter the Umbra and 1 vitae to leave it.
• Bond an item to themselves.  This costs 5 vitae to accomplish but also takes one from the permanent vitae pool (until the item is no longer bonded).  The character can carry it into the Umbra and it may still be used in spirit and other forms.  All cyberware is assumed to have the carry with them bond but not the complete bond.  If the character wishes to make full use of cyberware in other forms and within the Umbra it must be separately bonded.  Bonded items must be touched 1/day or the Bond fades.
• Power most werecreature gifts.

Werecreature Specific Skills

Will/Willpower Skills

Shifting (1) The ability of the werecreature to change his shape.

Umbral Travel (2)  The skill of entering and leaving and traveling in the umbra (but not knowledge of it)

Empathy Skills

Animal Understanding (1) or (3)  The ability to communicate understand the social signals of animals by accessing the animal within yourself.  The x1 multiplier only applies to a specific species while the x3 multiplier applies to entire families of creatures (cats as compared to felines).  The character always has a +2 to rolls with their own species.

Spirit Understanding (2)  The skill of understanding the spirits in the world.  Works as human perception.

Intelligence Skills

Languages
    Nonspecies Tongue (3) the ability to speak and understand the language of any other species of animal.
    Species Tongue (1) the language of your own species of animal
    Werecreature bodylanguage (1) - a set of basic signals designed to be possible in any form to communicate very basic ideas
    Werecreature language (4) - the language used for common communication between werecreatures.  Includes a double linguistic style that allows those both in homid and those in animal form to use it.  Crinos werecreatures still cannot use it.

Litany (1)  The knowledge of the common folklore and history of the werecreatures.

Magical Skills

Klaive Bonding The skill of bonding and creating the proper spirits for a Klaive

Node Care The skill of caring for and accessing a caern node.

Rage Gifts:  The skill of focusing gifts that require the expenditure of rage.

Vitae Gifts:  The skill of focusing gifts that require the expenditure of vitae.

Willpower Gifts  The skill of focusing gifts that require the expenditure of willpower

Reflexes Skills

Klaive Dueling (2)  The ability to use a Klaive -- a bladed weapon with a long thick blade.

Martial Art Kailindo (4)  The Shapeshifter martial art of combat that includes throws, strikes, leaps and controlled shapeshifts to deadly effect.  Each different werecreature type has a slightly different version of this martial art depending on their particular forms.

Primary Attack: strike, claws
Primary Defense: Dodge
Special Bonuses: +2 to shapeshifting roll/ 3 levels, -1 to time taken to shift in combat per level in  this martial art
Weapons: None

The Spirit World
   Werecreatures have a close tie to the spirit world.  Each Pack possesses a spirit totem and the character may have a connection the species/caern totem as well.  This spirit totem gives them certain gifts and expects something back in return.  If a character leaves a pack they must sunder this bond (all points put into the spirit totem are lost).  Some werecreatures also may possess a personal totem spirit, a Jamak (jamak work much like totem spirit but limited in time) or a spirit friend.

Pack Totem Spirits
    Werecreature packs have a totem spirit that they have a partnership with.  The totem often gives them certain abilities and asks certain favors.  Many totem spirits are animal spirits.  To gain a totem spirit the total cost of the spirit as an advantage is shared by all pack members and in fact each member of the beginning pack must spend at least one freebie point to be part of the pack (the later members must spend 10 Improvement points to become part of the pack).
    The totem is created by taking the total number of abilities and required favors and convert it to merits and flaws.  That cost must be paid between the pack.  However, each pack member does not have to pay the total cost.
    All totems must be approved by the storyteller and the storyteller may alter them as needed.   To create a new totem costs 10 experience points per freebie point spent on creating the totem.  A pack can only possess 1 totem.

Species Totem Spirits
    This is taken care of by the Totem Spirit background.  The more points put into this backgound the closer their bond to the species totem.  All that is required of these totems is fulfilling the species purpose.

Caern Totem Spirits
    This is taken care of by the Totem Spirit background.  The more points put into this background the closer their bond to the caern totem.  All that is required of these totems is protection of the caern and its purpose.

Personal Totem Spirits
    An individual werecreature who wishes to have a personal totem adds up all the abilities and banes of the totem and pays 1/2 that cost to gain the pack totem.  To gain a personal totem after the beginning of the game by spending points costs 10 experience points per 1 freebie point put into the spirit.  If this is gained through roleplay there is no cost.

Jamak
    Are individual short term bonds between two individuals one a powerful spirit and one a werecreature.  Both gain from the association.  The individual does not gain an always on advantage but instead tends to gain things like teaching and knowledge from the spirit.  As long as the individual completes what they agreed to do other Jamak of similar power will tend to come to them (no need to spend extra points) and trade favors again.

Spirit Friends
    These are individuals who travel with the pack (or and individual of the pack) and assist them.  Use the spirit friends merit
under supernatural merits and flaws.  The cost for a pack spirit friend may be shared by the whole group.

Index

The Becoming
    Each werecreature is born a werecreature even if they do not know it.  Most if not all nonmetis werecreatures are ignorant of their origin.  There is only one thing that wakens their true nature.  A stressful event of such magnitude that the character can no longer control themselves at all.  This stress can be anger or fear or any other overpowering emotion.  When an event of this sort occurs their nature awakens. (If you decide to roleplay this part and need a little systemeze assume 5 failed willpower roll during one extended action).
    Most of the werecreatures were Become by being kidnapped and taken into the woods and hunted by a pack of werecreatures.  When they Become the pack stops chasing them and tells them the truth and why they were chased.  This is a time of great honor where the werecreature to be can show much about who they will be.  However, not all Become by being taken by those who understand.  Some Become in times of stress beyond their control and must fend for themselves until a pack finds them.

Index

Gifts
    Each werecreature has a special gift that they can use in any form despite the normal physical limitations of the form.
    The werecreature may also chose to buy gifts that they can use using the Psychic Gift system.  The gifts are all assumed to power level 8 or less in power.

The Forms
    The forms are included in the text of werecreature types. All added attributes are given elsewhere.  From storyteller the number of attributes gained is double.

The Werecreature types
    Werecreatures possess a nature that comes from breed and species.  Breed is the character's parentage.  Was their parent: human (homo), werecreature (metis) or animal (natura).  The werecreature also possesses a species which defines what their animal form is as well as each of their species gift.
Index

Unique Werecreature Backgrounds
    This defines the special backgrounds that only Werecreatures can possess.  The special Werecreature backgrounds are: Denrealm,  Jamak, Kinfolk, Past Life, Pure Breed, Renown and Totem.

Denrealm
    The werecats are the most likely to have this background.  In fact all difficulties to use the abilities are +3 for all other werecreature types.
    A denrealm is an umbral space over an area that is attached to a specific character.  Multiple Denrealms can cover the same physical space.  A denrealm is best thought of as a two dimensional umbral pocket that covers the physical area defined by the Denrealm background..  However, anytime denrealms overlap add +1 to the difficulty for each overlap.  For this reasons werecreatures tend to be protective of their denrealms.  This over time has caused the claiming of an inner location that no one is allowed to build.
    Possessing a Denrealm has the following effects:

• The character may step into their denrealm easily without the aid of a mirrored surface.  The difficulty to step is 12 and it costs 2 vitae.
• The character can skip from one place to another within the physical representation of their denrealm space.  This requires the expenditure of 2 vitae and has a difficulty of 10 (on an umbral travel + Will roll).  The character may use this ability to go into the Denrealm move a full move and appear at a more advantageous location.
• The werecreature can sense both their denrealm and the physical realm from either plane.  This allows the use of all 5 senses but the sense rolls are at +3 in the different realm.
• A werecreature always knows the where his denrealm realm is in relation to himself.  That means that it is really easy to find his way around when gone from the den realm.
• Werecreatures can sense the rapes and pillages of the land and people on his denrealm site.
• Werecreatures can take others into the Denrealm.  This requires the expenditure of 2 vitae per person and has a difficulty of 6.
• Characters can move easily between their denrealm and umbral space.  Subtract 5 from the gauntlet to go into the Umbra from their denrealm.

    The background cost is as per the highest costing aspect.  Therefore, if a werecreature wishes to have a higher gauntlet but doesn't wish to have a 10 mile square radius because it doesn't fit the character they still would have to pay for 4 dots.

Jamak
    Jamak are spirit friends who give favors to the character.  Jamak are obtained for a specific amount of time usually a deal is made at the onset.  Jamak differ from spirit totems in that the time for the bond is limited.
 

• Immunity to the fear caused by rage
• Kinfolk can communicate with werecreatures in any form
• Kinfolk can communicate with any of the animals in their ancestry by purchasing a difficult language.
• Kinfolk have +3 to perception rolls
• Kinfolk may buy species gifts.  It costs +3 for the first species gift +4 for the second +5 for the third etc.

Pure Breed
    This background determines your pedigree.  It is how pure your ancestry is.  The purest ancestry is one that mated from man to animal, to man, to animal throughout history.  After the 1950's pretty much no one had a completely pure breed.  Pure Breed is shown primarily by the way the character carries themselves.
    Pure breeds bonuses to rolls with your species, all werecreatures, and werecreature connected spirits.
 

Character Creation
   Character creation involves several steps but very few that are any different than those involved with creating a normal mortal character in Talorian.

Game Concept
    What are the limitations set by the game?  The Storyteller will set the point limits for the game as well as any character limitations.  From these limitations and your own imagination you will create a Character concept.

Character Concept
    What type of Werecreature are you (breed and species)? Who were you born as?  When were you born?  When did you become (how old were you)?  What is your connection to werecreature society?  Human society?  Animal society? What are you good at?  What do you like to do? These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself.  Make sure to keep the answers reasonable for the game concept.

The Points
    When creating a werecreature character you will have a number of statistic and skill points (see talorian basic system).  All vampires' games automatically include all ten attributes. The chart below includes a list of guidelines for character points.  The storyteller may ignore or modify these charts at will.
 

Character's Place	Beginning  Gift Points	Maximum Gift Level	Backgrounds	Basic Stats Points	Basic Skill  Points *	total pts  special skills	max skill level regular skills	max skill level  special skills
Old One	20	8	20	80	75	15	10	10
Elder	10	5	10	70	65	10	10	10
Experienced	5	3	7	75	60	7	8	5
True Member	3	3	5	60	50	6	8	5
Newly Become	1	2	0	50	45	6	7	5

 * Add Reflexes + Intelligence to the number of skill points given.

Freebie points are assigned at the beginning of the game as well.  A beginning game should include 15 freebie points.  Follow the rules outlined under the Basic Talorian System for the spending of all points.

Society
Gaia's Directives

1. The rule of the land will be packs.  Each of you will bond together with a number of your own.  These bonding will be called Packs.
2. Accept the assistance of the Spirits for only together can you fulfill your purpose.
3. You will stay together even with those of different species for only together are you strong.
4. Each species has its  purpose. It is your primary responsibility to fulfill that purpose.

The War of Rage
    There are three primary groups of werecreatures.  The Warriors of Gaia and the Children of Gaia still serve Gaia while the Servants of the Wyrm are a group of werecreaturs who serve the Wyrm directly.  Currently and throughout most of modern history (beginning in the 1800's) the Warriors and the Children have been at war due to a philosophical difference.  Both groups see themselves as the rightful protectors and leaders of the Earth.
    The Warriors of Gaia believe in something called the Impergium.  The Impergium is a sacred duty to hold humanity back to protect nature but only that which is under their wing.  For this reason the Warriors believe that any other supernaturals must be stamped out (except spirits) so that their control can be more complete.
    The Children of Gaia believe in protecting but not ruling.  They believe in closer cooperation between all beings including the supernaturals and the normals.  They will fight but only those that are obviously harming the world.  In fact other supernaturals are occasionally made part of a pack.  The Warriors and the Children have been at war since the 1800's.  There are few battles it instead is a cold war.  Each group attempts to steal Kine from the other.
    The Servants of the Wyrm are a small group of werecreatures who have betrayed Gaia to serve the Wyrm directly.  They are commonly called Black Spiral Dancers.  The Children and The Warriors are of one mind about the Servants.  The servants must be stamped out completely.  The servants work together with many other supernaturals and despite their small size manage to survive and even prosper.

The Mating Imperative
    All three groups of Werecreatures created a rule called the Mating Imperative after 1950 (plus or minus a few years depending upon year).  Each werecreature is expected to mate once with the Natura breed and once with the Homo breed in their lifetime.

Status
    Status affects many things in werecreature society.   Status comes in two forms the Pack status and the Individual status.  Both are intertwined and effect the other.  Status is gained by deeds of bravery, honor, or wisdom.  Status ranges from 1 to 10.   Pack status is the average of the status of all members of the pack.  However, individual status may not be more than two points over the pack status.
    Status is accrued by gaining status awards from your peers.  No status comes from actions that the society does not know about.  Acts of Bravery Honor and Wisdom give what is called Renown. Renown acts much like temporary Beastial in the way it functions.  When five slots are gained the character adds 1 to their Status and subtract 5 from Renown.  If you go below -3 Renown return Renown to 0 and subtract one from Status.  This simply shows how easily newly gained status is to lose.  It is a fragile thing ready to be lost at the first mistake
    The chart below is an example of things that could give Renown.  This chart is for the Children of Gaia if it doesn't seem appropriate for a Warrior don't use it.
 

Renown award	Action	Renown award	Action
+2	Fulfill species purpose 1 year faithful service to it	+2	Mediating a dispute safely.
+2	Besting and enemy (weak)	+2	Supporting and innocent being accused of a crime that is later proven innocent
+4	Besting and enemey (powerful)	-3	Supporting one who is accused of a crime who is not proven innocent.  These points are added back if the accused is proven innocent during a reasonable length of time.
+4	Protecting tribe from a threat	-2	Producing a Metis (no dishonor accues to the Metis)
+1	Protecting a helpless creature	-1	Showing foolishness
+1	Pack as a whole reward for any of the above.	-4	Showing cowardice
+2	Strong service towards species purpose	-3	Allowing a packmate to die unnecessarily
+2	Creating a plan that worked	-1	Failing at action within species purpose
+3	Keeping Caern safe	-4	Refusing to produce a child with either breed.  (Counts twice if refuses to mate at all does not count for metis) This award is lost only after others suggest it is time and people start to believe it.
+2	Protecting Kinfolk

Renown Background
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Beastial

Lillanite Vampire

Camarilla Vampire

Sabbat Vampire

Anarch Vampire

 
 

World of Dimness		Game World
Sundering World work in progress