Midsummer 2000:

Kinain Character Creation

This is based on rules from MET's The Shining Host, Laws of the Hunt Player's Guide, and the tabletop book The Enchanted, with some modifications. These rules are subject to change up until a week before the game.

Character Creation Summary

Trait Limits: Attributes 9, Abilities 5, Humanity 8, Willpower 3, Total Backgrounds/Influences no more than Total Number of Attribute Traits, Negative Traits 3 per category, Flaws 7 (but total Neg. + Flaws cannot exceed 10), Glamour not to exceed Faerie Blood Background

Heritage has no specific game effect, but will probably influence the character's personality and appearance and selection of Attributes and Abilities, Merits and Flaws. Thus a redcap kinain is likely to be a red-headed bully with a cast-iron stomach, or a sluagh kinain a shy librarian -- or a gymnast. Some kinain are of mixed heritage: nocker and satyr combine in that crass but irresistably charming auto mechanic by day, raver by night.

Notes on Abilities

Kenning is a Background for kinain, but otherwise works the same as the Ability. Obviously, there are restrictions on its effectiveness when the kinain is not Enchanted.

Awareness, however (from other MET books), is an appropriate Ability for kinain. It is not quite as specific as Kenning for gaining information on the world of the fae.

Gremayre is not available as one of a kinain's beginning 3 Abilities, but may be bought with Freebie traits in character creation.

Notes on Backgrounds

Dreamers, Remembrance, Trods, and Holdings are not available to kinain, and Political Connections are unlikely.

Title costs twice as much for kinain and is limited to 2 traits (Knight). Not very common at all. Kithain Status traits may be bought with Freebie traits and a good backstory. Titled kinain fall under both "Actor" and "Fae" Realms in cantrip casting; the choice of which to use lies with the caster.

Chimera (items) may be possessed by kinain, although they may not be aware of them when un-Enchanted.

Chimerical Companions often befriend kinain, and have ways of making their presence known even to the un-Enchanted.

Possession of a Treasure often can mean constant Enchantment.

Arcane and Destiny (from LOTH Player's Guide) are appropriate Backgrounds for kinain, as are more mundane ones from the new Laws of the Night (Finance, for instance).

Freebie Traits

Merits and Flaws

From "The Shining Host" (p. 109ff.): Any except "Past Life", "Mass Appeal", "Iron Resistance", "Seeming's Blessing", "Faerie Eternity", "Cleared Mists", "Bound Essence", "Bad Moon". Others will require some obvious changes or reinterpretation: for instance, "Slipped Seeming" means you have some strange deformity related to your Heritage. I should note in this context that "Changeling's Eyes" from the "Physical Merits and Flaws" category is a "Supernatural Flaw" for kinain.

From "Laws of the Hunt Players Guide" (p. 92ff.): Any, with the following exceptions and changes: "Faerie Blood" and "Kinain" have obviously been changed for our purposes. "Faerie Affinity" is irrelevant to kinain. "Supernatural Ally" means a non-changeling (but be warned: this buddy will probably have little effect in our Midsummer 2000 game). "True Faith" and related Merits are not available for this game. Merits related to other supernatural creatures have varying relevance: if you feel you must have one, ask me. (Sure, you can spend 4 traits on "Unbondable" if you feel it's necessary.)

An-da-shealladh (2M): You have the "Sight". Even when un-Enchanted, you can see the fae mien of changelings and see and hear chimera. You cannot otherwise benefit from or interact physically with chimera unless you are Enchanted. So that monster can't attack you, but you also can't cross that chimerical bridge. As an added twist, discerning what is chimerical and what is real may require a Kenning challenge. This Merit is a real bitch if you haven't otherwise been told about faeries.

Cantrip Caster (7M): You have been trained to a certain extent in the use of changeling magic. By LOTHPG rules, kinain spend 6 traits for a Basic Art, 4 for a Basic Realm. But I'm a nice guy. Buy this Merit and you get one level of each. (Most kinain begin with "Actor" as their first Realm, but that's not always true.) Stick to the ones in The Shining Host. More Arts and Realms may be bought at the above-mentioned trait costs, but you may have only as many levels of each as you have "Faerie Blood" Background traits.

Chimerical Nine Lives (4M): You have a remarkable ability to bounce back from chimerical death. So long as your permanent Banality is below 10, if you are "killed" chimerically you fall into a coma for a mere hour, and wake up with full memories of what happened while you were Enchanted right up to the moment you were "killed." You can do this nine times, or until your permanent Banality reaches 10. After that, you react to chimerical death normally (based on your Banality rating).

Honored Birthright (5M): You have inherited the Birthrights (but not necessarily the Frailties: that's a separate Flaw) of your Faerie Heritage. Some of them might not work unless you are Enchanted, however (e.g., nocker kinain and Chimera Creation). Characters of mixed Heritage choose which ancestor is dominant (or else buy this twice). Beyond this, there are various Birthright/Frailty-equivalent Merits in The Shining Host; if you wanna collect 'em all, they cost the same as in the book.

Parted Mists (5M): You are not affected by the Mists of Memory; even when un-Enchanted, you can remember your dealings with the fae clearly.

Spearman's Shield (1-5M): For each trait of this Merit you take, you have one bonus trait for comparison in all challenges defending against chimerical attack or damage-causing cantrips and Treasures (even those causing real damage). This does not work against mundane real attacks, nor does it work against fae who have called upon the Wyrd.

Special Power (4-7M): You have a unique magical power equivalent to a single Basic or low Intermediate Sorceror's spell (from Laws of the Hunt Players Guide). We'll work out details. Note that purchasing, say, a power equivalent to "Greater Veil" (Intermediate Illusion; this power, similar to "Veiled Eyes" in The Shining Host or "Unseen Presence" in Laws of the Night, would probably be a 6-pointer) does not give you Lesser Veil and Facade as well unless you purchase them separately. Some restrictions apply (don't ask for Intermediate Path of Hellfire). Void where prohibited. Any taxes are the responsibility of the winner. [Note: This brings up the question, "Can I play a kinain sorceror?" Possibly. In that case you would create a sorceror character using rules in LOTHPG and purchase 'Kinain' and 'Faerie Blood' Merits, and we'd work out those details as well.]

Weakened Mists (1-3M): The Mists of Memory do not effect you as much as they do others. Subtract the rating of this Merit from your permanent Banality rating when determining the effects of the Mists on you.

Inherited Frailty (5F): Your faerie heritage has bequeathed to you the Frailties of your changeling ancestor. (Those of mixed heritage choose one.) Thus pooka kinain are compulsive liars, ghille dhu kinain age rapidly when they suffer chimerical death, and so forth.

Iron's Curse (2F): You suffer many the same ill-effects of contact with cold iron as true changelings, except that of course for mortals all real damage is aggravated and you don't have to worry about any danger to your faerie soul, as you haven't got one.

Pretty much any other Merits and Flaws are available as usual, except supernatural-race-specific ones (you won't have a "Forced Transformation" to Crinos, nor an "Insane Sire," nor even "Cyclical Court Change"). Also some new ones:

All Too Human (1-4F): While kinain aren't generally accepted as equals in changeling society, you have trouble finding a changeling who can tolerate you at all. Redcaps bully you more than usual, pookas single you out for unpleasant pranks, satyrs aren't interested, and sidhe wonder at the sheer, unbridled arrogance you must have to believe that you, a worthless mortal, have the right to address them. For each level of this Flaw, you are one trait down for comparison in any social challenges against changelings. You should probably wear a sticker or badge or something to indicate this.

Barely Noble (2F): Similar in some ways to "All Too Human," you must have the "Title" Background to take this Flaw. Some changelings scoff at kinain knights (but heck, some sidhe scoff at even troll knights). For you, pretty much only the noble who gave you your title thinks you deserve it. Expect hostility from noble and commoner alike. You must defeat changelings in a social challenge (without benefit of Status traits) to get them to acknowledge your title. (Changelings who choose to use the "Lofty Noble" realm when casting cantrips on you have already decided to acknowledge it.)

Ravaged (2F): You were Ravaged by a changeling and have not recovered your stolen Glamour. Begin play with a temporary Glamour rating of 0. You are probably unhappy about this.

Some of the Merits and Flaws adapted from kith books or made up by me may also be appropriate for kinain.