Shapeshifting Charms
Hide Of The Cunning Hunter
Cost: 1 mote
Duration: One day
Type: Simple
Minimum Manipulation: 1
Minimum Essence: 1
Prerequisite Charms: None
This Charm is often one of the
first that young Lunars learn. It allows the Lunar to suppress his tattoos,
causing them to become invisible. The effects of this Charm dissipate if the
Lunar’s Tell becomes visible due to his anima banner reaching or exceeding the
4-7 motes level of anima display. Otherwise, it is impossible to detect the
Lunar’s tattoos ― even forms of sight that allow the perception of active
Essence will not see the effects of the Charm. Storytellers should assume that
individuals who see a Lunar with unsuppressed tattoos will always regard the
Lunar suspiciously for the purposes of perceiving his Tell, and most will
immediately realize the character’s nature. The Lunar Anathema are, after all,
the stuff of legend.
Masking The Brilliant Form
Cost: 3 motes, 1 Willpower
Duration: One scene
Type: Simple
Minimum Manipulation: 2
Minimum Essence: 1
Prerequisite Charms: Hide of the
Cunning Hunter
This Charm makes it harder to
perceive the Lunar’s Tell. While this Charm is active, it is impossible to
detect the Tell of a Lunar who has never purchased Deadly Beastman
Transformation. While this Charm is active, Lunars who have purchased Deadly
Beastman Transformation 1-2 times are treated as if they had never purchased it
for the purposes of having their Tells spotted. Lunars who have purchased
Deadly Beastman Transformation 3 or more times are treated as if they purchased
it 1-2 times for the purposes of spotting their Tells. This Charm cannot
suppress the character’s Tell at the 4-7 motes level of anima banner display,
and its effects end if the character’s anima becomes that intense.
Finding The Spirit’s Shape
Cost: 1 mote
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Charisma: 2
Minimum Essence: 1
Prerequisite Charms: None
When purchasing this Charm, the
Lunar chooses an animal no larger than an elk and no smaller than a large cat.
That animal is now the Lunar’s spirit animal, and its shape is not considered
one of the Lunar’s true shapes. It is thus easier to spot the Lunar’s Tell when
she assumes this animal shape, and if the Lunar becomes locked into her true
shapes, she can still use this Charm to change between her human and totem
animal shape.
Almost all Lunars know this
Charm. A Lunar either tastes the heart’s blood of his totem animal during his initiation
or, in many cases, finds the totem-shape when she Exalts. Such Exalts are
driven by an incredible craving to consume the life of a beast of their
newfound shape, so that they can fairly gain its form. If a Lunar wants a totem
animal larger than an elk or smaller than a cat, she may gain one, but she must
already know must immediately purchase Humble Mouse Shape or Towering Beast
Form as appropriate and cannot exceed the limits of those Charms.
A Lunar may change his totem
animal, but doing so is both costly and dangerous. Those who choose to do so
must pay a dot of permanent Willpower and buy this Charm again. Traces of his
previous form remain in the Lunar’s Tell, to which may be added attributes of
the new form. A Lunar whose Tell combines the traits of several animals is
known by other Lunars as a chimera and is regarded with scorn. In addition, the
Lunar may offend the animal avatar of the species he forsakes and, thus, gain
the enmity of that godly being and the species it protects. A Lunar in his
totem animal shape may spend 1 mote to activate this Charm and return to human
shape. This Charm may be activated only once per turn.
Members of the Eclipse Caste may
not learn this Charm, for it draws on a natural power of the Lunar Exalted that
Solars cannot master or emulate.
Deadly Beastman Transformation
Cost: 5 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Charisma: 2
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Finding the
Spirit’s Shape
This powerful Charm allows the
Lunar to shift its shape into a monstrous hybrid of the human form and its
totem animal. This shape is three feet taller than the Lunar’s normal height
and enjoys many bonuses. Anyone who sees the Lunar in this shape cannot fail to
mistake him for what he is ― a sleek and deadly feral killing machine. A
character using this shapechanging Charm is considered to be in one of his true
forms, which includes the increased visibility of his Tell.
The first time a character takes
this Charm, he receives five Attribute points and two gifts. Both Attribute
points and gifts must be applied immediately after the character purchases this
Charm. Subsequent purchases of the Charm provide three Attribute points and one
gift per purchase. A character can purchase this Charm no more times than he
has points of Essence.
Each Attribute point represents
the war-shape’s enhanced physical capabilities. One Attribute point raises the
character’s Strength or Stamina by 1 while he is in his beastman form, and two Attribute
points can raise the character’s beastman form’s Dexterity by 1. Once
allocated, these bonuses are fixed and cannot be modified. These points must be
allocated immediately when the Charm is purchased ― characters cannot
save up points between purchases of this Charm. When the character is in his
hybrid war-shape, these bonus Attributes are considered to be a natural part of
the character’s Attribute for the purposes of Charms that double Attributes and
for the purposes of Charms that allow the character to convert Attribute dice
to automatic successes on a roll.
Gifts represent special
capabilities the hybrid shape offers and give the character some sort of
special bonus beyond increased Attributes. Gifts often have prerequisite gifts,
which their effects build on and enhance. A character cannot take a gift
without taking all of its prerequisites. Characters cannot take a gift more
than once unless the gift specifically permits it. Gifts, like the Attribute
bonuses, apply only while in hybrid form. If the Lunar wishes to take advantage
of his gifts in human or totem animal form, he must learn Charms that have
similar effects or else use the Charm Calling Luna’s Favor.
In beastman form, weapons and
armor worn by the Lunar in human form are present in hybrid form as well, magically
adjusted Attributes might allow him to wield huge weapons or bear the weight of
superheavy armor, this Charm does not turn the Lunar’s accoutrements into such
gear. Though the weapons may change somewhat in size and shape to accommodate
the hybrid’s large grip, the weapons’ and armor’s statistics do not alter.
Defensive gifts (Rugged Hide, Impenetrable Beast-Armor) combine with any armor
worn by the Lunar.
Characters can gain large dice
pools by means of the Deadly Beastman Transformation. Keep in mind that the
Lunar’s running speed, jumping distance and lifting ability will likewise
change. Players should remember that they may use the automatic successes rules
rather than rolling dice for many Athletics feats.
Characters in their hybrid shape
may spend 5 motes activate this Charm and assume human form. This Charm can be
used only once per turn. Because assuming totem animal shape with Finding the
Spirit’s Shape requires only 1mote of Essence and the Lunar can then change to
human shape with another activation of that Charm, it is significantly cheaper
for a Lunar to pass through animal shape when returning to human form (2 motes
versus 5). However, this takes an extra turn, so Lunars in a hurry sometimes
directly return to a human shape.
Members of the Eclipse Caste may
not learn this Charm, for it draws on a natural power of the Lunar Exalted that
Solars cannot master or emulate.
Calling Luna’s Favor
Cost: 5 motes
Duration: Scene
Type: Simple
Minimum Manipulation: 3
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Deadly
Beastman Transformation
By means of this Charm, a Lunar
can draw forth the power of one of his gifts when not in Beastman form. From
immediately after the character activates this Charm until the end of the scene
or until the character ends the Charm’s effects, he enjoys the benefits of one
of his Deadly Beastman Transformation gifts. The gift actually manifests and is
probably an obvious mark of supernatural character. Characters can manifest any
gift they possess, regardless of whether or not it has prerequisites.
Blossoming Gift Of Luna
Cost: 3 motes, 1 Willpower
Duration: Indefinite
Type: Simple
Minimum Charisma: 4
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Calling
Luna’s Favor
This Charm is an extension of the
Charm Calling Luna’s Favor. By activating this Charm while in hybrid form, the
Lunar may retain a single Deadly Beastman Transformation gift until he ends the
Charm’s effects or he next enters hybrid form. As with Calling Luna’s Favor,
above, the gift actually manifests and is in no way concealed by this magic. Characters
can manifest any gift they possess, regardless of whether or not it has
prerequisites.
Towering Beast Form
Cost: None
Duration: Indefinite
Type: Special
Minimum Charisma: 3
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Finding the
Spirit’s Shape
Knowledge of this Charm allows
the Lunar to assume a form larger than an elk but no larger than a Tyrant
Lizard or other large dinosaur. There is no cost to use this Charm’s effects
― learning this Charm simply enhances the Lunar’s capabilities.
Members of the Eclipse Case may
not learn this Charm, for it draws on a natural power of the Lunar Exalted that
Solars cannot master or emulate.
Humble Mouse Shape
Cost: None
Duration: Indefinite
Type: Special
Minimum Charisma: 3
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Finding the
Spirit’s Shape
Knowledge of this Charm allows
the Lunar to shapeshift into a form smaller than a cat but no smaller than a
field mouse. There is no cost to use this Charm’s effects ― learning this
Charm simple enhances the Lunar’s capabilities.
Members of the Eclipse Case may
not learn this Charm, for it draws on a natural power of the Lunar Exalted that
Solars cannot master or emulate.
Shaping The Ideal Form
Cost: 1 mote
Duration: Instant
Type: Simple
Minimum Manipulation: 2
Minimum Essence: 1
Prerequisite Charms: Finding the
Spirit’s Shape
This Charm allows the Lunar to
make minor cosmetic changes to the appearance of any of his true forms. Such
modifications include changing hair, eye or skin color by several shades,
lengthening (or shortening) hair length, reshaping a chin or nose slightly or
straightening teeth. A modification only applies to the form in which it was
used ― if the Lunar wishes to alter his hair color in his human and
totem-animal shapes, he will have to use this Charm twice. Shaping the Ideal
Form does not allow the Lunar to assume the appearance of another being,
though it may help to disguise his appearance. Lunars who wish to assume the
form of specific individuals must learn the Charm Prey’s Skin Disguise. Shaping
the Ideal Form cannot be used to conceal the Lunar’s Tell or tattoos. No matter
how much effort is put into the shaping, the Charm cannot be used to improve
the Lunar’s Physical Attributes unless the player invests experience in raising
the Attribute ― in that case, training time can represent an extended
campaign of cosmetic self-improvement by reshaping. Overuse of the Charm tends
to detract from the Lunar’s appearance, rendering him bland. It regarded as a
sign of degeneracy and vanity among Luna’s Beloved.
Many-Faced Moon Transformation
Cost: 3 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Charisma: 4
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Shaping the
Ideal Form
By means of this Charm, the
Exalted changes gender, males becoming females and vice versa though their
personalities, knowledge and Traits are unchanged. This is not a cosmetic
modification ― the Charm changes the Lunar’s biology and he or she
becomes capable of siring or bearing children as appropriate. While many Lunars
have a preferred gender, individual Lunars do not have a “natural” sex ―
they’re considered to be in true form in either gender. Attempts by a pregnant
Lunar to use this Charm automatically fail.
Prey’s Skin Disguise
Cost: 5 motes, 1 Willpower
Duration: Indefinite
Type: Simple
Minimum Charisma: 4
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Towering
Beast Form, Humble Mouse Shape, Many-Faced Moon Transformation
This Charm allows the Lunar
assume the outward appearance of a specific other human. To do so, the Lunar
must consume the target’s heart’s blood like any other beast whose form she
wishes to gain. The Charm then allows her to assume the victim’s outward
appearance and Physical Attributes and Appearance, but she does not gain the
victim’s knowledge, Mental or Social Attributes or Abilities. If the target is
an Exalt, the Lunar gains his outward appearance but remains a Lunar. This
Charm cannot be used to mimic the Fair Folk who, though humanoid, are something
other.
The character can still dress and
act any way she desires ― she adopts the victim’s outward appearance, not
personality. A Lunar willing to consume many mortals can develop quite a
diverse catalog of shapes. Just as with any other type of shapechanging, the
appearance of the character’s Tell and tattoos is unchanged. Lunars who wish to
masquerade as the persons they consumed would thus be well-advised to use
Charms to suppress these unmistakable signs. The Charm’s effect included a
gender change if appropriate, with the same limitations to pregnant characters
as Many-Faced Moon Transformation.
Members of the Eclipse Case may
not learn this Charm, for it draws on a natural power of the Lunar Exalted that
Solars cannot master or emulate.
Lunar Blood Reshaping Technique
Cost: 3 motes, 1 health + special
Duration: One day
Type: Simple
Minimum Manipulation: 4
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Shaping the
Ideal Form
By allowing a subject to taste
his blood and activating this Charm, the Lunar can make minor alterations to
the form of another willing subject. The range of possible changes are as per
Shaping the Ideal Form ― this Charm cannot be used to change a target’s
shape or to give her the appearance of a specific other human. Unlike
modifications the Lunar makes to himself, the changes fade after a day. The
subject must also spend a temporary Willpower point (two if she is an Exalt).
Unwilling subjects, tattooed Lunars, non-humans, the undead and unmaterialized
spirits cannot be shaped by this Charm. Once the Charm is activated, the player
rolls Manipulation + Craft (Body Shaping) at standard difficulty. One success
or more indicates success, while if the rolls fails, the subject’s form is
unaltered. A botch, however, results in an unexpected ― and usually
unpleasant ― outcome.
Wondrous Lunar Transformation
Cost: 5 motes, 1 Willpower, 1
health level + special
Duration: One day
Type: Simple
Minimum Manipulation: 5
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisite Charms: Prey’s Skin
Disguise, Lunar Blood Reshaping Technique
A more powerful version of the
Lunar Blood Reshaping Technique, this Charm allows the Lunar to alter the
subject’s form to match one of the patterns in the Lunar’s “library.” This
process is a difficult one, both painful for the subject and requiring immense
skill by the Lunar, but it allows the subject to attain a non-human form or to
masquerade as another human. In addition to the costs to the Lunar, the subject
must spend 2 temporary Willpower points (3 if an Exalt). Unwilling subjects,
tattooed Lunars, non-humans, the undead and unmaterialized spirits cannot be
shaped by this Charm. Once the Charm is activated, the Lunar’s player rolls
Manipulation + Craft (Body Shaping) at difficulty 3. Three or more successes
indicates success, while if the roll fails (or gets only one or two successes),
the subject’s form is unaltered. A botch, however, results in an unexpected
― and usually unpleasant ― outcome, probably a subject twisted and
crippled for the duration or possibly suffering permanent damage.
Shaping The Once-Living Form
Cost: 1 mote per raw cubic foot,
1 per volume increase + 1 health level
Duration: Indefinite/Instant
Type: Simple
Minimum Manipulation: 3
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Lunar Blood
Reshaping Technique
By means of this Charm, a Lunar
can reshape inert once-living material into another form. He can turn a fallen
tree into a shelter, a bone into a weapon or a hide into clothing. He cannot
however, use the Charm to create complex objects (a simple buckle is about as
sophisticated as it gets), nor can it be used to reshape objects that are
already under the influence of Charms, sorcery or other supernatural effects. The
item to be shaped must be smeared in the Lunar’s blood, costing him a single
health level (unsoakable lethal damage) before Essence can be channeled into
object.
The texture, appearance and so on
of the original material remains unaltered ― a bone weapon is clearly
bone, not metal ― but the product may be modified by conventional methods
(dyes, paint and so forth). The Essence cost for activating the Charm reflects
the amount or raw material affected. If the target object is roughly the same
size as the raw material, the Essence cost of the Charm is unaltered. If a size
change is part of the process, the Lunar must spend additional Essence motes,
each extra mote allowing the final product’s size to be twice (or half) that of
the raw material. An object fashioned in this manner is not permanent, but
rather remains while the Lunar commits the Essence. If the Lunar uses the
Essence for other purposes, the object reverts to its original form. A Lunar
can, however, make his construct permanent by spending a point of Willpower but
this may only be done at the moment of creation. In this case, the Charm is
instant, and the Essence returns normally.
Shaping the object requires a
Manipulation + Craft roll, usually of difficulty 1. The Storyteller may,
however, increase this difficulty for more complex shapes. This Charm cannot
effect the undead.
Fish Tail Technique
Cost: 6 motes
Duration: Indefinite
Type: Simple
Minimum Charisma: 3
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Shaping the
Ideal Form
Using this Charm, a Lunar
transforms his limbs to enhance his swimming abilities, turning his limbs into
flippers, webbing hands and feet or performing other similar effects (at the
Lunar’s discretion) to enhance his swimming abilities, allowing him to move
through water unimpeded at twice his normal movement rate. If the Lunar is in a
form with innate swimming abilities, such as that of a shark or a seal, the
Fish Tail Technique confers no additional benefits. This Charm does not confer
the ability to breathe water, and the character must surface to breathe or risk
drowning.
Tool-Hand Technique
Cost: 1 mote
Duration: One scene
Type: Simple
Minimum Manipulation: 2
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Shaping the
Ideal Form
Most Lunars abhor the trappings
of civilization, but this does not mean that they don’t occasionally require
tools. Unlike mortals, who must keep a range of prefabricated tools for such
circumstances, a Lunar can reshape his body to provide the necessary
instruments. Hands are strengthened and fingers and claws sharpened and
reshaped to provide any tool the Exalt might need. While using the Tool-Hand
Technique, the Lunar can naturally perform tasks that would normally require
tools (for example, boring a hole in wood, hammering a peg or picking at
stone). The Lunar’s hands, feet, or whatever else is shaped into the tool takes
on a superficial resemblance to the tool in question but remains indisputably
flesh and bone (albeit flesh and bone surrounded by a nimbus of Essence). A
Lunar with 1 mote per limb and suffers no injury from the pounding, cutting or
rasping of using the “tools.” The Tool-Hand Technique cannot be used to form
weapons to otherwise give the Lunar an advantage in inflicting or withstanding
damage, nor does the Lunar work any faster than she would with normal tools.
Any rolls involving Craft gain +2 dice when the Lunar uses this Charm.
Rat-Head Technique
Cost: 3 motes
Duration: One scene
Type: Simple
Minimum Manipulation: 2
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Shaping the
Ideal Form
By means of this Charm, the
Lunar’s bones, muscles and organs become capable of immense deformation,
allowing him to squeeze his body through gaps it would not normally fit
through. By means of this Charm, a human-sized Lunar could wriggle through a
hole as small as a mouse hole or a knothole in a fence. The process is very
unsettling to watch and is likewise uncomfortable for the Lunar.
The Rat-Head Technique cannot be
used as part of any Combo or while the Lunar is under the effects of a Charm or
sorcery that hardens or reinforces his limbs in any manner (such as the Body
Weapon Technique). While using this Charm, the Lunar’s natural soak cannot
exceed 2B/2L under any circumstances, and he cannot parry lethal attacks
without an appropriate stunt ― his “softened” body lacks the strength to
do so effectively. A Lunar under the effect of Rat-Head Technique may dodge
normally.