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kgauck
08-31-2002, 09:27 PM
I have never used lycanthropes in Cerilia, but I may have figured out a way
to give them the Cerilian flavor they need before being welcome IMC. In
Erik`s tradition, shapechanging is druidical in character. That is, the
doom of Shapechanger works in a fairly druidical fasion.

Why shouldn`t lycanthropy be a Ruornilian alternative to Erik`s
shapechangers? Here`s how it might all work.

Lycanthropes are +1 or +2 CR templates, so a three level prestige class is
probabaly the best way to go. Access to such a PrC would probabaly be based
only on a ritual of Ruornil, or some other measure of dedication to
Ruornil`s purposes. As such, the personalities and evil reputation of
lycanthropes should be adjusted to reflect a Ruornilian purpose. As such
werewolves don`t run around and cause mayhem, but protect sources and combat
the shadow.

Level BAB Fort Ref Will Class Features
1 +0 +2 +0 +2 Improved Senses
2 +1 +3 +0 +3 Natural Armor
3 +1 +3 +1 +3 Lycanthrope

Improved Sense: Your character recieves a +4 bonus to all Listen, Spot, and
Search skill checks.
Natural Armor: Your character gains a +2 natural armor bonus to AC.
Lycanthrope: The full template for Lycanthropes is applied to your
character.

This should naturally be a rare and special character option. Since Ruornil
is a secretive diety, his special lycanthropic agents are often
misunderstood by common folk and so the common repuation of lycanthropes as
savage beasts may be wide spread. Such characters make the most sense as
guardians of source manifestations or places where the shadow barrier is
weak. As such, Ruornil`s servants might patrol these places in their animal
form at night.

Damage Reduction (Ex): A lycanthrope in animal or hybrid form gains damage
reduction 15/silver. This is an example of the character`s weakness being
its own core nature. The Silver Prince has agents whose only vulnerability
is Ruornil`s own silver.

There is no transmission of lycanthropy by bite. That is a popular
misconception, originating in the misunderstanding of what these moon driven
creatures are.

Choice of creature should be based on local terrain. The DM should consult
with the player to select an acceptable animal form.

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

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Trithemius
09-01-2002, 02:32 AM
Kenneth:
> I have never used lycanthropes in Cerilia, but I may have
> figured out a way to give them the Cerilian flavor they need
> before being welcome IMC. In Erik`s tradition, shapechanging
> is druidical in character. That is, the doom of Shapechanger
> works in a fairly druidical fasion.
>
> Why shouldn`t lycanthropy be a Ruornilian alternative to
> Erik`s shapechangers? Here`s how it might all work.
{snip! - mechanics]

I think this is great idea. There is mention of a scion of Vorynn in
BE:AoC who is becoming a kind of badger-erhsegh and ever since I saw
this I have always wanted to play a were-badger ranger/priest/something
of Ruornil.

Would you include "normal" kinds of were-creatures as well though? I am
more than happy with the idea of some types of were-creatures being
blessed by Ruornil, but I`d like to keep were-wolves out of it so they
can be used as being a divine punishment and I really like the idea of
thieves` guilds made up of were-rats. Perhaps were-wolves (or
were-wolverines or something) could be a ritual blessing from Belenik?

--
John Machin
(trithemius@paradise.net.nz)
-----------------------------------
"Nothing is more beautiful than to know the All."
Athanasius Kircher, Ars Magna Sciendi.

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kgauck
09-01-2002, 02:32 AM
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Machin" <trithemius@PARADISE.NET.NZ>
Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2002 8:34 PM

> Would you include "normal" kinds of were-creatures as well though?

You certainly could. I`d restore the bite transmition method, and I`d also
be tempted to elminate their activation by the moon and their vulnerability
to silver. In the dimmest recesses of lost lore (written on cave walls in
ochre paints) it is told of a time before the barbarian class, when Vos
warriors would take a berserker kit and build themselves up into a rage for
a full ten minutes before going berserk. While these characters did not
actually become other creatures, they did adopt totems and attempt to take
on their characteristics (ferocity, growling, &c).

Perhaps such characters would now be Vos barbarians initiated into secret
rituals that convert their berserk rage into a lycantropic transformation.

"Hark, and hear tell of the old Vos chieftain Nikoli. His warriors are all
mad with the berserk rage, covered in those tattoos, and fearsome as a
wolverine. Indeed, for that old Nikoli now takes the very form of a
wolverine when he doth rage. It is said that when his lusts for gore and
blood are not satisfied, he wanders into the wood and wreaks a terrible
vengence against any who cross his path. It is told by Ruprecht, my old
master, that the only way to fend him off, for no combat ever stopped him,
is make the call of the wolverine."

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

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Trithemius
09-01-2002, 04:13 AM
Kenneth:
> You certainly could. I`d restore the bite transmition
> method, and I`d also be tempted to elminate their activation
> by the moon and their vulnerability to silver. In the
> dimmest recesses of lost lore (written on cave walls in ochre
> paints) it is told of a time before the barbarian class, when
> Vos warriors would take a berserker kit and build themselves
> up into a rage for a full ten minutes before going berserk.
> While these characters did not actually become other
> creatures, they did adopt totems and attempt to take on their
> characteristics (ferocity, growling, &c).
>
> Perhaps such characters would now be Vos barbarians initiated
> into secret rituals that convert their berserk rage into a
> lycantropic transformation.

Being bitten by the leader of your berserker society could be a nice
class-feature for the fifth or tenth level of a Vos prestige class.

> "Hark, and hear tell of the old Vos chieftain Nikoli. His
> warriors are all mad with the berserk rage, covered in those
> tattoos, and fearsome as a wolverine. Indeed, for that old
> Nikoli now takes the very form of a wolverine when he doth
> rage. It is said that when his lusts for gore and blood are
> not satisfied, he wanders into the wood and wreaks a terrible
> vengence against any who cross his path. It is told by
> Ruprecht, my old master, that the only way to fend him off,
> for no combat ever stopped him, is make the call of the wolverine."

I like this a lot :)

It`s a bit more interesting that weakness to silver. Perhaps Vos
were-creatures could be vulnerable to weapons blessed by priests of the
"good" members of the Cerilian Pantheons? This is a bit more powerful
than having DR X/silver though.

Another thought, would Kriesha approve of white-furred were-wolves as
her agents of retribution and culling?

--
John Machin
(trithemius@paradise.net.nz)
-----------------------------------
"Nothing is more beautiful than to know the All."
Athanasius Kircher, Ars Magna Sciendi.

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Birthright-L
09-01-2002, 06:29 AM
> From: "John Machin" <trithemius@PARADISE.NET.NZ>
>
>> Would you include "normal" kinds of were-creatures as well though?

Kenneth Gauck <kgauck@MCHSI.COM> wrote at 02-09-01 04.04:

> You certainly could. I`d restore the bite transmition method, and I`d also
> be tempted to elminate their activation by the moon and their vulnerability
> to silver.

The vulnerability to silver and moon-curse makes sense - these shapeshifters
represent a conflict between Azrai and Vorynn (the old moon god). And silver
is the traditional element of the moon.

Kenneth Gauck <kgauck@MCHSI.COM> wrote at 02-09-01 04.04:

> In the dimmest recesses of lost lore (written on cave walls in
> ochre paints) it is told of a time before the barbarian class, when Vos
> warriors would take a berserker kit and build themselves up into a rage for
> a full ten minutes before going berserk. While these characters did not
> actually become other creatures, they did adopt totems and attempt to take
> on their characteristics (ferocity, growling, &c).
>

Such a PrC exists (Berserker) under the norse mythology in Deities and
Demigods. Check that up.

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Trithemius
09-01-2002, 06:29 AM
Quoting Carl Cramér <carl.cramer@HOME.SE>:
> The vulnerability to silver and moon-curse makes sense - these
> shapeshifters
> represent a conflict between Azrai and Vorynn (the old moon god). And
> silver
> is the traditional element of the moon.

That works too.
Why I didn`t see it I don`t know. Perhaps all this university work is making me
soft in the head. :)

> Such a PrC exists (Berserker) under the norse mythology in Deities and
> Demigods. Check that up.

Does this PrC allow transformation as well? I knew that there was one that did
in Oriental Adventures (the Bear Warrior) but I must have missed that part of
the Deities and Demigods book (I will admit that the Greek pantheon tends to
interest me more than the Norse).

--
John Machin
(trithemius@paradise.net.nz)
(ICQ: 16537985)
-----------------------------------------------------
"Nothing is more beautiful than to know the All."
-----------------------------------------------------
- Athanasius Kircher, `The Great Art of Knowledge`.

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Birthright-L
09-01-2002, 09:29 AM
John Machin <trithemius@PARADISE.NET.NZ> wrote at 02-09-01 08.21:

>> Such a PrC exists (Berserker) under the norse mythology in Deities and
>> Demigods. Check that up.
>
> Does this PrC allow transformation as well? I knew that there was one that did
> in Oriental Adventures (the Bear Warrior) but I must have missed that part of
> the Deities and Demigods book (I will admit that the Greek pantheon tends to
> interest me more than the Norse).

No, it does not. U just take on animal aspects.

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Sir Justine
09-01-2002, 05:30 PM
Great idea by kgauck! ;) I will work on the prestiges and use them IMC. It gives a cool flavor for Ruornil priests!