Blood abilities by Azrai

[Mark A Vandermeulen]

On Thu, 2 Apr 1998, James Ruhland wrote:

> And several of the Awens & Ehrs can only be connected to one of the totem
> animals by the longest of streaches (the Boar, the Banshegh, the Siren, the
> Minoutaur, the Magian, the Vampire, the White Bitch, Black Princess, the
> Badger, the Fae, etc, etc.)

Well, I'm not saying that it applies to all awnsheigh, but doesn't the
rapport that the Sphynx has with all the cats in the country sound
suspiciously like the Animal Affinity Blood Ability? (I don't have my
Blood Enemies book here at school or I'd look it up.) And I think the
Harpy has sort of the same thing with the bird on her island, if I'm
remembering correctly.

> (btw, I always thought the Siren was more beautious than everyone's
> favorite Banshegh. Of course, conversation would be limited. I guess some
> would consider that an added benifit. But IMO, nights with Justina, doesn't
> sound like such a good idea to me. . .)

Well, I have to agree with you there. I've always prefered the Siren over
the Banshegh (I have nightmares when I try to think how I would play the
Banshegh as a DM). Besides, the Siren is a good example of how you don't
have to be evil just because you've become an awnsheigh--it just takes a
lot of work fighting against the inherent tendencies of the Blood.

Mark VanderMeulen
vander+@pitt.edu

[James Ruhland]

>
> Well, I'm not saying that it applies to all awnsheigh, but doesn't the
> rapport that the Sphynx has with all the cats in the country sound
> suspiciously like the Animal Affinity Blood Ability?
>
True. But brings up a (small) point of contention/question for me: the
Sphynx hasn't got Animal Affinity. And the Harpy has neither Bloodform nor
Animal Affinity. So I'm still unsure of how all this "works", and usually
slap my questioning down by saying "they're monsters. learn to deal."
>
IMO, you can play the Bahshegh pretty much as Freddy Kruger, manipulating
dreams etc. (at least over *that* aspect of the Banshegh). The B. is a
complex NPC to play, no doubt about it. But IMO several of the Awens are
difficult to play (others are just brutes, so they're pretty easy).
>
> Well, I have to agree with you there. I've always prefered the Siren over
> the Banshegh (I have nightmares when I try to think how I would play the
> Banshegh as a DM).

[Shade]

At 12:18 AM 4/1/98 EST, you wrote:
>Hello,
>
> I was just looking over a blood ability chart and I noticed that Azrai's
>line does NOT have Divine Wrath, yet in THE IRON THRONE, the Gorgon *did*
have
>that ability. Does this mean that when one switches to Azrai's line, they
get
>their old blood abilities AND anything they get new with Azrai's? This seems
>to be the case, and if so does the common citizen know of this? I'm thinking
>they would, but would like the DM's to answer this for me. Thanks for your
>time.
>
>Take care,
>KirbyRanma

I think it's another case of the authors of these books not getting their
facts straight with the designers. This seems to happen all the time
(characters in novels are often broken, or not conforming to the rules as they
are written.) The classic example is, how did a dark elf dual class from a
warrior class to another warrior class and acquire thief abilities in between?

What we've seen going on so long in FR is starting to happen to BR. Don't get
me wrong, I really enjoyed reading the Iron Throne and the Dark Elf Trilogy. I
just find it surprising that the people who MAKE the products make so many
mistakes, and don't follow their own rules.

[Kyle Foster]

Also remeber that the sphinx was "supposedly" eaten by a lion, but his
blood abilites supposedly kept him alive and allowed his spirit to over
take that of the lion. Perhaps his conection to felines is due to that
and not his blood line, which IMO was always Azari's based on BE. The
harpy shares a similar origin in that she was a merger of a harpy and a
blooded individual. So maybe their uniqe abilites come from their wierd
merger orgin.

And also another vote for the Siren, but the Banshegh as the haunted
princess in need of rescue bit workin IMO. I have always thought of
Justina as a victim. Though I agree she will be a real pain to play
properly so that the characters care about Justina and want to help her
but want to get rid of the Banshegh but often of such GM nightmares are
great plots born, or just as often huge headaches from banging your head
against the table.

Kyle
- --
"What's so amazing about really deep thoughts?" - Tori Amos, "Silent
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