DualMegamiOther/UrbanLunars
Urban Lunars
At the end of the First Age, Luna's Beloved were forced out of Creation and into the Wyld where they lost much of their previous power. The Elders who survived created the Silver Pact and turned their backs on civilization out of grief and regret. They had turned their backs on their partners and lovers and were equal in the guilt shared by the treacherous Dragon-Blooded and Sidereals. Exiled as they were, they no longer had a place in the failing civilization and thus determined that they did not need it anymore.
As with all trains of thought, there are always those deviant. Several of the Elders knew that even though Lunar exaltation was triggered by the choice to survive above all, Luna did not reserve her blessings only for barbarians. These Elder Lunars ventured back into society and civilization, taking with them approximately 1/4 of the remaining Lunars (about 100) and with this following used the same tactics as the Pact--seeking out young Lunars, tattooing them and then, unlike the Pact, training them and providing support. As any beast knows, the pack does not survive if it does not stay together.
Urban Lunars know the hardships of the city; the pain and suffering of starvation and poverty. These are the children of the streets, growing up in the gutter, in the slums, in tenement housing. In the cities, Luna touches those who fight to survive against the odds placed upon them by the neglect and ignorance of society. Their Exaltation girds them with the power they need to continue the fight.
- Concepts: Crime lord, Hard-headed Merchant, informant, undercover law enforcement, pimp, Guild prince, assassin-for-hire.
The Brotherhood of the Smiling Moon races the Silver Pact to the new Exalt. If they get their first, the new Lunar is immediately trialed (with methods eerily similar to that of the Pact), tattooed and placed into his Caste. The new Exalt is then allowed to hunt in the closest-available wilderness in order to find a suitable animal for his Tell. If the new Lunar does not find one there, he is permitted to go on a quest for the animal of his desiring. He then returns to the Brotherhood, who proceed to train him.
All Brotherhood Lunars begin with the same number of attribute points as a normal Lunar. They have the same 4 favored abilities, and favor Survival, as all Lunars. (Under my House Rules, they have 3 favored Attributes and 3 favored abilities instead). Rather than 25 ability points, Brotherhood Lunars get 30, to represent their training.
All Brotherhood Lunars have 10 background points.
The Brotherhood trains its Exalts in the ways of surviving within the city. Brotherhood Lunars begin with Finding the Spirit's Shape, Hide of the Cunning Hunter and Prey's Skin Disguise for free. The Charm Deadly Beastman Transformation is not as stressed as it is among the Pact. Brotherhood Lunars live among men and giant beasts wandering about would certainly stand out. Then, like all other Lunars, begin with 8 Charms. (Purchased at 9-11 as per my house rules)
Sample Charms
The Brotherhood of the Smiling Moon teaches its Lunars alternate charms to those learned by the majority of Lunars. These charms are typically ones intended for use among people and within the steel-and-glass jungles of cities.
STRENGTH
- Brute Force Method
Cost: 1 mote per die
Duration: Instant
Type: Supplemental
Minimum Strength: 2
Minimum Essence: 1
Prerequisite: None
Channeling Essence into her Limbs, the Lunar becomes unspeakably strong. She may add up to her Strength in additional dice for any Strength roll. This may not be used for damage rolls, unless it is damage against an object.
- Defense-Shattering Fist
Cost: 4 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Simple
Minimum Strength: 3
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite: Brute Force Method
The Lunar swings her fist foward in a blur of Essence and raw power. The target of this attack loses the Lunar's strength in dice to defend. If this reduces the target's pool to 0, he must find a way to replentish his pool or use a perfect or near-perfect defense. This cannot be used with Melee weapons, but is explicitly allowed with brawling aids. This is a favorite of Lunar gang leaders.
- Mad Bull Rush
Cost: 5 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Simple
Minimum Strength: 4
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite: Defense-Shattering Fist
The Urban Lunar adopts the wild mein of a rampaging bull and rushes forward at her opponent. The Lunar adds her Strength in automatic successes to the attack, but cannot take any other action this turn. This is unuseable with Melee weapons, but like Defense-Shattering Fist, is explicitly permitted with brawling aids.
- Impressive Thug Style
Cost: 4 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Strength: 3
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite: Brute Force Method
Sometimes, words fail on people. The Lunar draws himself up to his full height and makes an impressive display of sheer muscle power and force. This allows the Lunar to exchange Charisma for Strength on any roll involving intimidation or browbeating.
DEXTERITY
- Building Scaling Techinque
Cost: 2 motes
Duration: One Turn
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Dexterity: 2
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite: none
The palms of the Lunar's hands and the soles of her feet become almost sticky as she channels Essence into them. This allows her to climb up any surface with extreme ease (roll at standard difficulty). This does nothing for liquid, and does not protect the Lunar from harmful surfaces. If the Lunar is climbing something very challenging, the Storyteller may opt to give the Lunar her Essence in automatic successes, rather than the decreased difficulty.
- Crowd-Weaving Prana
Cost: 2 motes
Duration: Dexterity in Minutes
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Dexterity: 2
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite: none
Sometimes the most difficult obstacles to pass in cities are the large crowds. If a Lunar is on an important mission, he does not need to be slowed down by masses of people. This charm allows the Lunar to weave through a crowd with extreme ease, his protean body flowing around others. He may walk through a crowd as if he were an open area. If he runs, it is a Dex + Atheltics roll at standard difficulty. This does not protect him from attack, nor protect him from pickpockets.
- Perpetual Motion Concentration
Cost: 8 motes, 1 willpower
Duration: One Scene
Type: Simple
Minimum Dexterity: 4
Minimum Essence: 3
The Lunar attunes the flows of Essence within her body so that her movement is perfect and unimpeded. She may walk on any surface perfectly (Storytellers may opt a roll, but only in the harshest conditions and the difficulty should not be higher than 3) this includes water and air, though it does not protect her from hazardous liquids or surfaces. While she is under the effects of Perpetual Motion Concentration, the difficulty to hit her is equal to her Essence.
Comments
Why should these guys get extra skills and backgrounds just for living in cities? _Ikselam
Unless I am misreading the text, they get extra skills and backgrounds because they are getting extra training from a body of elder Lunars (i.e. The Brotherhood) who have actual intent to teach (i.e. "unlike the Pact, training [new Lunars] and providing support". The Pact does not seem very big on actually teaching so much as throwing you into dangerous situations and letting you try to survive in the best case scenario, or tattooing you and abandonining you as a general rule. ~ Andrew02
- Andrew02 has hit the nail on the head here. They don't get extra charms and backgrounds because of where they live, they get them because the Brotherhood trains them. This is an alternate starting build, not just a setting thing. Details of who the Elders are and what they do is coming later. I'm working on this slowly. ~DualMegami
Lunars suck so much anyway out of an attempt to balance DBT. This is exactly what they need if they want to have a prayer of doing anything other than killing things, eating them, and then turning into them. I use the DB XP table in my games, but 9/11 is certainly reasonable. Their charm selection and tree format is already stifling. I love this concept, DM, and really want to see more. Excellent stuff. - Tardach
