LunarTransformation/GoldenCat

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The Cat's Lunars

On Deadly Beastman Transformation, now turned into Luna's Ascension, it is a try to make the Charm less overpowered, but able to become something more flexible and powerful in the long run. Those Shapeshifting Charms that have only a Minimum Essence are considered farvored by all Lunars.

Attributes: The attribute bonuses gained with the Totem Form Mutations, by manifesting them in the Human Form, or by using Ascension are all considered natural for the purposes of all Lunar dice-adders.

Shapes of War

Luna’s Ascension
Cost: 6 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: A Totem
All the Exalted are empowered by the Incarna, but Lunars with this Charm are able to call upon Luna’s spark within them... and ascend to a form that is closer to her greatness. To do so, they become less human, and this causes their Tell to become more proeminent - a foothold on their former identity. The Ascended Shape has traits of both the Lunar's Human and Totem forms - His base of shape as his body in unmade in the shifting essence of Luna. Upon purchasing this Charm, the Lunar gains a third true form – the Ascended Shape. By spending 3 motes, he can turn into this form – and in it, he is clearly not human. This form has some characteristics from both his human and his animal forms, and it varies wildly from Lunar to Lunar – some are graceful silver gazelles, unearthly beautiful, skin like pearl lined with silver runes, some are huge savage gorillas with murder in their eyes and blood dripping from grand claws and teeth. It is a choice that says much about the Lunar. But whatever it says, it shows the greatest thing – that what they are inhuman. This is a true form, acting as one in all respects, including the increased visibility of the Lunar's Tell.

In this Form, the Lunar’s size increases or decreases by half. All equipment carried by the Lunar changes to accomodate this change. In addition, he distributes a number of points between his attributes equal his Essence. However, Dexterity, Wits and Manipulation cost double to increase. In this Form, the Lunar receives a natural weapon that deals Lethal Damage and has 5 points to distribute among its stats, and a natural rate of 4. Negative points add to this total.

Despite the characteristics of the totem form, the Lunar gains no Mutations in this Form - those must be taken with Harmony with the Inner Beast, below - but he may buy many Charms that simulate the effect of his Totem Form's characteristics - their idealized shape, in fact, as Ascension Changes are invariably better than normal Mutations.

All Charms below in this Cascade who posses an Ascension Cost increase the power of the Ascended Shape, and increase the cost of the Luna’s Ascension Charm. The Lunar may not choose to not use those Charms – once they are purchased the Ascended Form increases in power, and this charm increases in cost.

Those Charms may be found Here.

The Lunar may buy this Charm more than once, but may only buy it once every two full dots of Essence. The Form gained with it is another True Form, and it comes without the addition of any of the Charms bought for another Ascended Shape – it is a costly effort to create many Ascended Forms, but an effort that pays off to many.

Blossoming Gift of Luna
Cost: 1+ motes, 1 willpower, 1+ health levels
Duration: Indefinite
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Luna's Ascension
When leaving the Ascension Shape, the Lunar may wish to retain any of his Changes from when he is in that shape - retaining a single Charm. The cost to do so is twice the charm's cost, 1 willpower, and health levels equal to the Essence Minimum of the Change(which remain committed until the Lunar next enters his Ascension Shape or until the Lunar lets go of the Change). Charms that may be bought multiple times and whose cost stacks have to be called all at once, with their full cost.

Ten Thousand Forms Mastery
Cost: 8 motes, 1 willpower
Duration: One Scene
Type: Simple
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Silver-Soul's Dexterity, Stamina and Strength.
The Lunar spreads his tatoos, and makes his form become... loose. The tatoos cease to constrain him. Thereafter, the Lunar may shapeshift freely - for the cost of 1 mote, he may change into any form of his Blood Library that does not require a special Charm for its assumption. He may do so as a reflexive action at any point during the turn, as many times as he wishes during a turn, or use it to return to the last True Shape he has assumed. This shapechange does not count as a Charm use. With it, he may run as a wolf, jump as a rabbit, dodge as fly, strike as an elephant. If he changes to defend against an attack, he may only change after the attack has been applied. Likewise, if he changes to strike, he may only change again when the attack finishes.

Gargantuan Creature Transformation
Cost: 12 motes, 2 Willpower
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisite Charms: Dexterity, Stamina and Strength of the Moon-Kissed.
There are legends of a time where beasts could reach to the sky. There are legends of a time even the lowliest of them was able to fight with Behemoths. Many of those Legends are creations of the Lunar Exalted, who can let the spark of the Incarna within them shine, and become great as the Celestial Body in the Night Sky. Gargantuan Creature Transformation may be bought a number of time equal to half the Lunar’s Essence, rounded down. Every time he does so, he gains a new True Form : he may choose one Shape in his Library, and be able to turn into a gargantuan version of it. His Totem and Ascension Shapes are the most common ones. The Lunar may not make his Human Shapes into Gargantuas. The Form is never a True Form, but may be mantained at all levels of Anima Banner.

When transformed, that shape loses all size Mutations, and becomes great as a Warstrider. It receives twice the Lunar’s Essence to its Strength and Stamina, a number of extra -0 Health Levels equal to half the Lunar’s ( modified ) Stamina, and doubles his Soak limits, receiving Hardness equal to Half his Soak.

On this Form, human-shaped targets receive 3 extra successes to strike the Lunar in close combat, and 2 if attacking the Lunar with ranged attacks. Moreover, the Lunar is akin to a Warstrider in all respects – he subtracts 2 successes from all attempts to strike targets smaller than 10 feet tall, and it becomes impossible for the Lunar to use Stealth or Survival without Charms – and even those begin their pool at 0. Tracking the Lunar does not even require a roll. Finally, he loses two dice on all awareness rolls to notice his surroundings, and a difficulty of 2 on all fine manipulation tasks.

The Totemic Cascade

Harmony with the Inner Beast
Cost: Variable
Duration: Indefinite
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Essence: 1
Prerequisite Charms: A Totem Form
Achieving harmony with the Beast that defines his Self, the Lunar is able to draw traits from it, mingling his essence with that of a beast. Those traits show his harmony with his totem – they are never subtle. If one with a Tyrant Lizard totem gets the ‘Sturdy’ mutation, his muscles bulge, his demeanor becomes repilian, scales appear in his muscles. If he gets ‘Huge’, he becomes not only twice his height, but also scaled, with a reptilian face. This is what Lunars refer to as the ‘Beastman Shape’. The Lunar may borrow a number of Mutation Points from his Totem equal to twice his Permanent Essence. This also requires the commitment of a number of motes equal to the Mutation Point cost. Despite its Duration, Harmony with the Inner Beast may be placed on a Combo. Although mutations may be channelled in Ascension, the Lunar is not considered to be in a Beastman Shape then.

Unnatural Size Meditation
Cost: 2 motes per size category change
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Essence: 1
Prerequisite Charms: Harmony with the Inner Beast.
The Lunar learns how to shift her size when in her Totem Form to something closer to her human form. This is a reflexive action, costing 2 motes per size mutation level negated. The Lunar may shift the Mutation Points changed to elsewhere - a Tyrant Lizard may receive two purchases of Glorious Hero Form even when it is human-sized to show its prowess. Changing his Shape away from the Totem Form ends this Charm. It may be used when the Lunar is in his Beastman Form.

Bestial Soul Meditation
Cost: 6 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Harmony with the Inner Beast.
The Lunar delves deeper into the soul of his totem, into its soul, into its disposition. This allows the Lunar to call upon part of the Totem’s essence and mingle with his’, but not physically. When he does so, he becomes more feral, able to execute a number of tasks more naturally, as befits the Familiar’s disposition. Each time the Lunar buys this Charm, he receives a new insight into his Totem’s nature, receiving an appropriate power. Despite the Charm’s duration, the power lasts for a whole scene, and it cannot be ended before by any means. The dice awarded by those powers count as specialty dice, and are not counted among the Lunar’s cap for purchasing dice with charms. Those powers include...

• Loyal – The Lunar receives a 3-die bonus to help those he sees as his family and friends, and a 1-die penalty when trying to hurt them in any way, or when he does anything but help them if they are in danger.
• Alpha – The Lunar receives a 3-die bonus on all intimidation rolls, leadership-related rolls, and rolls to hold his leadership position. Those under him receive a one-die bonus when acting directly to his orders. Unfortunately, the Alpha does not work well under others, receiving a 1-die penalty when trying to work to another’s orders.
• Predator – All prey animals and humans who view the Exalted need to pass a Valor roll with difficulty equal to half the Lunar’s Essence, rounding up, not to be afraid of the Exalt, receiving a dice penalty equal to his Essence. On a botch, they run. Unfortunately, it also gives a 3-die penalty on social pools with prey.
• Worker – The Lunar receives a 3-die bonus when receiving an alpha’s orders and working with the pack / hive. Those working with you receive a one-die bonus to their part in the task. They also receive a 1-die penalty when trying to lead and issue commands.
• Mother – The Lunar receives a 3-die bonus when helping those that can not help themselves, but a 1-die penalty when doing anything but that if she is in their presence.
• Territorial – The Lunar receives a 3-die bonus on all tasks when defending a territory that he has spent at least a full lunar cycle in. And a 1-die penalty when trying to work with ‘outsiders’ on this territory.

Tongue of the Wild Technique
Cost: None
Duration: Permanent
Type: Special
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Bestial Soul Meditation.
With his understanding of his Totem, he becomes able to understand it in all its forms – in any shape, the Lunar becomes able to speak and understand the speech of any animal in the same family as his totem. Hecenfort, the Lunar may spend an extra 3 experience points to permanently learn the language of any beast he spends more than one scene with.

Soul-Sculpting Knife
Cost: 20 motes, 3 willpower, 6 Experience Points per level
Duration: Instant
Type: Simple
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Bestial Soul Meditation.
The Totem is the Lunar's identity. It is the Lunar's soul. It is the part of his soul that is a beast, his link to his instincts - he undertands those instincts, he is them. But by using the Soul-Sculpting Knife, the Lunar cuts away at his own identity, at the core of his soul, and remakes it. He shifts his Nature, and with it, his Totem. He must find his new Totem in some way, and be one with it. Then, he sheds his old self, and receives a new Totem. This costs 6 Experience Points per level of the Totem that is enhanced or lowered. The Lunar retains features of his Former Totem, which may be purely cosmetic or added to the Mutations of his new Totem. Members of the Silver Pact regard him as a Chimera, increasing the difficulty of all of the Lunar's Social Rolls by one.

Pack of One Meditation
Cost: 10 motes, 1 willpower, 1 Health Level
Duration: One Scene
Type: Extra Actions
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisite Charms: Bestial Soul Meditation.
From his Totem Form, the Lunar gets such an understanding of his Totem Form, that he can be many of it at once. His shape splits on many, becoming essentially a Pack, Herd, Flock of his Totem. He splits his shape into a number of duplicate of his Totem equal to his Permanent Essence. This is considered a True Shape for all purposes. He is is all at once – the Lunar is there, on each and every one of them, and all of them have the Lunar’s powers, attributes and Health Levels. If one of them is killed, it regenerates on the next New Moon, if the Lunar pays 3 experience points.

The Lunar receives a number of Extra Actions every turn equal to his Permanent Essence, each performed by a different animal in the pack. He may not benefit of those Actions if he splits his pool, or if he uses any sort of Extra Action Charms. Moreover, it is hard for enemies to defend from the Lunar, and all those facing him suffer a dice penalty to defend against his actions equal to half the Lunar’s Wits, rounded up.

If used with Tiny animals, the Lunar splits into a number of animals equal to four times his Essence, and the penalty to defend becoes equal to the Lunar’s Wits. If used with Tiny totems, the Lunar splits into a number of animals equal to ten times his Essence, and the penalty to defend becomes equal to his Wits, plus his Essence. In this manner, it is called ‘Terrifying Swarm of One’. This Charm ceases to work if the Lunar purchases the Celestial Behemoth Ascension - the Celestial Behemoth is unique.

A Pack of Moons Prana
Cost: 6 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Independent Action
Minimum Essence: 5
Prerequisite Charms: Pack of One Meditation.
The Lunar changes his mind, becoming many, many creatures at once, able to strike an enemy at all places, splitting his essence through his Pack of Self. On the turn this Charm is activated, the Lunar may take a number of Independent Actions equal to half his Essence, rounded up. Those may only be used while in the shape of Pack of One Meditation.

Excellent Lunar Beast
Cost: 3 motes per dot
Duration: Indefinite
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Harmony with the Inner Beast.
The Lunar’s Totem becomes closer to its Animal Avatar, closer in perfection with the idealised version of it. When in his Totem Form, he may spend 3 motes to increase any one of the attributes for as long as he keeps the Essence committed. The Lunar may not add more dots than his Permanent Essence to his attributes on this manner. Those dots count as Natural for all purposes. This may also add to the attributes of his Beastman Form.

Soul-Beast’s Vigor
Cost: None
Duration: Permanent
Type: Special
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Excellent Lunar Beast.
The Totem becomes hardier, stronger. Every time this Charm is purchased, the Lunar receives two -0 Health Levels when in his Totem Form. Those are added after penalties for small size; With the power of Luna, even a small butterfly is resilient. This Charm may be purchased no more times than the Lunar's highest Virtue.

Soul-Beast’s Resilience
Cost: None
Duration: Permanent
Type: Special
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Excellent Lunar Beast.
The Totem becomes as resilient as the Lunar's own spirit! The Lunar adds his highest Virtue to the Bashing and Lethal Soaks when he shifts to his Totem Form.

Soul-Beast’s Armor
Cost: None
Duration: Permanent
Type: Special
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Soul-Beast's Resilience.
The Totem becomes more resilient, able to withstand even blades as if they were fists. While the Lunar is in his Totem Form, The Lunar may soak Lethal Damage with his Bashing Soak. The Lunar also translates half his Natural Soak into Hardness.

Celestial Behemoth Ascension
Cost: None
Duration: Permanent
Type: Special
Minimum Essence: 5
Prerequisite Charms: Soul-Beast's Armor, Soul-Beast's Vigor, Tongue of the Wild Technique, Soul-Sculpting Knife.
The Lunar walks to a sacred place – a Demesne, a Manse, the Imperial Mountain... and at Midnight, looking upon Luna's face, realises a truth about Luna, Creation, the Wyld and her own existence. On that day, the Lunar remakes herself. Her inner beast ceasing to be tied to an Animal Avatar, now tied only to the Lunar's own silver essence. Tahira of the Nine Tails, Jord the Crystal Elk, Akia the Crimson Snow Wolf, Siran the First Unicorn, Leviathan the Great Whale... many are those who ascended, turning their Totems into Behemoths. Their Totem is changed, becoming a unique, original creature, that does not exist anywhere else in Creation or the Wyld. Or pehaps it once did, and the Lunar now pays homage to it. The new creature looks visibly unique and supernatural - and yet, it bares clear resemblance to the Totem. The same way a Unicorn does to a Horse, that is. A cousin of the same Family of beings, and yet worlds apart. This has a visible impact in the Lunar's Tell.

It also has an obvious social impact - the Lunar is now the Avatar of his own new species - the other Animal Avatars regard him as an equal, but warily. Other Lunars, who have not taken such a drastic step, become wary of the Lunar - this is a 3-dice penalty when dealing with other Lunars, specially those of the Pact, in Social Circumstances. For all intents and purposes, the Lunar now possesses a Totem Background of 6 - complete with 14 points to spread on her Totem's powers, normally a wealth of Glorious Hero Form and Surpassing Excellence over the Totem's original Mutations. Minuscule and Tiny forms usually grow in shapes - the Behemoths are noticeable, and even its Butterflies are half a man's size. The Lunar also adds 1 to all of the Totem Form's Attributes, and his Natural Soak while in this Form becomes Divine Armor - perfect, it may not be circumvented through any means. In this Form, the Lunar can speak and be understood by all of his Totem's Family, and by all those that he could communicate with in Human Form.

The Lunar's new Totem also gives the Lunar a new Tell - which she may try to hide normally. This Tell is outward in nature, unlike normal Tells - the Lunar warps the world. Pehaps, schools of fish miles around the Lunar might form words of her thoughts, or where she walks, plants grow, or her passage makes reeds sing, or poisonous creatures to lurk out of shadows. Any physical changes to the world vanish at the next sunrise, but add a bonus equal to the Lunar's Essence to any of his trackers. This Tell vanishes if the Lunar resets its Difficulty to 6. Those who see the Lunar get two rolls, one to spot her normal Tell, and another to spot her outward Tell.

The Howl of the Crystal Wolf was deadly as the Cantata of Empty Voices, and the Crimson Salamander could bless what he touched with fire... that is the last power of the Celestial Behemoth - the ability to change the world to its whims. The Lunar chooses one spell of the Terrestrial or Celestial Circle - the Lunar may use this Spell in her totem form instantly, at no cost in motes or willpower, but at the cost of her temporary virtue points in her primary virtue(one virtue point for Terrestrial, two virtue points for Celestial).

Breeding

Seed of the Feral Soul
Cost: 5 motes, 1 willpower, 1 experience point
Duration: Instant
Type: Simple
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Harmony with the Inner Beast.
The Lunars may pass part of their power through blood, that part of the Beast-Soul within them, creating the hybrids known as Beastmen. Used during mating(with any form), the Lunar assures that the mating will produce offspring. The offspring will then be a Beastman - a hybrid between the Lunar's Totem Animal and a Human. Beastmen are made with the Totem's Mutations, except that it loses No Manipulators and Prey, and all size mutations - the most Beastman can get are Small and Large. Aquatic ones receive the Denizen of Beyond flaw, but it applies only to time spent outside of the water. The Beastman will breed true, passing its Mutations to its offspring, creating a new race. The offspring will be a Lunar Half-Caste as well, if the rules for them are used, if the Lunar has Essence 4 or above.

On Lunar Half-Caste
Lunar Half-Caste do not possess a Totem. Therefore, they may not get the Charms that require a Totem, such as Ascension and all of the Totemic Cascade. They may not receive a Totem in any circumstance. They are unable to learn Fair Folk Charms as Lunars do, and are not natural shapeshifters, not receiving any of the benefits and powers Lunars get from it, barred from the Blood Library Background. They have full access to all other Charms, however.

Shifting the Green Branch
Cost: 10 motes, 2 willpower, 1 experience point
Duration: Instant
Type: Simple
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Seed of the Feral Soul.
With this Charm, the Lunar uses his shapeshifting power on a mere seed on a womb, creating a beastman out of an already-conceived Child, which may or may not be his own. This requires the Mother's consent, and the physical touch of the Lunar above the mother's womb. The child is changed into a Beastman, as if he had been sired by the Lunar. However, it will not be a Half-Caste - the Lunar only passess his feral nature, not his Celestial one. The Beastman is still child of whatever parents, and may be another sort of God-Blooded as well, however.

God-Beast's Favor
Cost: 10 motes, 1 willpower, 4 experience points
Duration: A Lunar Phase
Type: Simple
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisite Charms: Shifting the Green Branch, Tatoo-Cutting Wisdom.
The Lunar, as the leader of his people, gives his favor to one of them, so their offspring shall bear his mark. The Lunar tatoos a willing creature - for the remainder of the Moon, the creature will be extremely fertile, and any females it impregnates(if male), or children it finds itself pregnant with(if female) shall be Beastmen, as per Seed of the Feral Soul.

Children of the Silver Moon
Cost: 6 motes, 1 willpower, 6 experience points
Duration: Until Birth
Type: Simple
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisite Charms: Seed of the Feral Soul.
The Lunar may pass a heavy part of his Celestial Prowess through blood. The Child that is born from Children of the Silver Moon is not only a Beastman - it is also born with the Awakened Essence, Magical Attunement and the 10-point version of God-Body. They are also always born with the Aura of Power flaw. The Lunar also doubles his Essence for the purpose of determining the God-Blooded Beastman's Inheritance.

Artisan of Generations Prana
Cost: None
Duration: Permanent
Type: Special
Minimum Essence: 5
Prerequisite Charms: Children of the Silver Moon.
Using this Charm, the Full Moon Ofaniel sired the race of winged mortals of the North, the Windians. Upon learning it, the Lunar becomes an artist of flesh, able to make minute adjustments to the Beastmen. A beastman of a hawk needs not look like an anthropomorphic bird anymore, but lose all feathers not in the wings, appearing as winged humans with sharp eagle eyes. The Lunar may take out Mutations at whim, and make them more unobtrusive. Moreover, the Lunar may add a number of Mutation Points equal to his Essence in Glorious Hero Form or Surpassing Excellencies - each such Mutation Point costs 1 experience point above the beyond the cost of Seed of the Feral Soul, however.

Seed of the Endless Wild
Cost: None
Duration: Permanent
Type: Special
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisite Charms: Seed of the Feral Soul.
After purchase of this Charm, the Lunar is not limited to creating beastmen of his Totem anymore - they may be of any species in the Lunar's Blood Library. The rules for creating them are the same as the normal ones, however.

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