Tome of Madness

Angelus Morningstar 

Dream Shard Tome of Madness

 Author: Angelus Morningstar   Additional Writings adapted from   World of Darkness Rulesbook, Ghouls, and Wraith: the Oblivion  Artwork : Gavin Hargest

Acknowledgements Lost Shards are fan- made products products designed for use with the   World World of Darkne Darkness ss book, Change Changelin ling: g: the Lost. Lost.  A bsence of trademarks from from copyrighted materials does not constitute a legal challenge to the original owners. Any  origin original al mater material ial is the intellectu intellectual al prop property erty of Angelus Angelus Morningstar unless otherwise c redited. redited.

1

Angelus Morningstar 

 A changeling is a creature creature with a unique unique psychology.  will feel their pains as well. If the c haracter performs performs an act   With With a game game that deals deals with concepts concepts of madnes madnesss and that will help their suff suffer ering ing ( giving giving alms alms to the poor poor,, deviance a lot of it rests on the ability to create a unique admi adminis nister tering ing healing healing to the wound wounded ed)) then she she may  and interesting psyche. What follows is a series of ideas ideas and alleviate the effects of the derangement. rules that can be used to explore the themes of madness a Martyr Complex (severe; follows Hyperempathy): The little more more personally. character’s sense of guilt about the suffering in the world Legends of the fae often divide them into creatures around her consumes her continually. Your character has   with with dual dual nature natures, s, having both both a lighter lighter and a dark darker er come to believe that only her insight into this state of  aspects. aspects. In myths, this division has been repres represented ented by a suff sufferin eringg allows her to take away the pains of others by  divisio division n of species species,, portr portraying aying stori stories es of Seelie agains againstt experiencing them for herself. The character has a need to Unseelie, or between Ljósálfar and S vartálfar. be the sacri sacrifi fice, ce, the victim victim of the world world’s ’s suff suffer erin ingg  What the legends do not reveal is that this division is a (including (including physical physical abuse), abuse), especial especially ly if by doing doing so she duality duality inher inherent ent in changelin changelings gs psycholo psychology. gy. Their very  places herself in harm’s way to protect another. consciousness consciousness contains two essential opposing opposing constructs, a Effect:   Whenever the character sees someone else in mystical mystical duality uality that the Lost Lost some sometim times es call the rhyme rhyme morta ortall peril eril the the char character acter must make ake a Res Resolve + and the reason of the mind. The two parts of the dyadic Composure check. If she fails this roll she will deliberately  mind reflect the reasoning and logical mortal selves, and try to place herself herself in harm’s harm’s way in hopes that she can be the other half represents the illogic of the faerie mind, the the victim. deep deep uncons unconsciou ciouss shad shadow ow of their own mind mind that has Faith gestated in thei r durance. durance. Demagogue Syndrome (mild): The character begins to It is the changeling’s reasoning mind that seeks to hold on to what coherence of mortal logic that it once held. A  feel that she is touched by a divine or true source beyond the microcosm that is her self. Inspiration floods her sense changeling’s Clarity relates directly to the coherence of the righteousnesss and her words become become changelin changeling’ g’ss reaso reason n and allows the changelin changelingg to align align of self with a divine righteousnes infallib infallible le in her mind mind.. This does doesn’ n’tt mean mean she cannot cannot herself closely to her Virtue. actually lie, only that she is unable unable to confront confront the reality  The changeling’s rhyming mind, on the other hand, that she might not be correct in whatever that she says. bring unbidden and wanton urges that are similar to selfEffect:  Whenever the character is demonstrated to be satis satisfyin fyingg inter interest est that the Gentry Gentry disp display. lay. While While the fallible the c haracter must must make a Resolve Resolve + Compo Composu sure re changelin changeling’ g’ss rhymi rhyming ng mind mind is merely merely a shado shadow w of their fallible check. Failure means the character’s faith is shaken for a reason, in more ways than one, it can goad and trip a  while as she loses a point of willpower. righteous changeling to their Vice. Mess Messia iani nicc Comp Comple lex x (sev (sever ere; e; foll follow owss Dema Demago gogu guee Syndrome): The character character’s ’s believes believes she she partl partlyy divine. The followi following ng section section showcas showcases es how a changelin changeling’ g’ss  Where she walks, she walks according to its plan. Her will madnes madnesss can manif manifest est throu through gh the emphas emphasis is of their their is simply an extension of the will of the divine. She is in perf perfect ect synchr synchron onici icity ty with with the worl world d arou around nd her. her. To  Virtues and can provide guidelines on what derangements to give changelings who suffer degeneration as a result of  oppose this or to offer evidence to the contrary will utter shake the foundations of her faith. She comes to think she pursuing their Virtue. invincibl invinciblee or undefe ndefeatab atable. le. If your your character character is ever Charity isshown evidence of being anything other than the right Hypere Hyperemp mpath athyy (mild) (mild)::   You Yourr chara character cter becom becomes es hand of the divine, she l oses one point point of Willpower as he r sensitive sensitive to the sufferin sufferingg of those around around her. Not only  psyche ov er- rides these inconsistencies and disbelief. disbelief. that, but no matter the situ situation ation she cannot help but but Fortitude identify with the victim’s suffering. She tangibly feels the Thrill-seeker (mild): The character’s sense of judgment pain of these people and this floods her with a sensation of  is somewhat somewhat impaired impaired by her need to engage in ex treme treme guilt at the blessings she has. She can only alleviating her activity. She keeps trying to push herself to her utmost guilt by somehow addressing this suffering. limits limits,, trying trying to balance balance herse herself lf on the thinnes thinnestt edge edge Effect:  Whenever your character encounters someone betwe between en safe safety ty and and danger anger.. However However,, some sometim times es the in a state of suffering she must roll Resolve + Composure. character fails to make the accurate judgment about where On a failure the character feels the ills and pains of the that line of safety lies. target. If they have wound wound penalties penalties she feels encumber encumbered ed Effect:   When When the chara character cter is in a situ situati ation on that that by the same same pena penalty, lty, if they they are are fatig fatigu ued, ed, star starving ving or requ requir ires es consta constant nt asses assessm sment ent and judgme judgment nt (c ombat ombat,, exhausted from such things as poverty or abuse then she

Derangements of Virtue

2

Angelus Morningstar  racin racing, g, knif knifee throw throwin ingg etc… ) she she must must make make a Wits Wits + Composur Composuree c heck. If she fails she suffers suffers a –2 penalty when performing that activity. Daredevil (severe; follows Thrill-seeker): The character is a true true adrenaline adrenaline junkie. junkie. S he can only find satisfaction satisfaction by placing herself in positions of extreme danger. She is filled filled with nervous nervous energy energy and always on the edge. edge. T he moment some form of thrill is presented to them (combat, skydiving, base jumping or any form of extreme sport) she must must spend spend a willpower willpower point point not not to immed immediate iate run run to engage in the activity.

making a getaway in a sports car, he might fixate on his loss or victory. Roll Resolve Resolve + Compos Composur uree after such such an event for him to avoid this unhealthy obsession. obsession. Effect: If your Resolve + Compos Composur uree roll fails, roll a single die. The result result i s the number of scenes scenes in wh ich y our character is focused on the offending or inspiring event or task, to the possible exclusion of more important goals. He fixates on what he believes caused him to lose or win his goal, whether it’s an opponent, a broken shoelace or the model of car driven. In the case of a defeat, he cannot help but simmer in anger, cursing a circumstance or trying to a method of circumventing it in the future. In the Hope devise case of a victory, he becomes a fanatic, spending much of  Escapism (mild):  Your  Your character character begins begins to reject reject the his time researching, observing or acclaiming an activity or mortal side of her nature, obsessing over the mysteries of  factor that al lowed him to succeed. Faerie. She begins to gloss over the cruelties and terrors of  The Storyteller rules on how this derangement affects her durance durance in Faeri Faeriee and begins begins to wonde wonderr what went  your character’s dice pools or behavior. It might cause him  wrong  wrong and how to correct correct it. Like the victim of abuse, abuse, she a -1 on any task not related to his fixation, or he might begins to rationalize away the hurts and pains seeking to refuse to engage in an activity if it doesn’t somehow tie immerse herself in her faerie nature. into his obsession. Since this derangement is potentially  Every time the character encounters an feature of her active for many many scenes, scenes, rather than one, its effects effects should should mort mortal al past past,, such such as her her fami family, ly, her her Fetch Fetch or othe otherr be mild but persistent. memento, memento, she must must roll Resolve + Compos Composur ure. e. Failure Failure Obsessive Compulsion (severe; follows Fixation): The indicates indicates that the c haracter is convinced that she is losing losing trauma, trauma, guilt or inner conflict that c auses this derangement derangement herself to th e c ruelties of ‘real life’ and must hunt for more forces your charact er to focus nearly nearly a ll of his attention and Glamour at t he first opportunity. opportunity. energy on a single repetitive behavior or action. Obsession Realit Realityy Erasur Erasuree (sever (severe): e):   Your Your character character become becomess relates to an individual’s desire to control his environment irra irratio tiona nally lly afra afraid id of the decayin ecayingg natu nature re of her own — kee keepi ping ng c lean, lean, keeping keeping an area area quiet quiet and peacef peaceful, ul, or mortality mortality seeing seeing an eventual end to her existence that can keeping keeping undesir undesirable able individu individuals als out. out. A compuls compulsion ion is an only be remedi remedied ed by becoming becoming more and more more Fae-like. action action or set of actions actions that an individ individua uall is driven driven to The slightest encounter of her mortal past could cause the perf perfor orm m to soothe soothe his anxieties anxieties — placing placing objects objects in an magi magicc to fail. fail. A s a resu result, lt, she she works works to elimi elimina nate te any  any  exact order, order, constantly constantly checking to make sure sure a weapon weapon is eviden evidence ce of her tru true iden identit tity, y, inclu includ ding ing docume ocument nts, s, loaded, loaded, praying eve ry few hours to give thanks for surviv surviv ing phot photog ogra raph phs, s, frie friend ndss and and relat relatives ives.. Whene Whenever ver your your that long. char character acter enco encou unter nterss evid evidence ence of her her mor mortal tal past ast Effect: Determine a set of specific actions or behaviors (including a person who knew him), you must roll Resolve that your character character follows follows to the exclusion exclusion of all else else + Compo Composu sure. re. A success success on this roll roll means means that your your (ev en if doing doing so interfe interferes res with his current current agenda agenda or character can supp suppres resss the urge urge to destroy destroy the evidence. endang endanger erss his life or others others’). ’). The effect effectss of obse obsess ssive ive Failure means he must must attempt to erase it immediately. compulsion can be negated for the course of one scene by  makingg a success successfu full Resolve Resolve + Compo Composu sure re roll at a - 2 Justice makin pena penalty. lty. If your your chara character cter is forc forcib ibly ly preven prevented ted from from Hypervigila Hypervigilance nce (mild): (mild): The chara character cter’s ’s sens senses es and and adhering to his derangement, he may lose control among awareness are turned toward the eternal vigilance against enemie s or alli alliee s and attac tta ck k eithe ther (or (or both) th) crime and injustice. indiscriminately. Effect:  When the character is out in public, it becomes Temperance difficult for her to focus on anything but the surrounds. She must must roll a Resolve + Compos Composur uree c heck to see if she can Hyperapathy (mild):   Your character cannot empathize keep her mind off constantly scanning t he commons. If she  with the target. They become unable to read other people’s fails, she suffers suffers a –2 penalty on her Perception c hecks, but body body langua language ge prop properl erly, y, misi misinter nterpr pretin etingg them. them. When cannot be surprised. attempti attempting ng to inter interact act with peop people le the character character must must Heroism Heroism Syndrome Syndrome (severe; (severe; follows follows Hypervigil Hypervigilance) ance):: spen spend d a poin pointt of willpowe willpowerr to actively actively focu focuss on the The character sees violence and despair all around her. interaction in question. If she does not she will suffer a –2 The displays on the television and media do nothing to penalty on all her Empathy, Socialize and Persuasion rolls assuage assuage he r fears about about the injustice of the w orld.  with mortals. Effect:  Whenever the character encounters a person in   Ant Antis isoc ocia iall Pers Person onal alit ityy Diso Disord rder er (sev (sever ere; e; foll follow owss trouble trouble or otherwise otherwise being vic timized timized by crime she must must Hyperapathy): The character’s character’s emotional emotional range becomes becomes make a Resolve Resolve + Compos Composur uree roll. If she fails she must must extrem extremely ely small small.. In add addition ition to the above above effe effect ct the immediately engage in the threat of crime in an attempt to characte r can no l onger empathize with a sense of suffer suffering ing quell it ev en if the odds are are stacked against he r. or pain in others. They are indifferent to the possibility of  hysical al pain ain or many any punis nishmen hments ts,, and and show how no Prudence physic indications that they experience fear when so threatened. Fixation (mild): If your character fails or succeeds at an impor important tant action action such such as leaping leaping between between build building ingss or 3

Angelus Morningstar  On top of this, the lack of ability to feel a range of   Without the interference of an outside outside agent, he won’t stop emotions begins to generate a strong sense of anxiety in until the damage is inflict ed in full. her. If a character is in a situation where she should feel a Greed strong strong emotion emotion (such as a bout bout of love, being being strong strongly  ly  Compulsi Compulsive ve Hoarding Hoarding (mild): (mild):   Your Your character character has a threatened or similar situations) situations) she must must make a Resolv e + Compos Composur uree check. Failure Failure means means the sense sense of anxiety  need to collect and hoard. This can be one particular or singu ingula larr item item,, or jus just a who whole range ange of jun junk and and demands demands some sort of escape from the emotional v oid. This parapher par aphernalia. nalia. T ypically the character’s character’ s place of residence resid ence can be lashing out at the source of the failed emotion, or it becomes filled to a point of impediment. impediment. may be other risk- taking or substance substance a buse. buse. Effect: In order for a character to discard her collection she must expend a single point of willpower for every level ombined mass. The followi following ng section section showcas showcases es how a changelin changeling’ g’ss of Size ac counted for by its c ombined Syllogomania Syllogomania (severe; follows Compulsive Hoarding): madness can manifest through the emphasis of their Vice above, except the character character must must expend a point point of  and can provide provide guidelines guidelines on what derangem derangements ents to give   As above,  willpower to th row out anything, incl uding ud ing rubbish. rubbis h. changelings who suffer degeneration as a result result of pursuing pursuing their Vice.  Lust

Derangements of Vice

Envy

Compul Compulsiv sivee Larcen Larcenyy (mild) (mild)::   You Yourr chara character cter has irresistible impulses to steal things. Typically such things are small and of no value, however the character may be unaware that she is slipping something of value into her own pocket. Effect:   When the character encounters something of   value that is lying loose the character must make a Resolve + Composu Composure re check to resist the urge to pocket it. Failure means she is ov ercome by a desire desire to possess possess it and does her best to steal the object; though she won’t place herself in danger to do so. Kleptom Kleptomania ania (severe; (severe; follows follows Compulsi Compulsive ve Larceny): Larceny): This is an ex treme form of of Compulsive Compulsive Larcerny. The t hrill of simple simple stealing stealing has worn off and she find find she can only  get the same sense of satisfaction when stealing something that has certain difficulty to it. If there is no challenge or diff difficu iculty lty in obtain obtaining ing the object object beyond beyond the sleight sleight of  hand hand to drop drop it in a pocket ocket ther theree is no desir esire. e. So a character will probab probably ly move from from mild kleptomani kleptomaniaa to more more dire directly ctly larceno larcenous us activities activities like pick pick pocketi pocketing, ng, breaking or breaking and entering. Effect: The effects are as above, however the character   will will place place herse herself lf into into dange dangerr (non-life-threaten (non-life-threatening ing)) in order to achieve her objective.

Gluttony Hyperindulgence (mild):  Your character formulates an irra irratio tiona nal, l, pleas pleasu urabl rablee asso associa ciatio tion n with with an object object or situation. To fully enjoy himself, so to speak, he needs to duplicate the situation or be in the presence of the object. This can lead lead to some some tru truly biza bizarr rree beha behavior vior,, often often triggering a cycle of gratification and guilt that’s extremely  difficult to break. If your character experiences something that reminds him of the event or object he’s chosen, roll Resolve Resolve + Comp Compos osur ure. e. If the roll roll fails, fails, y our our character character focuses focuses on re- creating the situation situation or coming in c ontact  with the object in question. Masochism Masochism (severe; (severe; follows follows Hyperindu Hyperindulgen lgence): ce):  Your character is no longer satisfied with the presence of the object or duplication duplication of the situation. He must now be hurt by it in orde r to enjoy joy hims imself. lf. The The effe ccts ts of  hyperind hyperindulgen ulgence ce apply, apply, but but the character must also suff suffer er an amount of bashing damage at least equal to his Stamina duri during ng the compu compulsi lsive ve activity in orde orderr to be satis satisfie fied. d.

4

Hypersexuality Hypersexuality (mild):  A characters sense sense of selfself- worth becomes entirely dependent on her ability to feel l oved and admired admired.. Whenever your character encounters encounters someone someone she might find attractiv e she has strong impulsive impulsive desires desires to make love with that person person to satisfy those needs. Roll your chara character cter’’s Reso Resolve lve + Comp Compos osu ure for for her to rema remain in composed. Effect: If your roll fails, the need for attention is too stron strong. g. Once Once in this state, state, any rolls rolls not done towards towards sedu seducing cing the target target in ques questio tion n suff suffer er a –1 penalt penalty. y. In addition, Willpower cannot be spent on rolls not focused on this task. Hist Histro roni nicc Pers Person onal alit ityy Diso Disord rder er (sev (sever ere; e; foll follow owss Hypersexuality): The need for attention becomes so severe that the character displays pervasive and excessive patterns of emotio emotionali nality ty and attentio attention-seeki n-seeking ng behavior behavior.. These These ind individ ividuals als are are livel lively, y, dramat amatic, ic, enth enthu usias iastic, tic, and and flir lirtati tatiou ouss. They They may may be inap inapp propr opriate iately ly sexual exually  ly  provoca vocati tive ve,, expr xpress stro trong emotio tions w wiith th an impressionis impressionistic tic style, and be easily influenced by others. If someone ever rejects your character, she loses one point of Willpower due due to shame and selfself- loathing ( as she is unable to deal with the result).

Pride   Narcissism (mild):  Whenever your character succeeds at a goal goal (not simpl simplyy succeed succeedss in a roll, roll, but achieves a desi desired red end such such as knocki knocking ng a challengi challenging ng oppo opponen nentt unconscious unconscious or hacking into a well- protected computer) computer) , it might go to his head and pump up his overweening ego. Roll Resolve + Composure to avoid a bout of vanity. Effect: On a failed roll, your character does not work  and play well with others others — even if the victory that brings brings on a bout bout of narcissis narcissism m was partly partly won with their aid. For For the remainder of the scene, when called upon to aid in a task your character does so only only hal f- heartedly, unless it’s a task focused on him or his own needs or wants. He suffers a - 3 penalty when participating in teamwork efforts efforts (see page 134 of the  World of Darkness Rulebook ) . A nd he’s he’s such such a self- obsessed obsessed bore bore that S ocial rolls all suffer a - 1 penalty. Megalomania (severe): The effects of Narcissism apply, except that the penalties intensify by one. Your character is also highly competitive. He cannot allow himself to fail a contes contestt ( even a contes contested ted roll). If he does, does, he obse obsess sses es about it and works to arrange a rematch when it’s most beneficial for him. If, for example, he fails to pick a lock 

Angelus Morningstar   while an ally succeeds, he doesn’t let it go. He constantly  insists that he did the job and that his successor took the glory, and demands that similar efforts be tried again, even under inappropriate circumstances such as at an office or restaurant. If your character ever loses a contest to someone he feels is socially inferio inferior, r, he loses one point point of Willpower due due to shame and self- loathing ( which is at the he art of his megalomania; he secretly fears that he’s a fraud). fraud).

Sloth Depression (mild): If your character fails to achieve a goal goal (not just just fails fails a roll, roll, but fails fails to accompli accomplish sh some some perso personal, nal, desir desired ed end such such as getti getting ng a job or saving saving a friend’s life), he might go into a bout of depression for the remaind remainder er of the scene. A dramatic dramatic failure failure that occ urs urs in any activity might might also also bring bring on a bout bout of depre depress ssion ion.. Regardles Regardlesss of the circumstances circumstances,, make a reflexiv reflexiv e Resolve Resolve + Composur Composuree roll. Effect: If the roll roll fails fails,, your your chara character cter lose losess one one  Willpower  Willpower point point and cannot spend spend any Willpower Willpower points points for the remainder of of the sc ene. Melancholia (severe): Severe depression. In addition to the above effects effects of a failed Resolve Resolve + Compos Composur uree roll, all dice dice pools pools suff suffer er a –2 penalt penaltyy for for the remai remaind nder er of the scene.

autom automatical atically ly flips flips over to the relevant relevant deran derangem gement ent of  equal magnitude magnitude associated with V ice. Traditio Traditionally nally the seven v irtu irtues es and the seven seven vices  were paired paired with each other to repres represent ent opposi opposition. tion. To utilize utilize this rule rule it is suggested suggested that players players choose choose Virtues Virtues and Vices to match this duality duality as it helps to emphasize the dichoto dichotomy. my. Yet, this is not fund fundame amental ntal.. Players Players and Storytellers are free to choose Virtues and Vices that are more suited to their character concept if they wish: Virtue Vice Charity Greed Faith Pride Fortitude S l ot h Hope Env y   Justic e Wrath Prudenc e Lust T emperanc e Gluttony  

The Shadow

Every single single person person has a set set of hidden hidden and secret secret desires that is usually kept well restrained for the sake of  social interaction. interaction. Al l those things that w e wish to do but but don’t don’t because we are afraid of recrimination recrimination,, the petty  needful wants and mores of our primal natures. As mortals  we have our our socialization socialization and our our constant constant normaliz normalization ation   wit w ith h othe ot her r hum hu m ans an s to keep ke ep s u ch thin th ings gs in check che ck,, Wrath occasionally occasionally something something goes wrong, wrong, but but for for the most most part part Manic Excitement (mild):  Whenever your character is  we are kept kept in balance. balance. Changel Changeling ings, s, however, however, strug struggle gle threaten threatened ed with violence violence or suff suffer erss extreme extreme tension tension by  between her mortal and changelings psyches creates tiny  being persecuted, challenged or accused, she might react tremors throughout the mind that leave it balanced and  without logic or reason. Roll her Resolve + Composure to unstable. keep her cool. In the dept depths hs of a changelin changelingg mind mind lurks lurks a terri terrible ble Effect: On a failed failed roll, roll, your your character character’s ’s only way to darkness. It is a malefic side of their faerie nature that is comfortably deal with confrontation is to act crazy or over born from their rhyming thoughts and split off into their the the top top, in wild wild hop hopes that that she will will scare care away away her her shad shadow. ow. It is no small small coincid coincidence ence that a changelin changeling’ g’ss oppressor or at least mitigate her own fears. This behavior shadow shadow c an giv e away their true true identity, identity, and a portion portion of  persists persists for the remainder of the scene. S he can threaten or their their Fetch Fetch is made made from from the changelin changeling’ g’ss shad shadow. ow. A  cajole challengers, and may even take the first swing. changeling’s shadow shares a strong strong sympathetic link to the   Violent Psychosis (severe): This is like above but the part of the changeling that connects to Faerie. target suffers –2 on all checks to keep her cool. In this It is within a changeling’s Shadow that their madness frenzied frenzied state she l oses all sense of self- preservat preservat ion. manifests into a subconsciously independent doppelganger that seeks any method of escape. The Shadow is sneaky  and craft, able to use the talents of the changeling’s own psyche psyche to wreck whatev er havoc that it can. The balance between a changeling’s changeling’s rhyme and reason The Terrible Secret is reflected in the balance between their Virtue and Vice. Many Many chang changeli eling ngss pref prefer er to igno ignore re the fact fact of the Depe Depend nding ing on whether whether the changelin changelingg is functio functionin ningg Shadow than attempt to deal with the problems problems that they  according to rhyme or reason the changeling will manifest cause. It is a social blind spot sp ot of the c hangeling freeholds to a certa certain in madne adnesss in line line with with her her Vice Vice or Virtu Virtuee overlook the eccentricities of madness that might indicate respectively. In this respect, a changeling’s delusions and subversi sion on by the Shadow Shadow.. In many many places, laces, it is even perceptions of the world are heavil y c olored by by their V irtue subver socially taboo to discuss the matter as it acknowledging the and Vice.   With the implementation of this rule, the character madness that all changelings must content with. It is not easy thing thing to confr confron ont; t; the idea idea that that even having having enters enters play with a single single mild derang derangem ement ent that they  an easy escaped from Arcadia, there is still some small part of you cannot get rid of. This derangement is a mutable one, and   wil willl chang changee depen epend ding ing on what what state tate of mind ind the the that wishes to be like the Fae, and acts to control and chang changeli eling ng is in. in. If they are are in a state state of reaso reasoni ning ng capture you as much as your own Keeper did, that you are slowly and perhaps undeniably being taken over by a small thinking, then they will manifest the derangement relating  voice of madness madness inside. to their Virtue (see the list above). If they enter into a To then discover that not only does the Shadow have a state tate of rhym hyming ing mind ind, then then this this deran erange gem ment ent  votive force, force, but that c hangelings hangelings have been taken over by 

Optional Rule: The Mirror Has Two Faces

5

Angelus Morningstar  them, them, enoug enough h to subver subvertt the entire entire society, society, is not not only  only  ambiguously about the difference between the living and terrifying but highly problematic. the dead. They may be found discuss discussing ing ca sual sual matte rs with The little that is known about about the S hadow hadow means that the undead undead as they would would the liv ing, though though they have no it is almost imposs impossible ible to identify identify who is and who isn’t isn’t death–wish of their own.   work working ing under nder its influ influence. ence. It is a massi massive ve shad shadowed owed Elemental: The Elementals suffer a strange alienation conspi conspira racy cy and even the most most loyal and steadf steadfas astt may  may  unde underr the influ influence ence of their Shadow. Shadow. Their mind and eventually fall to its pull. The Shadow is not a force that thoughts become horribly tangled and enmeshed in their can be c ombated with ideology and rhetoric; rhetoric; it is a horrible elem elemen enta tall natu naturre. Their Their abil abilit ityy to emp empathi athizze with with instinct instinct within within all changelin changelings gs that is insep insepar arable able from from human humanity ity greatly greatly dimi diminis nishes hes and they feel feel a desi desire re to their existence. Those who do discover this truth often retreat from mortal society, becoming somewhat reclusive.   work work in isolation attempting attempting to stamp stamp out out its influence influence The tur turbule bulent nt wor world of hum human machin achinat atio ions ns and and  wherever possible. possible. interactions just becomes far too complex for them to deal The canny nature nature of the Shadow Shadow means that there will  with and they turn away. A s the S hadow hadow of the Elemental Elemental be times when it’s aware that being discovered could cause grows, their thoughts bec ome more obscured obscured with inhuman inhuman problems for the longer term plans. In such a situation the patter patterns ns of thoug thought, ht, even disr disregar egardi ding ng human human beings beings Shadow may become more docile and hide beneath the amon amongs gstt the great greater er schem schemee of natu nature re,, where whereby by the surface till it is ready to come out once more making the destruction of a person has no less or more significance changeling they are part of completely completely unaware unaware of their than the destruction of an ant, yet the surfeit or paucity of  actions against against the commons commons.. A Shadow Shadow that is powerfu powerfull the element element they are tied to will begin begin to obse obsess ss them. enough may lie in wait till the opportune moment, take They will seek to increase the relevant ambience of their over the body of the changeling and do its damage, then element by whatever means possible. subs subsid idee into the recess recesses es of the mind mind,, either either leaving leaving a Fairest: The Shadow’s influence can be daunting for confu confuse sed d chang changeli eling ng wond wonder erin ingg at his his action actionss (and the the Fair airest, est, who who find ind them them selves elves feel feelin ingg a tou touch attem attempt ptin ingg to cover cover up their their own own brie brieff momen omentt of  overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenges that face madness), or the Shadow may simply change or erase these them. It leaves them in a state of mind that believes they  memories from their host in such a way that they never are the only ones capable of addressing addressing the problems. Their realize their nefarious nefarious actions. cou counten ntenan ance ce pales ales to a cool cool hau haute and and aloo alooffnes ness, contemptuous of those beneath them. Indeed, under the more capricious nature of their Shadow aspect, the Fairest can find find their responsib responsibilities ilities restraini restraining ng making making them impu impulsi lsive ve and impu impude dent. nt. They become become conflicted conflicted and The Shadow is more than just a dull reflection of the paranoid paranoid,, and prone prone to malaise. malaise. A ny challenge posed to changeling’s haunted thoughts. It is a dynamic and often them, or actual threats to their power, is the subject of  intelligent intelligent creature creature in its own right. A player should should put their machinations. some thought into the motivations of a particular Shadow. Ogre: The S hadowed Ogres Ogres are driven to a sense of true true Step One: Archetype brutality brutality and treachery. treachery. Their S hadow hadow aspect aspect cools down their their ferocit ferocityy some somewhat what and the Shadow Shadow can lend their their Each individual seeming has strong and powerful urges ferocious ferocious nature to more more subtle and beguiling agendas. The that tend to want to make themselves themselves known. These serve Shadow influence often turns a Ogre’s violent desires into as the base archetypal templates for the Shadow’s thinking sadi sadism sm and vengeful vengeful retri retribu butio tion. n. Indeed Indeed,, the Shadow  Shadow  and drives. driven iven Ogres gres deve evelo lop p a grea greatt amou amount nt of patie atienc nce, e, Beast: Every rose hides its thorns, thorns, and the Beasts hav e tenu tenuou ouss cont contrrol over over thei theirr emo emotio tions. ns. The viscer visceral al preferring to wait in the dark as quiet sentinels until they  need to strike. strike. T hese hese mons monster terss can be a terrif terrifying ying and experien experience ce of reality reality drives drives them to extreme extreme highs highs and need unnerving ving sight, sight, for for they keep their their berser berserker ker rage rage just just lows, lows, letting letting them fly fly throu through gh eupho euphori riaa and extreme unner bene beneat ath h a calm calm and and cool cool demea emeano norr to unlea nleassh it hysteria. Should the Shadow be unable to sate their desires unsu un susp spectin ectingly. gly. The Shadowed Shad owed Ogers Oger s are ar e never dire direct ct they may fall into melancholia or tempestuous rage until about about their approach, approach, often often prefer preferring ring to unleash unleash their they are appeased. The Shadow is far more self–indulgent than otherwise. The changeling is drawn to submerging  venom with a stab in the back, or some other unusually  cruel cruel way . themselves themselves into experiences experiences of the flesh. flesh. They become become the  Wizened: The native wit of the Wizened transforms consummate connoisseurs of foods, sexual pleasures, drink  into a cunning guile and mischievous natures. With their and drugs. drugs. Often Often the stranger, more more ex otic and perverse t he better better and the Beasts Beasts are known known for their extreme extreme or Shadow, they become perennial tricksters, thieves and con artis artists, ts, being being master masterss of charlatan charlatanis ism, m, decept deception ion and deviant tastes and practices. misdirection. With its wanton nature, the Wizened find Darkling: The Darkl arklin ings gs’’ Shad Shadow fall fallss towa towarrds the norms of mortal conventions to be incredibly stifling cynicism, doom saying and despair. despair. For the Darklings Darklings,, and take great pleasur pleasuree from from twisting people’s people’s acc epted pessimism is raised to a fine art, where criticism and faults conventio conven tions ns and turn tu rning ing the world wor ld upsi up side de down, down, not not can be found in even the brightest of times. Here, they  necessarily for any idealistic reason, but because it seems instead turn towards the past to their time before capture more interesting that way. As such, the Wizened become and durance. They are avaricious hoarders of knowledge, harbing nger erss of disor isord der and and havoc, havoc, with with a knack knack for for historical historical lore and most especially arcane secrets. secrets. They are harbi infiltratio inf iltration. n. With guile mind and nimble fingers fin gers and a the keepers of secret lore, masters of secrets and puzzlers of 

Constructing the Shadow

enigm enigmati aticc myst myster eries ies.. In this this state state the Darkli arkling ng are are 6

Angelus Morningstar  penchant for kleptomania they have a knack for breaking into secure locations.

Step Two: Urges Every Shadow has two Urges, these are linked to the Fae’s own Virtue and Vice. The Urges that a Fae’s Shadow   will manifest manifest are listed below below according according to the V irtue irtue and  Vice: • Charity: Changelings Changelings with the path of Charity are compelled compelled towards towards self–sacrif self–sacrifice. ice. They see the world in terminal suffering and drive them towards remedying this as best they can. Indeed as they reach higher thresholds the Shadow pushes pushes this sense sense of self–sacrif self–sacrifice, ice, potentially potentially to the point of danger. The ultimate goal of the Charity’s Shadow Shadow is to drive drive the changelin changelingg to martyr martyrdo dom m for for a cause. • Faith: Faith’s Shadow manifests like a divine voice that visits the changeling with guidance. Such changeling should feel like they are specially chosen as missives of the divine, making them agents of its spiritual vision to the  world. As this Shadow gets stronger they grow confident that they are doing the work of the divine and cannot be faulted. • Fortitude: Changelings with Fortitude’s Shadow will be suggested to see the world as their personal challenge. Nothi Nothing ng is too too hard hard for for them them to defeat efeat.. The Shadow  Shadow  challenges them to take dangerous risks, urging them to become become dared daredevils evils.. At higher higher thres threshold holdss the Shadow  Shadow  demands demands more reckless risks, even to thei r destruction. destruction. • Hope Hope:: Hope Hope pres presen ents ts the chang changeli eling ng with with the innocence and fantasy of a child. These people hav e deeply  rich fantasies not wanting to admit the more banal aspects of reality. Their Shadow inspires in these people fantasies,  wild tales and even compulsive lying to deny the bleakness of the the wor world. ld. As the the Shad Shadow grow growss in stren trengt gth h the the changelin changelingg begins begins to ignor ignoree the world world to the point point of  ignoring personal danger. • Justice:   Justice’s Shadow instills in the changeling the attitud attitudee of the Just Just World World pheno phenome meno non, n, that good good things happen to good people, people, and that they happen to bad people people.. They envisio envision n themse themselves lves as some some sort sort of hero, actin actingg out out as an agen agentt of the side ide of good good (or thei theirr interpr interpretation etation of good) good) . A s the Shadow grows strong strong their sense of power makes them think they are indestructible  with the attitude that the good guys always wins. • Prudence: Prudence:   While While most most peop people le can’t can’t contro controll the events events of their their lives, lives, changel changelin ingg with with this this deny eny the uncontrollable, compelled to building vast networks and empir empires es (economic, (economic, politi political cal or even crimina criminal). l). As the Shadow Shadow grows grows stron stronger ger the changelin changelingg become becomess more more obsessive and stops being an aspiration to greatness, but rather a need to be in control. The stronger the Shadow  the the more this this ins insecu ecurity ity gro grows and and eve even n simple contradictions can seem to be a challenge to their security. • Temperanc Temperance: e: The Shadow Shadow of Temper Temperance ance bring bringss about a great sense of detachment. T he drive t o find inner– inner– balance, inner peace and harmony is sent off–balance itself  as the changeling attempts attempts to disengage disengage from any form of  emotional response to a situation. The greater the Shadow  grows the more this shut out becomes even leading them t o states where they lose all emotional connection to their

frien friends ds and loved ones ones till they are are comple completely tely without without emotion. • Envy: This Shadow makes the c hangeling hangeling think that like the world is beautiful and good, that is for everyone else. else. No matter matter what it is they poss possess ess somethi something ng else else someone someone has is better. Once t he item is gained, howev er, it loses its appeal. As the Shadow gets stronger it makes the changeling go further further out of her way to ac quire quire these th ings and expend more effect to do so. • Gluttony: Gluttony’s Shadow immerses the in the changeling into the immediate moment encouraging them to sate sate physi physical cal plea pleasu sure ress of all sort sorts. s. As the Shadow  Shadow  increases, so too does the call for these needs and cravings. The strength of the Shadow is comparative comparative to the c ravings for these needs and will drive them to self–destruction if it becomes too strong. • Greed: The Shadow of Greed makes the changeling paranoid that th ey simply do not hav e enough to be secure, either physically or emotionally. It will provoke her to go out of her way in order to acquire more assets and resources in order order to secure secure her position. position. As the S hadow hadow gets more more powerful the changeling’s perception of wealth of things becomes becomes skewed skewed and she believes believes all things things to be near near  worthless, exacerbating her paranoia. • Lust: This changeling’s Shadow whispers of need to be loved and given attentio attention. n. Her sense sense of selfself- worth worth demands that she is lavished, and satisfied in some way to crave her need of belonging. It’s a highly possessive desire that refus refuses es to allow the changeling to share their sources sources of indulgence and pleasure. As the Shadow grows stronger their their need need to be accepted is so severe severe that they cannot cannot function function wi thout it. • Pride: Pride’s Shadow exalts the person, talking to them as though they were a form of divinity themselves. It encou encoura rages ges them them to do acts that that recog recogni nize ze their their own sanctity by promoting others to worship and adore adore them, or other otherwis wise. e. As the Shadow Shadow grow growss stro strong nger er they they star startt thinking that they are sanctified creatures. • Sloth: Everything depresses the changeling with a slothf slothful ul Shadow. Shadow. Nothing Nothing seem seemss worth worth the risk risk or fun fun because it is all without meaning in the end. This Shadow  is highly fatalistic fatalistic and doom doom saying saying ex pecting the worst in everything. A s the S hadow hadow gets stronger stronger they simply simply begin to give up on doing anything about it at all. • Wrath: The Shadow of this changeling will attempt to const constan antly tly provo provoke ke them them into into ange anger. r. Teasin Teasingg and and tau tauntin ntingg them them makin akingg the the wor world see eem m hos hostile tile and and confrontatio confrontational nal to them. As the S hadow hadow gets stronger stronger the changeling begins to see everything as a direct threat, even subtle subtle comments.

Shadow Mechanics Five Five diff differ erent ent thres threshold holdss meas measur uree the streng strength th of a changelin changeling’ g’ss Shadow. Shadow. Each of these these is signi significa ficant nt step step further into the depths of madness. Each step brings the changelin changelingg that much much closer closer to losing losing touch with the mundane reality of the waking world. As the Shadow grows stron stronger ger it is capable capable of exerting exerting a greater greater control control and influence even while dormant. The strength of a Changeling’s Shadow is relative to her Wyrd and Clarity. Clarity. Simply subtract subtract the Changeling’ Changeling’ss

7

Angelus Morningstar  Clarity from her Wy rd and the differ difference ence is a measur measuree of   words into their thoughts over what was said or creating the strength of her Shadow (up to a maximum of five). fictitious noises. noises.  When a changeling perform performss a c ontract ontract with a level of  • Second Threshold: The Shadow can implant false Shadow, Shadow, cracks cracks begin begin to appe appear ar in her Mask. Mask. As the images images into a changeling’s changeling’s mind, mind, either disgui disguising sing what stre streng ngth th of the Shadow Shadow grows grows these these cracks cracks also also grow  grow  they see for something else or creating hallucinations from allowing more of the changeling’s mien to clip through the nothing. disguise that hides her. Secondly, and what is potentially  • Third Threshol Threshold: d: The Shadow Shadow can impla implant nt false false more dangerous, the changeling’s Shadow begins to flex its emotions into a changeling’s mind and dictate the source muscles allowing it subconscious to implant false stimuli that is the cause of these emotions. into into the chang changeli eling ng’’s mind mind directl irectlyy and and eventu eventuall ally  y  • Fourth Threshold: The Shadow Shadow can impla implant nt false false directing directing control control of the changeling’s changeling’s emotions emotions thoughts thoughts thoughts into a changeling’s mind like a mental dialogue and even speech. that urges urges,, compe compels ls and even cajoles cajoles their their changelin changelingg In any scene scene that a changeli changeling ng has an active S hadow  hadow  towards acts conducive to her mind of rhyme. and the changeling spends a mote of glamour her Shadow  • Fifth Fifth Threshold Threshold:: The Shadow Shadow can take over the can perform a single action. What the Shadow can do is speech of the character by projecting their false thoughts dependent dependent on the threshold it is at. Refer to t he following: directly directly into the speech centers. The Shadow can speak  • First Threshold: Threshold: The Shadow Shadow can imp implant lant fals falsee through the mouth mouth of the c hangeling directly. sound soundss into a changeling’s changeling’s mind, mind, either whisperin whisperingg false false

8